Is Jon Stewart a reliable source for news?

By: Sarah Greenberg

As we get busier, fewer and fewer young people have time to sit in front of the television and watch full-length news broadcasts to glean important local, national, and international stories. So what do they do? To whom do they turn? If you don’t have time to read Maureen Dowd, or watch Keith Olbermann, how do you know what to think about politics?

The answer for many is Jon Stewart. Host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show for over ten years, Stewart has become the go-to man for laughs and witticisms that point out the bizarre and ridiculous in government and the media. It seems, however, that many young people rely on Stewart for actual news, or even as a guide for political (and overtly liberal) opinions. Is that a responsibility that’s fair to put on a comedian?

Let me say that I watch (and love) The Daily Show. When the show recently went on a three-week hiatus, I truly missed it. When I see Stewart on the street I want to go right up to him and say “You’re awesome!” I definitely relate to the Jewish, New Jersey upbringing often referenced on the show, as it mirrors very closely that of my dad. So this is my disclaimer: I’m a fan, too.

Stewart is often depicted as the voice of the young liberal population, perhaps because young liberals compromise much of his audience. A problem arises when viewers internalize what is said on the show and determine it to be the real “news.” Nothing shown is ever fabricated, but the criticism of the news is not the story in and of itself. Laughing at Stewart making fun of Rod Blagojevich is absolutely enjoyable, but do you get a clear picture of Blagojevich’s crimes and the consequences of them? No.

The reason why so many young liberals are dedicated to Stewart may be that the political world, and the media’s interpretation of it, may be so convoluted, partisan, and contradictory that we’d like for someone to lay out most of the facts and then point out the ridiculous in them. Furthermore, if done in true Stewart fashion, it’s hilarious.

There is another side to this. Having so many liberal young adults supporting and admiring Stewart begs the question: is Stewart speaking for us? If we get our news from him, it only makes sense that he can have a considerable impact in shaping our opinions. Well, if you agree with his politics, it couldn’t be that bad. I only worry that the goofiness that Stewart embodies will become the way our generation is viewed. Of course, his interviews display extensive learning and a critical mind, so it wouldn’t be bad to be aligned with that. But I think we’ve learned that not all people look at the things that may refute their argument, so instead of seeing the bright, serious Stewart, they see the one that refers to the recession as “Clusterf#@k to the Poor House.” Instead of seeing us as thoughtful young voters, we’re the mindless fools who watch Stewart only for laughs and to disrespect the press and politics. This may be a little severe, but by interpreting past allegations of people like Bill O’Reilly, I think it makes sense.

Nobody who likes The Daily Show would ever want it to change, myself included. Yet, there is no way other points of view are going to change. Is this another unsolvable problem, or just a simple observation of fact? Young liberals who watch Stewart do admit to getting their news from him, and he has been criticized for portraying the “real news” to his audience in a detrimental way. He always argues that it is “fake news” and should be treated that way. I guess the only thing to suggest is just to take it with a grain of salt. Don’t believe everything, and don’t let Stewart shape your entire opinion. But watch The Daily Show. It’s worth it.