Tim Russert, the host of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and NBC’s Washington bureau chief, has died suddenly of a heart attack at age 58.

Mr. Russert was a towering figure in American journalism and moderated several debates during the recent presidential primary season.

Tom Brokaw, the former anchor of NBC Nightly News, came on the air at 3:39 p.m. and reported that Mr. Russert had collapsed and died early this afternoon while at work. He had just returned from Italy with his family.

“Our beloved colleague,” a grave Mr. Brokaw called him, one of the premier journalists of our time. He said this was one of the most important years in his life, with his deep engagement in the network’s political coverage, and that he “worked to the point of exhaustion.” Mr. Brokaw said Mr. Russert was a true child of Buffalo and always stayed in touch with his blue collar roots and “the ethos of that community.”

He said Mr. Russert had just moved his father, who is in his late 80s, from one facility to another in Buffalo. He said he loved his family, his Catholic faith, his country, politics, the Buffalo Bills, the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals.

“This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice,” Mr. Brokaw said.

After Mr. Brokaw made the announcement, the network switched to Brian Williams, the anchor of the NBC News, who is reporting from Afghanistan this week. Mr. Williams broke down as he tried to describe what the loss meant to his network family.

The network is struggling through shock and grief to bring the story of Mr. Russert’s life and journalistic achievements to its viewers immediately. Andrea Mitchell is describing him as “the pre-eminent journalist of our time” and said he was her mentor.

Source: NBC’s Tim Russert Dies (Story developing)

In 2008, Time Magazine named Russert him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Timothy John Russert Jr. was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950. He was a graduate of Canisius High School, John Carroll University and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was a member of the bar in New York and the District of Columbia.

Tim Russert in 1982

Senate staffer before entering journalism

After graduating from law school, Russert went into politics as a staff operative. In 1976, he worked on the Senate campaign of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., and in 1982, he worked on Mario Cuomo’s campaign for governor of New York.

Russert joined NBC News in 1984. In April 1985, he supervised the live broadcasts of NBC’s TODAY show from Rome, negotiating and arranging an appearance by Pope John Paul II, a first for American television. In 1986 and 1987, Russert led NBC News’ weeklong broadcasts from South America, Australia and China.

Of his background as a Democratic political operative, Russert said, “My views are not important.”

“Lawrence Spivak, who founded ‘Meet the Press,’ told me before he died that the job of the host is to learn as much as you can about your guest’s positions and take the other side,” he said in a 2007 interview with Time magazine. “And to do that in a persistent and civil way. And that’s what I try to do every Sunday.”

Source MSNBC: NBC’s Tim Russert dead at 58 (Story developing)

****UPDATE****

Here is video of Tom Brokaw reporting on Tim Russert’s death on NBC

Brian Williams’ NBC Nightly News report on Tim Russert

See also:

• Wonkette: A YouTube Tribute To Tim Russert, Dead Today At 58
• Tim Russert and New York Politics
• New York Times: Slide show, Tim Russert 1950-2008
• Tim Russert, “Meet the Press”Host, Is Dead at 58
• Tim Russert, 58, NBC’s Face of Politics, Dies (New York Times obituary)

*****UPDATE – June 15, 2008 ********
Mediabistro has provided exceptional coverage, with numerous videos, photographs and links to stories about Tim Russert

-In Memoriam: Tim Russert, Day 3

-In Memoriam: Tim Russert (Day 2)

-In Memoriam: Tim Russert, Day One


Tim Russert, Moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press” Dies at 58