This is a feature interview we did with Russ Mitchell of CBS News back in Nov, 2008 right after Barack Obama won the election as US President….

(by Holly Edgell)

Russ Mitchell may just be the hardest-working man in broadcast television news.

He’s the news anchor for the CBS “Early Show” and the anchor of the Sunday evening edition of CBS “Evening News.” He also continues to cover major stories around the globe. On election night this year, he was deployed to Atlanta. Just a few days later he was in Athens, Greece as of the Early Show’s “Destination Unknown Series.” Mitchell, a native of St. Louis, earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He maintains strong ties with the School by volunteering his time for a yearly urban journalism workshop for high school students. In September he moderated a televised panel of journalism and telecommunication industry leaders as part of the School’s Centennial Celebration.

JNOW: I know it’s probably early to bed and early to rise for you because of your duties at CBS, but did you make an exception on election night? What were you doing that night and where?

I was at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former church of Martin Luther King which is considered to be one of the cradles of the civil rights movement. The church was hosting an “Election Night Watch Party” and the guests included Andrew Young and two of the surviving King children.

JNOW: You were in Europe on assignment just a few short days after the election. Describe your feelings as Europeans reacted so positively to the Obama win. Did you respond to their remarks as a journalist or an American? As a person of color?

I responded as an American Journalist. My first response was to ask “why are you so excited about Barack Obama?” There were a couple of amusing moments when people tried to give me high fives to celebrate Obama’s victory (this has also happened to me here in the States). I would just laugh. It’s one thing if I’m sitting in my basement with my family or my buddies but I would never knowingly disclose my personal political preferences to a viewer.

JNOW: I am guessing here, but I imagine that no one at The Missouri School of Journalism taught you how to comport yourself as a journalist who is black, in the event that a black person should win the presidency?

No. But I also don’t think it’s their responsibility. I think being a journalist is a career long on the job training course.

JNOW: How do you think journalists of color did in reporting the Obama win in terms of their personal emotions and reactions while covering the story? Can you think of any specific examples that struck you as moving? Over the top? Just right?

I didn’t see a lot that night, since I was in the middle of a busy assignment myself. Personally, my reaction to that moment when the networks called the race for Barack Obama was more personal than political and I remember thinking I wish my parents were around to see that night. Honestly, in that context I think it was hard if not impossible for almost any African American journalist not to be moved by that moment. As far as displaying emotions I have mixed feelings about what is appropriate and what is crossing the line. I think in my live reports viewers could see that I was moved by this incredible moment in history by the way I tried to put the night in context and the way I asked questions to guests. I’m also told my hand was shaking as I was holding the microphone. I didn’t even realize that.

JNOW: I recently polled one my classes (a media literacy course for non-majors) about the issue of journalists sharing their emotions after the Obama win. The majority of the students thought this was okay, in moderation. How does this response strike you?

I would agree. Also, any reaction that is contrived (and I did see one of those), in my opinion, is taking it too far and crosses that line into not being professional.

JNOW: Journalists used to be taught to be objective. Now we are taught to do our best to be fair, keep our biases in check, and provide balance and context. It seemed like at least two cable networks decided to jettison both approaches this last election cycle. What do you think that does to journalism?

I see it as just part of the landscape of television journalism in the 21st century. I only hope that viewers realize when they watch those outlets they know what they are getting and make it a point to get their news from multiple sources so they can make up their own mind.

JNOW: What are some of the minefields black journalists might encounter in covering Obama once he is on the job as president?

I think the biggest minefield for many black journalists covering Obama will be something they may have nothing to do with: The pre-conceived notion among some readers/viewers that the journalist is biased because he or she is black. The only way to counter this is for us to do our jobs the way we have for years, by being professional and asking the hard questions.

JNOW: I wonder if some of the veiled and not-so veiled references to race, religion, socialism and other matters will rear their heads once the president-elect becomes President Obama. What do you think?

I’m no sociologist but I don’t believe the issue of race is suddenly a non issue in this country, despite the fact that we just elected Barack Obama the leader of the free world.

JNOW: It’s the first White House Press Conference of President Obama’s tenure. What advice would you give a thirty-something journalist of color about to ask his or her first question at a White House Press Conference?

It’s simple. What is the news of the day? What can I ask that will give my viewers/readers some insight into President Obama and his Administration? What do Americans want to know? This is the same advice I’d give to any young journalist, regardless of color.

JNOW: Thanks Russ for answering our questions!