Former Latvian Television journalist Jānis Dimants dies

Former Latvian Television journalist Jānis Dimants, a legendary reporter for the broadcaster’s Panorāma news programme, has died at the age of 89, LSM reported. His heart stopped during the night leading into September 2.

Dimants worked in Latvian Television’s news editorial office and later its News Service for more than 40 years. After retiring, he remained Panorāma’s biggest fan.

He began working in television in the late 1950s, when the medium was still new. His first television news report came from the countryside. Having grown up in a farming family, Dimants understood people’s hardships and joys and quickly became one of them.

Colleagues continued to look to his example. News Service journalist Ģirts Zvirbulis has said that when he is outside Riga and cannot think of how to write a report, he often wonders what Mr Dimants would have said.

Dimants took the greatest joy and pride in his large family, including his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will also be remembered by generations of Panorāma journalists as a reporter who always treated even the most ordinary interviewee with great respect.