Tim Russert

WASHINGTON (AP):

Tim Russert, one of the most influential United States journalists and NBC television's Washington bureau chief, collapsed and died at work yesterday after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 58

Russert took the helm of Meet the Press, a Sunday news show, in December 1991 and turned it into the most widely watched programme of its type in the U.S. His signature trait there was an unrelenting style of questioning, sparing none of the politicians, business giants and even sports figures who appeared on his show.

The best journalist in town

Washingtonian magazine once dubbed Russert the best journalist in town, and described Meet the Press as "the most interesting and important hour on television".

He also wrote best-selling books, Big Russ and Me, in 2004, and Wisdom of our Fathers, in 2006.

This year, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Russert also was a senior vice president at NBC.