New York Times Columnist David Carr Dies at 58

The media world is reeling from the sudden passing of David Carr, a revered journalist who penned the distinguished and rousing Media Equation for The New York Times.

Carr reportedly passed out while hanging out in the newsroom on Thursday and was rushed to St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His death is another blow to the journalism community after suffering another major loss just the day before with the ultimately death of 60 minutes correspondent Bob Simon, who perished in a car crash in Manhattan. Ironically, Carr tweeted his condolences once the news broke.

Carr’s death was confirmed by the Times via office email and immediately the sad news filtered into social media, ushering a flood of tweets from stunned colleagues and fans as they shared their connection to the man who consistently revitalized an institution that very few can indelibly penetrate.

Carr’s career was a revolving collage of enviable increments that gave him the latitude to deposit his brand of literary brashness through major outlets like The Atlantic Monthly and New York Magazine, where he served as a contributor.

In 2008, he released a memoir, The Night of the Gun where he documented his harrowing days as a drug and alcohol abuser and his road to recovery.

Carr was always diligent about dispensing practical advice to young journalists that looked up to him. He famously recalled how his days as an alcoholic revealed the fact that he was still capable of churning out clips that rivaled the ones he had written sober which led him to conclude that creativity isn’t a biased exercise.

But his final testimony began back in 2002, when he joined The New York Times and initiated what became an illustrious tenure, that saw him as the business reporter and later a weekly columnist who delved into the multifaceted layers of the media world including digital, film, television and radio.

In the end, Carr’s legacy is entrenched in the scope of his work ethic that kept him thriving till the day he died. Hours before the tragedy, he attended a “Times Talks” panel where he moderated the panel that comprised of Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poltras, who directed the film Citzenfour – the subject of discussion. The film centers on Snowden’s controversial expose of the National Security Agency.

Carr, who is survived by his wife, Jill and daughters Maddie, Erin and Meaghan will be missed by those he touched and inspired but the greatest loss will be attributed to those who were not fortunate enough to experience his profound influence first hand. The landscape of journalism is increasingly bolting towards bipolar tendencies and as the greats make their exit – we are left with a future that is achingly uncertain.