‘Not in the entertainment business’ | Off the Record - Chico Enterprise-Record

‘Not in the entertainment business’ | Off the Record - Chico Enterprise-Record

You never know who you’ll run into in an airport.

Typically it’s the usual cast of characters — harried moms and dads trying to keep their kids contained and entertained; business travels wired up to phones, Bluetooths, tablets and laptops; retired folks heading out to visit family or escape family; TSA agents; and, occasionally a service or companion dog named Jake, Henry or Bubbles.

At least that’s who you run into these days. But 36 years ago the cast of characters was quite different. There were still families and retired folks but fewer and they were all dressed up to travel. There were business travelers but they weren’t wired up to anything cuz in those days there wasn’t anything to be connected to except the people around you. You rarely saw any kind of dog and TSA agents? Who the heck are they?

I traveled more frequently on business in 1984 then I do now. I’d fly regularly to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Washington DC/Virginia and Las Vegas. Sometimes I traveled with colleagues but more often then not I went solo. And, unlike these days when I wear stretchy warm clothes, flat slip on shoes, no make up and my hair up, I always “dressed for success” — heels, stockings, a suit with button down blouse, perfect hair, makeup and jewelry with a briefcase in one hand and my purse in the other. They called me “Miss Thing.”

So 36 years ago I was at Dulles Airport. My flight back to San Francisco had been delayed so I was just sitting at the gate waiting. There were a lot of folks sitting and milling around as several flights had been delayed or cancelled due to weather.

I was fairly engrossed in the book I was reading so just barely glanced up when a man took the seat next to me. But there was something familiar about him so I looked at him again.

“Oh my gosh. You’re Jim Lehrer!”

He smiled that soft smile of his and put out his hand, “Yes I am and you are?”

“Oh wow. I’m, uh, I’m uhh,” I said forgetting my own name as I took his warm hand for a firm shake. “I’m Kyra Gottesman, and I’ve been watching you since Watergate!”

“Well that’s a long time. Thank you,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I bet this happens to you all the time – people recognizing you and bothering you and …” I was a bit embarrassed being so blatantly star struck at meeting the anchor for the PBS NewHour.

“No actually. It doesn’t. I’m not in the entertainment business,” he said quoting himself.

“That’s Lehrer rule No. 9,” I said.

“You know my rules?”

“Yes I do. They are the rules I have tried to abide by as a journalist,” I said.

“Well now, that’s something,” he said.

And then, they called his flight and he stood up and with another handshake and it was “nice to meet yous” one of the greatest news broadcasters in history walked away.

Lehrer passed away Thursday at age 85. His passing saddened me, even though I know we loose all greats to age and finally death sooner or later. I was glad Lehrer’s passing was “later” and his passing peaceful.

I actually hadn’t read his rules, which I used to know by heart, for many years so I dug them up and, in honor of this great of the Fourth Estate I read them because they are, in general, the best codes of conduct for any journalist. I wish more journalists followed them.

Jim Lehrer’ Rules:

1)  Do nothing I cannot defend.

2)  Cover, write and present every story with the care I would want if the story were about me.

3)  Assume there is at least one other side or version to every story.

4)  Assume the viewer is as smart and caring and good a person as I am.

5)  Assume the same about all people on whom I report.

6)  Assume personal lives are a private matter until a legitimate turn in the story absolutely mandates otherwise.

7)  Carefully separate opinion and analysis from straight news stories and clearly label everything.

8)  Do not use anonymous sources or blind quotes except on rare and monumental occasions. No one should be allowed to attack another anonymously.

9)  “I am not in the entertainment business.” (This last was the only one he ever put in quotes)

RIP Jim Lehrer (1934-2020)

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2020-01-25 11:01:51Z
https://www.chicoer.com/not-in-the-entertainment-business-off-the-record
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