OT-- Bloom dead of pulmonary embolism at 39

April 6, 2003

Prominent NBC journalist dies in Iraq

Bloom dead of pulmonary embolism at 39

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Bloom, a prominent NBC News journalist

who was covering the war in Iraq, died suddenly of a non-combat

ailment while on duty.

Described as " dedicated, tenacious and talented, " the 10-year NBC

veteran, who was 39, was traveling with troops about 25 miles south

of Baghdad when he suddenly collapsed, according to NBC spokeswoman

Gollust.

He was airlifted to a nearby field medical unit, where he was

pronounced dead from a pulmonary embolism, Gollust told The

Associated Press.

Bloom was embedded with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division near Baghdad.

" We have lost one of our very, very best, " said Tim Russert,

moderator of NBC's " Meet the Press. " " He really had captivated the

country " with his reporting.

" Today " show anchor Couric said he was really " sort of the

symbol of journalism in this war. "

Bloom, a Minnesota native, would have been 40 next month.

Co-anchor of the weekend editions of " Today " since March 2000, Bloom,

who joined NBC in 1993, covered major stories for the network,

including the violence in Israel, the war on terror and recovery

efforts at the recovery efforts from Ground Zero.

Before he became an anchor, Bloom was a White House correspondent,

covering the Republican presidential race for NBC News.

Prior to his White House role, he was a Los Angeles-based

correspondent, reporting on the Unabomber, the Freeman standoff, the

war in Bosnia, Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign, and the O.J.

Simpson criminal and civil trials.

Before joining NBC, Bloom was a general assignment and investigative

reporter for WTVJ, the NBC-owned television station in Miami.

He was a co-recipient of the 1992 Peabody Award and an

RTNDA R. Murrow Award for his coverage of Hurricane and

was awarded a 1991 Regional Emmy for investigative journalism for his

report on South Florida's role in the shipment of arms to Iraq.

He attended Pitzer College in Claremont, California, from 1981 to

1985. A native of Edina, Minnesota, Bloom and his wife, , have

three daughters.

" In times like these, a journalist's contribution to his country is

measured in terms of illustrious commitment and sacrifice, " NBC

Chairman and CEO Bob said in a statement. " There was no one

more devoted to his calling than Bloom and for that we are both

grateful and humbled. "

Bloom was " an extraordinary man and dedicated journalist; his

courage, passion, and unerring devotion to his craft was

unparalleled, " said NBC News president Neal Shapiro in a statement.

" Over the past few weeks, we marveled as he demonstrated a tireless

devotion to this story. At this incredibly difficult time, our

thoughts and prayers are with 's family and all of our brave

colleagues who remain overseas. "

The news of Bloom's death comes on the heels of the death of the

first U.S. journalist in the war, . He was a Washington

Post columnist and Atlantic Monthly editor-at-large. , who was

embedded with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, was killed

Thursday night in a Humvee accident.

published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press

contributed to this report.

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April 6, 2003