He holds a NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal (2004), a Klopsteg Memorial Award, a Science Writing Award, a Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award, the Dunlap Prize, Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences, Hubbard Medal from the National Geographic Society is Director of the Hayden Planetarium, has held numerous posts at the University of Maryland, Princeton University, the American Museum of Natural History, has been vice-president, president, and chairman of the board of the Planetary Society, oh, and President George W. Bush appointed Tyson to serve on the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry and in 2004 to serve on the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy, the latter better known as the "Moon, Mars, and Beyond" commission. Soon afterward, he was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by NASA.
But yeah, it must all be liberal media puffery, the same way Bill Cosby's reputation as a renowed comedian and entertainer was "liberal media puffery". And nothing says "liberal media" like being appointed top science posts by President George W. Bush, right?
you listed a lot of awards, but no real accomplishments - I'm guessing it's a combination of affirmative action, and media puffery.