Credit Where It Is Due: The Indefatiable Amy Goodman of Pacifica Radio/Democracy Now!

One does not have to be a progressive, a liberal, a "leftist", or even a centrist to appreciate Amy Goodman, a real journalist. Long with Pacifica Radio, she's also been host of Democracy Now (available on the radio, as well as on Dish Network and now DirecTV).

Amy has been around the world reporting, including the dreadful situation in East Timor several years ago in which she really did just barely escape with her life.

Democracy Now! with Amy at the helm (and columnist Juan Gonzalez as backup) does not do reporting in fast sound bytes. She's often chosen to feature people and stories you just can't get anywhere else, including with MSNBC's Keith Olbermann who tackles much the mainstream media (MSM) won't.

My post here is because I noticed that Amy just recorded a long, very personal, and enthusiastic fund raising pitch for the free-form community radio station here in Central Vermont (WGDR, 91.1 FM) ,tiny and one of just 38 such bastions across the nation.

Granted, Amy's brother and frequent book co-author, David, lives locally. But she does this kind of personal touch, passionate stuff for other venues like Free Speech TV. And Amy isn't exactly someone with much free time. Almost every weekend for years she's traveling to help support independent media, et al.