David Carr: Columnist Died Day After Tweeting About Bob Simon
David Carr, a New York Times columnist, died Thursday night at the age of 58.
The Huffington Post reports that Carr collapsed in the midtown New York Times newsroom in Manhattan.
Earlier on Thursday, mere hours before he died, David Carr moderated a TimesTalk that was focused on the National Security Agency leaks with journalists Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald, as well as Edward Snowden.
Many people have posted their reactions to the tragic news of Carr’s death and condolences on Twitter, including celebrities that were inspired by David Carr’s work for one reason or another.
As the media dies expect them to get more emotional every time one of their own dies. #DavidCarr #BobSimon
— Charles C. Johnson (@ChuckCJohnson) February 13, 2015
Nightmare week in journalism w fall of #BriWi, departure of #JonStewart, deaths of #BobSimon and now #DavidCarr, who was best media critic. — Howard Fineman (@howardfineman) February 13, 2015
In my prep for the role, I imagined Will McAvoy saying “I gotta take this” every time he heard, “#DavidCarr on Line 1.”
— Jeff Daniels (@Jeff_Daniels) February 13, 2015
We lost one of the great voices in journalism. Remember #DavidCarr — Jenny Simpson (@trackjenny) February 13, 2015
Quite a few of Carr’s colleagues from the New York Times have also come forward with their own statements.
Dean Baquet, the executive editor of the newspaper, informed the rest of the staff of Carr’s death. In a published newsroom memo, Baquet described David Carr as a “wonderful, esteemed colleague.”
“He was the finest media reporter of his generation, a remarkable and funny man who was one of the leaders of our newsroom. He was our biggest champion, and his unending passion for journalism and for truth will be missed by his family at The Times, by his readers around the world and by people who love journalism.”
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., one of the Times publishers, issued his own statement in which he credited David Carr as being “one of the most gifted journalists” who has ever worked for the newspaper.
“[David] combined formidable talent as a reporter with acute judgment to become an indispensable guide to modern media. But his friends…will remember him as a unique human being – full of life and energy, funny, loyal and lovable. An irreplaceable talent, he will be missed by everyone who works for The Times and everyone who reads it.”
The death of David Carr occurred the day after 73-year-old 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon died in a car accident in the same city.
Carr actually posted a message on his official Twitter page on Wednesday shortly after the news about Simon’s death was confirmed.
RIP Bob Simon, a television storyteller without peer. http://t.co/lZ5RdXJBxD Dies in 2 car crash in Manhattan.
— david carr (@carr2n) February 12, 2015
David Carr worked as the editor of two alternative weeklies — the Washington City Paper and Twin Cities Reader. He also wrote for numerous outlets, including New York magazine, the Atlantic and Inside.com long before being welcomed into the world of the New York Times in 2002.
In addition to writing features on culture and movie awards seasons, David was perhaps mostly recognized for his Monday column in the New York Times, “Media Equation.”
David Carr is survived by his wife, Jill and three daughters — Maddie, Meagan, and Erin.
[Image Credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images]
