Media Circus

Well, one can go on and on about how "tawdry" it is for the media to report the death of Oregonian editor Bob Caldwell, but he is the one who put himself in that position, so to speak. What is unique about the story was the paper for which he worked reported the manner of death. It is indeed newsworthy, as is any report of a death of an active journalist.

I am reminded not just of the death surrounding Nelson Rockefeller, who isn't remembered at all today for what he did in life but instead the manner of his death, but also I am reminded of the death of CBS journalist Charles Kuralt. Kuralt died of lupus complications in a hospital in 1997, not in lurid circumstances like Caldwell, but there was a huge controversy over his estate. The world soon found out that Kuralt, who loved to report on stories touching on traditional family values, was himself living a double life with a girlfriend of some 29 years. There was NO way the story could be avoided as the estate battle was fought in the Montana courts between Kuralt's widow (and later daughters after the widow died) and the mistress. Eventually the mistress, Pat Shannon (also known as Pat Baker), won the fight and got the Montana property where she and Kuralt lived. The court made the correct decision since Kuralt had already deeded part of the property to her, and therefore the letter he wrote stating his desire for her to get the rest of the property was considered a valid document.

It was newsworthy if a bit tawdry. So is the manner of Bob Caldwell's death.