Comedy News Shows

Analytical Essay # 103165

Communication > Mass Media
Communication > Television

Comedy News Shows

This paper discusses comedy news shows, especially "The Daily Show" with satirical comedian Jon Stewart.

1,000 words () | 10 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that comedy news shows, such as "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart, are the only way millions of viewers, especially the younger generations, are getting their news. The author points out that, because today's youth have access to a plethora of information from radio, television, Internet, cell phones, email, blogs, chat rooms, online forums and newspapers, the problem is not getting the information but rather deciphering it between all the junk. The paper stresses that it is much easier to sit through "The Daily Show" and listen to comedian Stewart make sense of the news rather than being told by traditional news anchors what is important and how people should think. The author underscores that the success of "The Daily Show" has resulted in the spinning off of other comedy news shows, such as Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" and Fox's "The 1/2 Hour News Hour".

From the Paper:

"Traditionally people get their news from newspapers. Civilizations have used print media to spread news and information to the masses. Newspapers have been around for centuries, dating back to the Chinese in 1340. However, today's youth are watching more and more television and leaving behind their parent's method of receiving the news. Newspapers and other dated news reporting outlets are "confronted with different media options than in the past" like the Internet and cable and satellite television. Some would say the newspaper is great because it is portable but so is a laptop."

Sample of Sources Used:

Bogart, Leo. Press and Public :Who Reads What, When, Where, and Why in American Newspapers. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1989. 16.
Eldridge, David. American comedy's sad state; Only Stewart shines amid post-9/11 humor funk." The Washington Times 9 Jan. 2004, sec. D01.
Galupo, Scott. "'Comedian' Stewart is No Stand-Up Guy'" The Washington Times 21 Jan. 2005, sec. D01.
Hollander, Barry. "Late-Night Learning: Do Entertainment Programs Increase Political Campaign Knowledge for Young Viewers?" Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 49 (2005): 402.
O'Konowitz, Tom. "Comic Stewart Still a Stand-Up Guy." Daily Herald 21 Apr. 2005: 20.