McGinnis: “The CBS News Family Lost Two Gems Today”

In a message on Public Eye, Marcy McGinnis, the former senior vice president for news coverage at CBS News, sends her condolences:

“The CBS News family lost two gems today. Paul Douglas was one of the finest men I have ever known. He had a smile that could light up a room, a man who got the most out of every minute of life. He made us laugh every time we were with him. Paul started at CBS as a freelance soundman and quickly became one of our finest staff cameramen — always willing to travel to the most horrible places on earth to do his work — to shoot his pictures, record his sound and make live television work for all CBS News broadcasts. He was one of those heroes behind the camera — never wanting the limelight — only trying to make CBS’s foreign news coverage better every day while providing for his wonderful family. And oh that smile!

I didn’t know James, but everyone tells me he was a great guy, a fabulous husband and superb dad with a great sense of humor — something often needed in a place like Baghdad.

Kimberly spent an enormous amount of time in Baghdad for CBS News often volunteering for months at a time. She always wanted to be in the field, not at the hotel where it was safer. She wanted to talk to soldiers, officers, civilians and others face to face. She loved her reporter’s life.

As a former member of the CBS family, I cry with you today. I send my love to all. I pray for Kimberly’s recovery and for James’s family. And I’ll try my best to smile when I think of Paul’s wonderful face.”

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