It may not be an Emmy, but John Oliver, host of HBO's Last Week Tonight, has a new item to add to the long list of things he has done to make his new family proud. Owing to his many passionate discourses on the criminal justice system in America, Oliver has been nominated as "Newsmaker of the Year" for criminal justice issues by The Crime Report.
Many are sure to be unfamiliar with this award. To explain briefly, The Crime Report has ended each of the last five years with a selection of major stories and news reporters who have made a major impact on criminal justice in the U.S.
The Crime Report nomination reads, "John Oliver turned his weekly news/satire show on HBO into an extraordinary portrait of the state of American criminal justice today-devoting more time than any other mainstream media program to the kinds of topics that criminal justice reformers have long dreamed would find coverage, ranging from mental health challenges in jails to prisoner reentry."
As HNGN points out, "Oliver was the only television host to make The Crime Report's list of nominations, which also included President Barack Obama, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and Eric Holder, the fourth-longest serving Attorney General in U.S. history." Finding his name on such a list of noted people should bring him great pride indeed.
Oliver has spent many a night explaining the problems of America's prison system on Late Night Tonight, touching on topics such as prison reform, mandatory minimum sentences and even the threat to citizens posed by overworked public defenders. It seems his tireless crusade to make the American people aware that the system is broken and how is finally paying off. At the least, he is finally getting the credit he deserves for his efforts.
