Jim Lehrer to step down from daily broadcast at PBS ‘Newshour’

[Newsjock]

Source: Washington Post

Jim Lehrer, who has anchored PBS’ “Newshour” program for 36 years, said Thursday morning that he is stepping down from the daily broadcast, ending the longest run of a national anchorman.

Lehrer, 76, said he would leave as anchor on June 6, but would continue to appear on Fridays to moderate the “Newshour’s” weekly news analysis segment featuring a panel of journalists. He will also continue to be involved with the program’s producer, MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, based in Arlington.

In addition to his familiar role on PBS, the widely respected Lehrer may be best known to American audiences as the moderator of presidential debates. He has handled that job 11 times, including one of the debates between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain in 2008.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/jim-lehrer-to-step-down-from-daily-broadcast-at-pbs-newshour/2011/05/12/AFS5VwyG_story.html

[callous taoboy]

1. The most trusted news program for 36 years, in my opinion.

I will miss seeing Mr. Lehrer, but 36 years is a long run.

[closeupready]

2. Agreed.

K&R

[salin]

7. k&r

[neoralme]

3. The last newsperson retires.

dddddddddddd

[Proletariatprincess]

4. I still miss MacNeil.

He was much better than Lehrer, in my opinion, and the founder of the News Hour. The program steadily declined after MacNeil left.
I suppose Gwen Iffle when now anchor the News Hour. I never did like her much. She is just too Beltway. I never watch her panel talk show either. The woman irritates me in many ways.
The MacNeil Lehrer News Hour was a must watch and I never missed it. Now I seldom watch the Snooze Hour.

[intheflow]

9. Agreed.

I think Lehrer is a little trollish. Since he took the helm the guest lists have favored white conservative males over any other demographic, mirroring the CM.

[alp227]

5. I knew this was coming as Lehrer often had subsitute anchors

then reformatted and renamed the show to PBS NewsHour from The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer in December 2009. Lehrer was a distinguished, accomplished news anchor hosting a fresh, sensible alternative to the infotainment posing as evening news on the commercial networks. Lehrer's fellow reporters are doing good work on the NewsHour too.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Semper Fi, Jim, enjoy your retirement and thanks for your journalistic service.

Thanks for the thread, Newsjock.

[tabasco]

8. Wow, he's really great.

Right up there with Walter Cronkite.