ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings died today.
He worked for ABC for over 40 years and as the World News Tonight anchor since 1983. He reported on world changing events throughout his career. He was in Berlin in the 60s when the wall went up, and then again in the 90s when it came down. He covered civil rights and equality struggles throughout the globe, from the United States to South Africa. Jennings worked in every country behind the Iron Curtain, Cambodia, Vietnam. You name it, and Peter Jennings covered it in some form.
Originally from Canada, Jennings was a household name in America and later became a U.S. citizen. He was 67 years old. Peter Jennings was in his home in New York City with his family. He was survived by his wife Kayce Freed, daughter Elizabeth, son Christopher and sister Sarah Jennings. He had been battling with lung cancer, which he announced on April 5th this year.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Great journalist.
2 - -E
It truly is a shame. To think that Rather, Brokaw, and now Jennings are gone from Network News is dumbfounding.
3 - -E
His family released a statement that he died without pain and knew that he had had a good life.
4 - Natalie Davis
Oh my god, so soon, too soon. Stunned right now.
Prayers to his family, loved ones, and colleagues.
5 - uao
I tried googling up some info on his condition a few days ago and came up with absolutely zilch; which made me think the news wasn't going to be good.
That whole 60's-00's generation is pretty much gone now, or heading out to pasture. Network news will never be what it once was.
He had believablility and integrity, a knack for delivering facts in a crisis, and a definitie aplomb that rarely got ruffled.
Sad to see him go so suddenly.
6 - bhw
Can we have a link to the original story?
7 - Matt Paprocki
I don't think there is one yet BHW. This just got out.
8 - Matthew T. Sussman
Link to the ABC Jennings story
9 - bhw
Thanks, Matt!
10 - Natalie Davis
Hit Google news too. Tons of links.
11 - Tan The Man
Wow... shocked...
12 - nugget
oh sheesh. who cares!? I like it when the minute some celebrity dies, an invisible superficial compassion offering plate ricochet's off everyone's dormant sympathetic brain lobes. I can't stand silly idealists like you people. Kurt Cobain died! JFK died! Peter Jennings oh no! He's a face on a screen that reports. Everyone relax and quit misplacing your emotions.
Did any of you KNOW PETER JENNINGS PERSONALLY???? no.
I'm not sad at all. I could care less.
13 - Matthew T. Sussman
"He's a face on a screen that reports."
And before that -- no, even during that time -- he was a tenacious reporter, and even while he anchored "World News Tonight" he was one of the premier newsmen in the biz.
We admired him, and we'll miss him. I wish I had gotten the chance to meet him. It would have been a memorable experience.
It's sad people like you don't have a grasp for what it means to be a true journalist, what service they provide to the world, and to know one when you see one.
14 - nugget
I really didn't mean to burst your bubble Matthew T. Sussman, but mourning over some journalist idol is even less personal than the relationship I share with my dog.
"he was a tenacious reporter, and even while he anchored "World News Tonight" he was one of the premier newsmen in the biz."
and? I wrote a great paper once on African American poetry. I don't think my AA professor will give a shit when I bite the dust, nor should he. I'm a musician. I admired the work Andres Segovia did for the classical guitar, and when he died I didn't care, but I still care a hell of a lot for my family. you dig?
15 - nugget
also, I never said Jenning's wasn't a great reporter. I never criticized the guy at all.
16 - Victor Plenty
It must be comforting to believe you have found the One True and Correct Emotional Response to all of life's setbacks.
17 - nugget
You're telling me!
18 - nugget
actually victor I havn't found the fountain of youth, but it took some real genius to understand that the dead sea wasn't IT.
19 - Victor Plenty
Browbeating and insulting people who don't share your exact emotional approach to current events is not a particularly helpful response, nugget.
20 - nugget
and when was help my intention?? I'm on a sinister cabal of superior bloggers website and you can bet I'll contribute by speaking my mind.
21 - Natalie Davis
Hear, hear, Mr. Sussman.
Mr. Nugget, I get your drift, but have you lost your sensitivity chip? You may not care (and you certainly have the right to say so), but many of us do care. I never had the privilege of meeting Mr. Jennings, but as a journalist, I learned a lot from the man's work and example. I appreciate that immensely. So yes, I'm sad. And I was sad when Segovia and Cobain passed away too. Absolutely, the losses of my father and my first spouse and too many close friends cut deeper than "celebrity deaths," but why ridicule and condemn people for acknowledging those who had some impact on their lives and noting that they feel a genuine sense of loss, however large or small?
I respectfully suggest that you find some humanity and get a grip.
22 - nugget
get a grip. hmm. I don't think you're in an emotional state to be giving advice natalie. You're the one that's grievous. I'm typing all of this for fun right now. If i thought the implications of my posts would do any actual harm to fellow blog readers I would stop. Ok maybe not. BUT, it shouldn't...so there.
23 - Natalie Davis
Grievous, Mr. Nugget? Now my feelings are hurt.
NR Davis
24 - Shark
Nugget, next time you wanna accuse Shark of "...throwing his weight around like a true jack ass..." -- you might wanna check out the donkey in the mirror.
You make me sound like the Dalai Lama.
======
Just for the record: Mr. Nugget is galavanting around BC trying to be "Shark" without the brains, insight, or humor -- and he's doing a good job of it.
When things get really rough, he'll create other screen names to compliment himself.
Carry on.
25 - Silas Kain
I'll always remember Jennings during his first term as ABC Nightly News Anchor. I was a young boy in those days and it was Peter Jennings who inspired me to give a damn about what went on in the world. Perhaps he was the first guy I ever had a crush on because I remember vividly how upset I was when he left the anchor spot that first time. I also remember how thrilled I was at his return 22 years ago. So, count me as one of those who feels the loss of Peter Jennings. I didn't know him personally but he was a welcome guest in my home thousands of times. I never broke bread with him in person but we shared many a supper. So to his family I express my deepest condolences. To his ABC News family I extend heartfelt gratitude for the dignity with which they approached his illness and death.