[Deathwatch] David Bloom, NBC journalist, 39

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Prominent NBC journalist dies in Iraq

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/04/06/sprj.irq.journalist.death/index.html

David Bloom dead of pulmonary embolism at 39
Sunday, April 6, 2003 Posted: 11:46 AM EDT (1546 GMT)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- David Bloom, a prominent NBC News journalist who
was covering the war in Iraq, died suddenly of a non-combat ailment
while on duty. 

Described as "dedicated, tenacious and talented," the 10-year NBC
veteran, who was 39, was traveling with troops about 25 miles south of
Baghdad when he suddenly collapsed, according to NBC spokeswoman
Allison Gollust. 

He was airlifted to a nearby field medical unit, where he was
pronounced dead from a pulmonary embolism, Gollust told The Associated
Press. 

Bloom was embedded with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division near Baghdad. 

"We have lost one of our very, very best," said Tim Russert, moderator
of NBC's "Meet the Press." "He really had captivated the country" with
his reporting. 

"Today" show anchor Katie Couric said he was really "sort of the symbol
of journalism in this war." 

Bloom, a Minnesota native, would have been 40 next month. 

Co-anchor of the weekend editions of "Today" since March 2000, Bloom,
who joined NBC in 1993, covered major stories for the network,
including the violence in Israel, the war on terror and recovery
efforts at the recovery efforts from Ground Zero. 

Before he became an anchor, Bloom was a White House correspondent,
covering the Republican presidential race for NBC News. 

Prior to his White House role, he was a Los Angeles-based
correspondent, reporting on the Unabomber, the Freeman standoff, the
war in Bosnia, Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign, and the O.J.
Simpson criminal and civil trials. 

Before joining NBC, Bloom was a general assignment and investigative
reporter for WTVJ, the NBC-owned television station in Miam. 

He was a co-recipient of the 1992 George Foster Peabody Award and an
RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of Hurricane Andrew and
was awarded a 1991 Regional Emmy for investigative journalism for his
report on South Florida's role in the shipment of arms to Iraq. 

He attended Pitzer College in Claremont, California, from 1981 to 1985.
A native of Edina, Minnesota, Bloom and his wife, Melanie, have three
daughters. 

"In times like these, a journalist's contribution to his country is
measured in terms of illustrious commitment and sacrifice," NBC
Chairman and CEO Bob Wright said in a statement. "There was no one more
devoted to his calling than David Bloom and for that we are both
grateful and humbled." 

Bloom was "an extraordinary man and dedicated journalist; his courage,
passion, and unerring devotion to his craft was unparalleled," said NBC
News president Neal Shapiro in a statement. "Over the past few weeks,
we marveled as he demonstrated a tireless devotion to this story. At
this incredibly difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with
David's family and all of our brave colleagues who remain overseas." 

The news of Bloom's death comes on the heels of the death of the first
U.S. journalist in the war, Michael Kelly. He was a Washington Post
columnist and Atlantic Monthly editor-at-large. Kelly, who was embedded
with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, was killed Thursday night
in a Humvee accident.