Shocking news of NBC Washington Bureau chief Tim Russert’s death from an apparent heart attack is still fresh but it recalls some old stories of how the paunchy-countenanced TV personality became one of the most respected arbiters of political debate by high-jumping substance over the blow-dried showmanship so common in his business.

There is a reason so many Americans feel they know Russert well enough to mourn his passing at age 58. It was an Iowan who gave Russert the chance to do what he did with “Meet The Press.”Former NBC News president Michael Gartner, a native Iowan who edited The Des Moines Register and co-owned The Daily Tribune in Ames before his well-chronicled involvement with the Iowa Cubs and Board of Regents, had the foresight at NBC to see that Russert’s behind-the-scenes smarts made him the perfect choice for more air time.

In a speech at Drake University several years ago to a packed house at the Knapp Center, Russert, host of “Meet The Press,” said he would not be in the position without Gartner taking a chance on him. Gartner introduced Russert that day in Des Moines for the speech, and the two lions of American journalism were close friends, as NBC’s Brian Williams just pointed out on MSNBC moments ago. I recall being at the funeral for Gartner’s son Christopher and hearing that words from Russert, poignant ones about valuing the years we have with loved ones, were among those most comforting to Gartner.

Those of us who worked for Gartner (for my part at The Daily Tribune in Ames) recall the story of Gartner’s Midas touch with Russert’s television career.

The St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times committed the story to print:

By 1989, [Russert] was beginning to appear on news shows. Viewers took to him. Michael Gartner, then president of NBC News, suggested more on-air assignments. Russert described his first reaction to the proposal on The Larry King Show: “I said, ‘Michael, look at me. I don’t belong on TV. I don’t have a jaw. I have cheeks.’”

And cheekiness. Soon he was on Meet the Press regularly, doing frequent comment on Today and NBC’s cable outlet, even turning up often on Imus in the Morning. “It gives me a chance I don’t get on my own shows to insult people,” he joked.

A national crew from FOX News Channel today interviewed Iowa Independent fellow Douglas Burns in Carroll for a story on the Iowa caucuses and the dynamics at work in western Iowa, particularly in the Democrats’ close contest.

FOX also interviewed several voters and leaders in Carroll for a segment tentatively scheduled to air at 5 p.m. CST Tuesday during the “Special Report With Brit Hume” on the national FOX News Channel.

FOX spent some of Monday morning in the Daily Times Herald interviewing reporter/columnist Douglas Burns – who is also an Iowa Independent fellow – about the culture of western Iowa and the political landscape with just a little over a month remaining until the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses.

Burns (right) is pictured speaking with veteran FOX News Channel correspondent Steve Brown.

GOP Congressmen Tom Tancredo, Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter couldn’t buy a top-three finish at the Straw Poll, nor could they buy any R-E-S-P-E-C-T from Fox News.

Fox News also failed to mention their names in its online news story, yet they gave a nod to the three GOP candidates who weren’t even participating in the fund-raising event.Ironically, Fox’s 2008 presidential news coverage, “You Decide 2008,” has helped voters decide by deciding not to include all of the participating candidates in its fair and balanced reporting.

On the campaign trail in Iowa, a number of Ron Paul supporters have told me that their candidate has been ignored by the mainstream media – as reported in the Iowa Independent:

During Thursday’s campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, not everyone was interested in seeing former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for the same reasons. While GOP supporters squeezed into the Spring House Family Restaurant, a group of Rep. Ron Paul faithfuls gathered across the street and held up signs proclaiming support for Paul and disgust with Giuliani. “We’re here to help get the word out on Ron Paul, because he’s not getting any of the media attention,” said Iowa City resident Pam Wagner.

I’ve also heard people contend that Paul supporters may be a little hypersensitive to the lack of national media campaign coverage and face time in the televised debates. While the latter claim can be substantiated with clock time, the former will be left to the viewers, pundits and media analysts as they surf the television, internet and traditional news media sources for bias and unbalanced coverage.

Meanwhile, it’s up to voters to develop their media literacy, while simultaneously holding the media accountable for its coverage and should always ask: “Is this report fair and balanced?”

That’s for You to decide.