Tony Phyrillas

Tony Phyrillas is a leading conservative political columnist and blogger based in Pennsylvania. He is a veteran newspaperman with 25 years experience as a reporter, editor and columnist for various newspapers1. Phyrillas has served as city editor of The Mercury, a daily newspaper in Pottstown, Pa., since 1998. Phyrillas writes columns for The Mercury and its Web site, http://www.pottsmerc.com. His blog site is http://tonyphyrillas.blogspot.com and his columns are also featured in two dozen other political Web sites and blogs 2. Phyrillas is a frequent guest and substitute host on radio talk programs (http://www.1370wpaz.com) and has been a panelist on the Pennsylvania Cable Network's "Journalist Roundtable" television program 3. Phyrillas was honored for his column writing in 2007 by the Society of Professional Journalists, Keystone Chapter, and in 2006 by the Society of Professional Journalists, Greater Philadelphia Chapter. He won first place honors for Best Opinion Column in 2007 by the Suburban Newspapers of America, a journalism trade association with more than 2,000 members 4. A native of Cyprus, Phyrillas was recognized in 2007 by Odyssey magazine as one of the leading Greek-American bloggers in the world 5. The Title page of his blog, which is updated daily, reads: "Common-sense viewpoints of a conservative journalist working in a liberal-dominated media." Twice in 2006, Phyrillas was named one of "The Top Ten Conservative Idiots" by the Democratic Underground, a liberal political Web site. Phyrillas was named one of the Most Influential Political Bloggers in Pennsylvania by Blog Net News in June 2007.6