At first, I missed the comment and was somewhat shocked when I heard that White House Correspondent Helen Thomas, quite a legend in the news industry, was retiring over remarks she made concerning Israel and Jews.
Now the debate, at least amongst the White House Correspondents' Association - the organization that will assign the seat - is who gets to sit front row center.
Politico has predicted either Fox News or Bloomberg News will get to move to the front row.
I don't wish to get into a political debate over what she said and whether she is right or wrong. Like many folks, I have my opinion, but it's going to remain that...my opinion.
Rather, I have a hope that this incident will not mar the legacy Helen Thomas leaves behind.
Thomas has always been considered a hard-nosed journalist who wasn't afraid to question power. She began her career at the Washington Daily News (now defunct) as a copy girl and joined United Press International in 1943. In 2000, she became a columnist for the Hearst News Service.
A few accomplishments from her biography:
- She was the first female officer of the National Press Club.
- She began covering the White House under President Kennedy.
- She traveled the world with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton.
- She is the only newspaperwoman to travel to China with President Nixon on his famous trip.
Her biggest accomplishment, in my mind, is her ability to show up every single day, ask tough questions and do the difficult, draining work of a journalist over a career of mind-boggling length.
She's been outspoken before and gotten in trouble for it before.
And I'm not condoning her comments, obviously stemming from deep emotional feelings and seeming blurted without thinking of the consequences.
But she has been a professional and a pioneer for women in journalism. While the final incident will follow her, I hope her other accomplishments will follow her as well.
Comments