Robert MacNeil, legendary PBS News anchor, dies at age 93

Longtime broadcast journalist Robert MacNeil, who covered significant headlines and co-anchored PBS nightly news for two decades, passed away at the age of 93. MacNeil was praised for his erudite reporting and his role in setting high journalistic standards during his time at NewsHour. He began his career as a London-based correspondent for NBC and later transitioned to a role in the US. MacNeil joined PBS in the early 1970s and partnered with Jim Lehrer to lead the coverage of the Senate’s Watergate Hearings. They co-founded the MacNeil/Lehrer Report, which later became PBS NewsHour. MacNeil retired in 1995 but continued to contribute occasionally. MacNeil’s refusal to indulge in sensational news practices contributed to his reputation for journalistic integrity. He expressed concerns about the future of television news given the changes over the years.