Mainstream Media Nepotism: Luke Russert Scores Sweet Deal with NBC

Posted by Jill Hussein C., Brilliant at Breakfast at 1:56 PM on August 1, 2008.

Look, I have no beef against Luke Russert.

Amidst all the hue and cry and rending of garments and the week-long grief-fest that took place on all three networks after Tim Russert's sudden death, it was Russert's own son, one of a very few people who had a blood-born right to be curled up in a fetal position in the corner, who managed to pull himself together and conduct himself with class and dignity when people three times his age were blubbering like infants on national television for a full week.

But isn't there something just a little bit wrong when there are no doubt thousands of kids who are "A" students in their journalism majors who are going to be toiling away covering council meetings in Anytown, USA for the next five years trying to get some actual experience, and this guy gets a TV correspondent gig on a national network based on who his dad was -- especially when Rachel Maddow is out there suffering the indignity of having to parry crap from the likes of Pat Buchanan night after night?

Again, this is no knock on young Mr. Russert, who is at least saying the right humble-type things:

Russert told MSNBC.com that he realizes some might say it was only his name that got him the job. But he's ready for the challenge and plans to work hard, he said.

"I'm not trying to be my father. He's irreplaceable. I'm simply trying to do something that I think there's a real niche for, that there's a calling for, that has to do with youth, not just in the election but in politics from now on," Russert said.

In a statement, he said he was "humbled and grateful" for the opportunity.

Still, isn't it bad enough that we can't escape from political dynasties, do we have to set them up in the media too? Have we learned nothing from the Hack That Is Chris Wallace?

Tagged as: rachel maddow, nbc, tim russert, luke russert, mainstream media nepotism

Jill Hussein C. blogs at Brilliant at Breakfast.