NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr claims that his title means little more than "sitting down a lot." But sitting or standing, when he spoke at the Philadelphia Free Library on Tuesday night he proved sharp as a tack - even at 92. He stopped in Philadelphia on his tour to promote his new book, Come to Think of It: Notes on the Turn of the Millennium. Relecting on his career, Schorr remembered names and dates without hesitation. As his familiar radio voice filled the auditorium, he demonstrated experience, intelligence, and sense of humor, truly living up to his reputation as a living news legend.Schorr spoke extemporaneously and without pomposity about dinners with Henry Kissinger and making Richard Nixon's enemy list. His wit shone through his easy storytelling ability. Only once during the night did his tone take on a weary note: when he spoke of the evolution - or devolution - of journalism. His disappointment with the contemporary media's conflict obsession was evident. Schorr is from the generation of detached, fair journalists that is now out of vogue. He spoke with disgust about news analysts' eagerness for controversy in the presidential debates. He did not dwell on the negative, however, and soon had us laughing again with the story of his first lead, a suicide he witnessed at age twelve.
Schorr revealed the best advice he received as a budding journalist: "The secret to success in the news world is sincerity - if you can fake that, you've got it made." Somehow, I doubt that he's faking it.
