It’s the end of an era. That’s a cliche, of course. But the death of our friend and colleague, Peter Jennings, completes a cycle of history in the media business that started 42 years ago, when the nightly news broadcasts on television first went from 15 to 30 minutes.

Coupled with the recent retirements of Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather, Jennings’ passing marks the final sign-off for the mega-anchors, those celestial figures CBS chief Les Moonves likened to the “voice of God.”