Jon Stewart accepted one of journalism’s most respected honors this week in a way only he could, mixing humility, sarcasm, and a sharp sense of irony. The longtime Daily Show host was recognized at Friday’s Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism ceremony, where a prerecorded video message from Stewart was played for the audience.
Rather than deliver a traditional acceptance speech, Stewart leaned fully into self-deprecation, opening the message from his desk at The Daily Show with a look of mock confusion. Wearing faux glasses, he addressed the camera with feigned disbelief.
“I’ve just been informed The Daily Show has won a 2025 Walter Cronkite Award,” he said before pausing and adding, “Huh??”
Stewart then read aloud from the awards website, which is administered by USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Quoting the description, he said the Walter Cronkite Award “honors excellence in political journalism that exemplifies the role of a free press in upholding constitutional principles and the rule of law….”
His reaction was immediate and characteristically blunt. “I thought to myself, ‘That’s not us,’” Stewart said. “That’s not us at all. I mean, we’re delighted. Don’t get me wrong.”
The confusion, he explained, cleared up once he learned more about the specific category in which he was being honored. Stewart was named the first-ever recipient in the newly created Comedic News and Commentary category, a distinction added to the biennial awards this year.
“That made a lot more sense when I had a little bit of that nuance,” Stewart said, suggesting the label better reflected how he views his own work.
Despite Stewart’s insistence that he is an entertainer rather than a journalist, USC Annenberg made clear why he was selected. In announcing the award, the school noted that Stewart was chosen “notwithstanding his insistence on calling himself an entertainer, not a journalist.” Judges described him as a “pioneer” and a “vital voice” in political news and commentary.
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The panel also credited Stewart with staying relevant over decades in late-night television, saying he continues to bring “valuable facts to light, advancing public discourse, [and] urging civic action.”
Stewart acknowledged the recognition with sincerity, while still keeping the tone light. “We’re delighted to be receiving that, and really thankful not to be in that other category,” he joked, before thanking the judges and organizers. “The entire team is delighted to be receiving an award of this magnitude, and thank you all so much for bestowing it upon us. I hope it’s edible.”
He also took a moment to poke fun at the image used to represent his award on the Cronkite Awards website. The photo featured an over-the-shoulder Daily Show graphic of a bird snorting cocaine, pulled from Stewart’s February 2025 monologue about DOGE.
“I don’t remember why we were making the bird cocaine joke…,” Stewart admitted. “But I do know it was Cronkite Award-worthy.”
The moment neatly captured Stewart’s enduring appeal: sharp political insight wrapped in humor, skepticism, and an ongoing refusal to take himself too seriously.
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