June 4, 2008
Barry Nolan
BuzzFlash is certainly never short of words when
it comes to criticizing the corporate mainstream media. The decision
of the New England Emmys'
Chapter to give Bill O'Reilly a special honor at its annual gala
on May 10 is further proof of how far adrift broadcast "news" has
become from basic standards of decency and excellence.
But Barry Nolan, a television host on Comcast in Boston, proved that
there are exceptions to every rule. Nolan took it upon himself to
protest the award to O'Reilly, going so far as to distribute pamphlets
at the event protesting the Governor's Award going to the chattering
nabob of "The Factor."
Nolan had e-mailed members of the chapter encouraging them to protest
what he called "an appalling choice for an honor."
"He's delusional," Nolan said of O'Reilly. "He's a man that
mangles the facts. He inflates and constantly mangles the truth,
and his frequent target is the 'left-leaning' media -- the ones who
do report the news fairly," Nolan wrote in an e-mail to his
colleagues.
For his rare act of courage, Nolan was rewarded by getting fired
from his job by Comcast, which proved that there's no room for a
real journalist in the world of corporate media.
According to a column
in the Boston Herald, the ACLU is now weighing
in to defend Nolan:
"Comcast's decision to terminate Mr. Nolan is most
unfortunate, as it suggests that independent journalism is not valued
or perhaps even understood at Comcast," wrote Jim Wolken, senior
director of communications for the ACLU of Massachusetts.
"Bill O'Reilly's struggles with fact-based journalism have been
well documented by numerous independent sources, making Mr. Nolan's
firing
all the more disturbing," wrote Wolken, who didn't cite the
sources. "Barry Nolan's value to the public is that his credentials
as a reporter cannot be bought or intimidated. By firing him, Comcast
injures its own reputation as a reliable source for news."
Barry Nolan, you may not have a job, but you have our deepest gratitude.
For your determination and high professional standards, you merit
being honored with this week's BuzzFlash Wings of Justice Award.
* * *
Nominated by Hannah Johns of Moline, KS.
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