As a former journalist (six years as a UPI wire guy), I have the utmost respect for the written and unwritten rules that have governed traditional broadcast and print journalism since the beginning of time. In fact, I’m saddened by how much those rules have deteriorated over the years. The day-to-day battles I had during my UPI days with friends and foes at the Associated Press, including the now legendary John King back in the days of Providence, RI, would make for some great posts for another day.

However, this lingering story about NBC’s attempt to delay the news of Tim Russert’s death just bugs me - not because it wasn’t the right thing to do, but it shows the incredible lack of understanding of how much news coverage has changed over the past few years. Without a doubt, attempts to reach Mr. Russert’s family prior to NBC airing the story was the correct course of action. But to chastise an employee at Internet Broadcasting Services for updating Russert’s profile on Wikipedia 11 minutes before the story appeared on NBC is just not right. Like it or not, these are the times we now live in. News no longer waits for anyone.

NBC had no choice but to handle the situation as it did and the network is probably thrilled not to be held accountable for leaking the information early. But to think that breaking news like Mr. Russert’s death will not hit the blogosphere, Twitter and other online sites before traditional media is just insane in this day and age.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I’ve had more than a few front row seats (called jobs) with companies that thought they could stick to their old ways of doing business when times changed, only to find out the hard way that wasn’t such a good idea. UPI was one of those companies. Let’s hope NBC isn’t another.

Mike Spataro