Peter Jennings 1938-2005

I would be remiss if I did not mention ABC News anchor Peter Jennings and his passing. Mr. Jennings had a huge influence on me as a young child with an early fascination of the news. ABC was the station my parents always watched, and I often found myself watching the evening news, anchored by Peter Jennings. I would later persue journalism in eighth grade, and again in high school in grades 10, 11 and 12. I would eventually become the editor of my high school newspaper, and even started working for a TV station at the age of 17. I even pursued journalism in college.

Although my attention to journalism has given way to commerical piloting, it is because of people like Peter Jennings and my middle school english teacher that I took such a liking to journalism, and still, to this day, share the same passion for news as I ever have.

Peter Jennings was an idol to me, a man who performed eloquently under pressure and was an encyclopedia of knowledge. He had the ability to take that knowledge and break it down into digestable pieces, often times small enough for me, as a child, to understand.

I just finished watching the ABC News special dedicated to Mr. Jennings' professional career. It was a fantastic look back at some of the amazing things he has done. And what's even more impressive is that he reported the news so well, everytime. The ending of tonight's special was particularly poignant, with a lone trumpeter playing the signature ABC World News Tonight theme. In the background, Mr. Jennings' empty chair at the anchor desk sat brilliantly lit, with a picture of Peter in the background.