To those who don’t know him, he might come across sometimes as a classic TV showman – even a little clownish due to his on-air enthusiasm. But to those who know Jon Keller, he’s an incredibly perceptive and fair newsman who isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s a political institution in Boston. He’s obviously been a political reporter on TV for years now, but this guy can definitely write. I know. I used to “edit” his weekly MassterList columns when I was churning out that newsletter – and his punchy copy always came in clean as a whistle and on target. *

Jon was laid off yesterday from WBZ-TV, his long-time employer, as the Herald and Globe report. But he won’t be unemployed very long. Other TV and radio stations would be crazy not to hire him (hint, hint WBUR, GBH, ‘CVB etc.) And he’d make a great blogger, newsletter writer, podcaster, whatever. He’s not going away.

 * Jon’s also author of one of my favorite local political books, “The Bluest State: How Democrats Created the Massachusetts Blueprint for American Political Disaster.” Seventeen years after its publication, it’s still relevant considering the disastrous state of today’s Democratic Party.

Update — From a Hub Blog reader on Keller’s layoff: “Another step towards content-free local news.  More time for WBZ Sunday morning show to cover pet adoptions and new places to get dessert.  Or as the late Jack Cole called it, ‘alleged news.’ “