Eric Boehlert, founder and editor of Press Run – a blog about the media, died Monday night in a New Jersey Transit train accident, his wife revealed Wednesday.
The 57-year-old was a veteran writer and a frequent television and radio guest who discussed politics and the press on CNN and CNBC. He was a founding editor of Salon magazine, a fellow with Media Matters, and a former writer with Rolling Stone and Billboard magazines.
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Boehlert was riding his bike in Montclair when a NJ Transit train struck him, causing his death. He lived in the NJ township with his wife Tracy Breslin lived with their family.
His untimely death came as a shock for the family and his co-workers.
“It’s horrific,” Breslin told The News, saying that she’d rather remember her husband for his “beautiful, full life.”
“He was an amazing husband and a beautiful human being. And he was a fantastic father to his two children, Jane and Ben,” Breslin said, adding she’s “most interested in” how devoted a father he was.
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Salon, where Boehlert’s media criticisms appeared, also confirmed the news of his death on Twitter.
“We are devastated by the loss of esteemed journalist and former @Salon senior writer, Eric Boehlert,” a tweet from the outlet said. “Our condolences to Eric’s family and friends during this difficult time. His passing is a huge loss to media criticism and progressive journalism.”
Boehlert’s friend and fellow journalist Soledad O’Brien also reported his death with a tribute thread on Twitter.
“Just got crushing news from Tracy Breslin, wife of @EricBoehlert https://pressrun.media Has died in a bike accident, age 57,” O’Brien wrote. “Adored his kids Jane and Ben, his dogs, biking and running and basketball and good friends, a fierce and fearless defender of the truth.”
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“A terrible loss. We’ve lost an awesome human being, handsome/cool/witty dude who kicked ass on our behalf. Crazy devotion to facts, context and good reporting,” O’Brien continued. “Enemy of BS, fake news. ‘We can’t mend this American mess if we don’t fix the press.’ Deep condolences to his family.”
Boehlert wrote two books, “Lapdogs: How the Press Rolled Over for Bush,” and “Bloggers on the Bus.”
Hillary Clinton also reacted to his death, writing on Twitter: “I’m devastated for his family and friends and will miss his critical work.”
NJ Transit released a statement on Tuesday saying that a train on the Montclair Boonton Line struck and killed an adult male on a bicycle Monday evening “prior to” the Watchung Avenue station between its 8:59 departure from Hoboken and its scheduled arrival in Hackettstown at 11:07 p.m.