‘Daily Show,’ ‘Colbert’ viewers most informed about news
Steve Safran June 17th, 2007
Despite all the new ways of getting news, The Atlantic Monthly (sub req.) reports that Americans don’t know appreciably more about current events than they did before 24/7 news became the norm. There is an exception: People who get their news from the web and viewers of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report know a lot more about the news. A Pew Research Center study found that Americans’ awareness of the U.S. government, current events and international affairs is pretty much the same as it was in 1989. However…
The most knowledgeable Americans were those who got their news from the Web sites of major papers and those who watched programs like The Colbert Report or The Daily Show; they correctly answered 54 percent of the questions about current affairs, while regular viewers of local TV news and network morning shows got only about 35 percent right.
Of course, there’s the question of cause and effect here: it’s possible Daily Show and Colbert watch those shows because they know more about the news - a prerequisite to understanding the jokes. Still, in case you think we pop culture junkies are wasting our brain cells - “Respondents who demonstrated a “high” knowledge of politics and world events were also adept at identifying celebrities such as Beyoncé Knowles.” (Thanks, LR alumnus Frank!)
5 Comments Add your own
1. David Kennerly | June 18th, 2007 at 9:52 am
I agree with your “cause and effect” argument; Stewart and Colbert viewers are already familiar with the news and savvy about the news media, and are seeking comic relief from the infuriating, disgusting, overwhelming effects of both.
2. David Cooley | June 18th, 2007 at 10:15 am
I would disagree a little with that. I fit your description, I watch Jon Stewart for the comic relief after already keeping up with the current events, however, I know my kids and a lot of other young people who watch those shows for the show, and then get in tune with current events.
I would also like to know how many people cross their political boundaries when watching Jon Stewart. I am a conservative, but love the comedy, even when I disagree with the view point.
3. Frank Catalano | June 18th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Ted Koppel once, when asked about the Daily Show, said it was like a good political cartoon. In order to set up the jokes properly, the Daily Show has to relay the news in brief — so it does both, report the news headline (or more) and then comment on it, humorously. You get news from the Daily Show whether or not you’re looking for it.
4. Morgan Johnston | June 18th, 2007 at 11:56 am
I’m sure that a good percentage of Colbert and Stewart fans watch as already informed viewers, but one of the best aspects of the programs is their unapologetic expectation that their viewers come prepared to “get” the jokes they are about to tell.
Too many 24 news outlets spoon feed the full outline of any news story they cover, creating a largely passive audience that isn’t really paying attention. It’s nice to have a few shows left over that expect -participants- to do their homework.
5. Kyle Pennebaker | July 18th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Hmm, you mean people that basically limit there news to local fires, murders, and fluff pieces in the evening and then catch Matt Lauer in the morning don’t know as much about world events as the people that have access to cable news, and that catch some Daily Show and Colbert for some levity? Wow, earth shattering!
It sounds like this study basically compared people that have access to cable news programs to people that only watch regular TV. I have not seen the exact study or questions, but as relayed in this article the study seems to be nothing more than a dichotomy of the level of how informed cable viewers are compared to non-cable viewers, with a slight liberal spin added in the reporting.
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