You just can’t make this stuff up. Ronan Farrow, son of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow, began his broadcast journalism career three days ago with the launch of his MSNBC show Ronan Farrow Daily, but he has already earned himself a prestigious award: the Cronkite Award for Excellence in Exploration and Journalism.
“I just have to start the hour with congratulations to Ronan Farrow, who… after three days of work on television, has just won the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism,” Glenn quipped on radio this morning. “I think the Nobel Peace Prize was already given to somebody who hasn't started their job yet this year. So he couldn't win because he had been on the job for three whole days.”
Farrow seemed to sense to irony in the award tweeting:
Maybe I can earn a Cronkite award by investigating how long it'll take me to actually live up to a Cronkite award?
— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) February 26, 2014
But there was still controversy surrounding the evening. Farrow made headlines earlier this year when he mused that Frank Sinatra not Woody Allen might actually be his father. Furthermore, he defended his sister Dylan after she wrote an op-ed accusing Allen of molesting her as a child. Questions about any of these things, however, were strictly off limits.
Before the event, organizers Reach The World banned reporters from asking 'off-topic' questions - to ensure that Farrow will not have to comment on the controversy surrounding whether his father was Woody Allen or Frank Sinatra.
The organization even threatened to throw out anyone who broke the rule.
'The theme of the evening is global education and service,' a memo to the press read, reports Politico. 'All press are required to stay strictly on message. Any press who ask guests or Mr. Farrow about off-message topics will be immediately escorted out of the event.'
“When you're talking about the exploration in journalism I think that is exactly the kind of journalistic integrity that you're looking for – where they escort you out of the event,” Glenn joked. “Can you imagine if I said, ‘You know what? Anybody who asks me any question off this particular topic… I won't answer it.’ That's your new Walter Cronkite winner for journalistic excellence.”