Dan Rather Gives Message to Journalists: 'Don't be Afraid to Ask the Hard Questions'

It's said you are not supposed to meet your heroes. But in the case of Dan Rather, I decided to chance it. After all, how often do you have the opportunity to shake hands with one of American journalism's iconic reporters?

Monday night I did just that, as Rather, the former anchor and managing editor for CBS News for more than 20 years, gave a talk at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor to promote his new book, "Rather Outspoken."

It was no surprise that Rather spent the better half of his hour and a half presentation retelling stories about his career highlights at CBS, much of which are detailed in the book. From the battlefields of the Vietnam War to aggressively pursuing the Nixon administration during the Watergate scandal in the 1970s, Rather gleefully took the audience on a tour of his longstanding career. And mostly everyone, including this reporter, sat intently hanging on Rather's every word.

I did find it somewhat disappointing, (albeit not as much as the audience member sitting next to me) when one University of Michigan student leaned over and whispered to me: "Who is Dan Rather?" and proceeded to laugh hysterically during the first 15 minutes of the presentation.

To me, the question was a sad testament to today's youth, where video games like "Call of Duty" and reality shows like "Jersey Shore" take precedence over the nightly news or concern for issues like the local economy, foreign and domestic affairs, and politics.

Who is Dan Rather? Dan Rather was (and continues to be for many) the face of CBS News until he was untimely forced out of the anchor's chair in 2005 following a controversial report on President George W. Bush's service in the U.S. National Guard.

For me, Rather is a hero. I remember sitting on the floor in my parents' house every night listening to Dan Rather as images of the day's news flashed across the screen. I was only in grade school, but dreams of one day interviewing foreign presidents, A-list actors and everyday Joe's, quickly filled my head and led me down the path of a career in journalism.

Like his predecessor, Walter Cronkite, Rather represents the best of journalism. He dedicated the better half of his life to pursue hard hitting news stories to the best of his ability. Was he always right? Rather would be the first to say, no. Was he fair? I believe he was.

Imagine my surprise when I had the opportunity to not only shake Mr. Rather's hand, but also ask him a question after his talk. How do you come up with one question off the top of your head to ask someone who has seen so much in his lifetime? Luckily other audience members' questions covered some of my inquiries.

I eventually settled with asking Mr. Rather whether there was a time he did not agree with CBS' news strategy and wanted to part ways. I also asked his advice for a new generation of journalists.

He told me the best advice he can give for journalists is to learn how to write and to make sure they are passionate about what they are doing. He also said today's journalists shouldn't be afraid to ask tough questions and take chances.

"Quality journalism is not afraid to ask those tough questions that no one else asks," he said. "Don't play it safe and go along with what's popular."

Rather also gave these words of advice:

"Understand two things: that you must burn with a hot, hard flame wanting to do it,” he said. “You have to have passion to make it in journalism. Certainly to make it at any level where you can consistently make a living. That’s number one. And if you don’t have that passion, or you don’t think you can develop that passion, you really should get into something else. Number two, understand that writing is the bedrock of the craft. Whether it’s television, radio, or newspaper writing, if you want a career in journalism, then dedicate yourself to making yourself the best writer you can be, and to be an ever-improving writer."

Above all else, Rather said journalists should remain steadfast in what they believe is right, even in the face of losing a job.

"A free press is the red beating heart of democracy," he said. "Without it, there is no democracy."

I tend to agree. I can only hope that future generations of reporters will take a page from Rather's book and dedicate their career to the pursuit of truth.