First, Tim Russert died. Now, his replacement has been announced: Mark Whitaker. But that isn’t the only change in news personalities that is its worth being news. On another front, political commentator Robert Novak is suspending his news program due to a brain tumor. Last week he struck a pedestrian while driving and claimed later that he didn’t know he had hit someone. Ouch!

What do these changes in news and media personalities – long time icons in the news business – represent? Is this symbolic of a major change in direction for the news in America?

Novak was a popular addition to Pat Buchanan’s “Crossfire” before going off on his own. I’m not sure what this means in terms of where the news business is headed, but I’m sure it marks a real change. The only question is, Will that change be good?