My Nine Media Heroes (Who Are Yours?)

GWEN IFILL — Although she’s been around in DC circles for a while now, Ifill’s national coming out was during the 2008 vice presidential debate that also introduced the world to the wink and smile of Sarah Palin. As moderator of Washington Week, Ifill conducts a round table discussion with some of the best journalists around. It’s a format that allows the cordial sharing of perspectives and expert opinions on wonky policy matters and political acrobatics. As a woman–not to mention one of color–she’s a rarity in the pantheon of political media power brokers. Personally, I’d like to think Ifill was at least in the running for the recently filled Meet the Press slot, now occupied by MSNBC’s David Gregory. Maybe they’ll let her sub one Sunday. (@WashingtonWeek)

JON STEWART and STEPHEN COLBERT — I could cite Jon Stewart’s genius, but that’s just fact at this point. More importantly to me, if it wasn’t for him, I’d be a depressed mess. I know this. I’ve skipped him for a few days and it isn’t pretty. The daily real news is only digestible so long as there’s a chaser of the Daily Show. There’s no way to survive the daily barrage of bickering, stupid newscaster tricks and 2012-level world problems without a Stewart happy ending. I need fake news because the real stuff is just too damn fucked up sometimes. I can only yell at Wolf Blitzer so much before I need Stewart to do it for me. And with much better funnier results. (@The_Daily_Show)

Stephen Colbert is so good that he invented a replica of Stewart’s show (I know, it’s not the same, but in essence) that is just as indispensable daily viewing. Not an easy task to immediately follow TDS. Colbert, besides having one of the sharpest wits on television, is the pseudo right wing to Stewart’s left. It’s obvious when Stewart tears into Sarah Palin, but when Colbert calls her book a “steaming pile of shit,” it’s like her own party is saying it. Sort of. The very best comedians (think Pryor) get their biggest laughs when they speak the truth. The Colbert Report and the Daily Show might be the truest broadcasts best news we have these days. (@StephenTColbert)

>>>NEXT: Bill Maher, Charlie Rose, Tavis Smiley

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.