Fox News viewers know less then others (the national version)

**Red_Lizard2** · 05-27-12, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by DJ Mr. White

I think his main point of contention is that a comedy show ranked so highly.

Except, by simply watching The Daily Show, it isn't any shock it is ranked highly (it isn't that high, about .2 or so above no news, .1 above CNN). The main difference between it and any prime-time opinion show is that it is the points are made through comedy instead of serious, and they have some skits. It isn't like its The Onion and makes shit up, they still talk about current issues.

Oh and to be honest (not directed at you), when someone says The Daily Show is far more leaning then Fox, I have a really hard time listening to their opinion on the show.

**Red_Lizard2** · 05-27-12, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by WickedTribe

Surprising results don't discredit a study. Bad methods do.

That is the thing too, they released their methods in the paper (as well as the questionaire, how everyone answered each question broken down by ideology, and the make-up of the group they polled). Which, by the way, was 50/50 Male Female, and large majority of respondents were 30 or older.

**deathgodusmc** · 05-27-12, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Red_Lizard2

That is the thing too, they released their methods in the paper (as well as the questionaire, how everyone answered each question broken down by ideology, and the make-up of the group they polled). Which, by the way, was 50/50 Male Female, and large majority of respondents were 30 or older.

And? If your getting your news from a COMEDY show then you failed to begin with. However its proabaly a bit more memorable due to the comedy. I like reading my news but you wont ever see me getting it from robin williams assuming its correct and unbiased. So yeah it leans every bit as much as every other news cast because it isnt about the news anymore. Its about the shock and awe factor to get money from companies wanting to advertise.

Plus some of the questions were a bit out there. Most people are not going to remember names like Hosni and Bashar. Christ half the people here most likely dont remember their names without looking it up. Would they admit it? I dont know.

IMO every news outlet has to be taken with a grain of salt.

**AetheLove** · 05-27-12, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

And? If your getting your news from a COMEDY show then you failed to begin with. However its proabaly a bit more memorable due to the comedy. I like reading my news but you wont ever see me getting it from robin williams assuming its correct and unbiased.

The comedy of The Daily Show is based on how bad a job most of the news industry is doing of providing the news. Their satire uses a measured reading of facts and events as the punch-line. The straight-lines are the crazy things that so many news outlets feed us as "news".

It took them a few years to find that groove. They used to do a variety of political and social humour. But then they figured out that comparing lunatic news shows (Fox is only the best example) to actual news was where Stewart shone most brightly.

So providing better information than most news shows is almost a side-effect. It's also part of the larger irony they put on display. Calling themselves "Fake News", while simultaneously being a better source of news than all the shitty shows that bill themselves as Real News is why it's satire.

Robin Williams has a great act, and he certainly makes fun of people, but he doesn't do satire.

Stewart also has a solid stream of guests. Some of them are people promoting a movie, but he has a surprising number of historians, economists, scientists (political and otherwise), journalists, "journalists", and politicians. He does a better job of creating honest dialogue than most of the news hacks he makes fun of. For example, Grover Norquist certainly has different politics than Stewart, but he was a great guest.

If you've got the time, look up Jon Stewart's appearance on CNN's CrossFire a few (7?) years ago. I know YouTube has it. Other sites too. Watch the whole thing (it's not that long).

That The Daily Show is often a better source of news than most news shows is, pardon the expression, old news.

Cheers,

AetheLove

**deathgodusmc** · 05-27-12, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by AetheLove

The comedy of The Daily Show is based on how bad a job most of the news industry is doing of providing the news. Their satire uses a measured reading of facts and events as the punch-line. The straight-lines are the crazy things that so many news outlets feed us as "news".

It took them a few years to find that groove. They used to do a variety of political and social humour. But then they figured out that comparing lunatic news shows (Fox is only the best example) to actual news was where Stewart shone most brightly.

So providing better information than most news shows is almost a side-effect. It's also part of the larger irony they put on display. Calling themselves "Fake News", while simultaneously being a better source of news than all the shitty shows that bill themselves as Real News is why it's satire.

Robin Williams has a great act, and he certainly makes fun of people, but he doesn't do satire.

Stewart also has a solid stream of guests. Some of them are people promoting a movie, but he has a surprising number of historians, economists, scientists (political and otherwise), journalists, "journalists", and politicians. He does a better job of creating honest dialogue than most of the news hacks he makes fun of. For example, Grover Norquist certainly has different politics than Stewart, but he was a great guest.

If you've got the time, look up Jon Stewart's appearance on CNN's CrossFire a few (7?) years ago. I know YouTube has it. Other sites too. Watch the whole thing (it's not that long).

That The Daily Show is often a better source of news than most news shows is, pardon the expression, old news.

Cheers,

AetheLove

Actually Robin Williams did do satire. The Daily show is not a better source of news its just a different delivery of news.

**AetheLove** · 05-27-12, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

Actually Robin Williams did do satire. The Daily show is not a better source of news its just a different delivery of news.

I'm sure you could find some Robin Williams bit that qualifies as satire. I'm sure I could find it, too.

But it's not his main idiom.

Are you unwilling to grant that there are different types of comedy? Can it be the case that some comedy is intended to make you laugh, and other sorts are trying to make you think?

I don't think that The Daily Show is a good source of news. But even though it's a comedy show I think it's a better source of useful information (the news), relevant commentary, and insightful interviews than many shows which call themselves News.

That they can be those things also makes them one of the most useful critics of present-day journalism generally.

Cheers,

AetheLove

**deathgodusmc** · 05-27-12, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by AetheLove

I'm sure you could find some Robin Williams bit that qualifies as satire. I'm sure I could find it, too.

But it's not his main idiom.

Are you unwilling to grant that there are different types of comedy? Can it be the case that some comedy is intended to make you laugh, and other sorts are trying to make you think?

I don't think that The Daily Show is a good source of news. But even though it's a comedy show I think it's a better source of useful information (the news), relevant commentary, and insightful interviews than many shows which call themselves News.

That they can be those things also makes them one of the most useful critics of present-day journalism generally.

Cheers,

AetheLove

If i wanted to specify someone that his main act was satire im fairly certain i could have named someone better suited for it. Robin williams was just a name thrown out because i always liked his bits on it.