Is it sad when the number one news channel that average American's turn to in this time of instability is a Comedy Central professional comedian? Yes! According to a Times magazine on-line poll, ever since Walter Cronkite's unfortunate death, Jon Stewart is America's Most Trusted News Anchor. Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's Daily Show, uses his humor to foil
top stories and his humor to uncover the truth. Stewart often uses past video recordings of Fox, CNN, and other news anchors, compares them to there more recent broadcasts and blatantly exposes they're biased reporting. While it is inevitable for an anchor to have an unbiased opinion, Jon Stewart makes an effort to bring on affiliates of outside news channels, or ambassadors of countries, or even other comedians.
I personally believe, that when America chooses a comedian over people who are amazing anchors such as Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric and Brian Williams, things need to change. Jon Stewart is undoubtly funny, and can really connect to his audience whether they are young or old. Jon goes on record claiming that he is a mere comedian but if you have seen his show you notice that his humor is used on both sides of the political scale. The reason that Jon is able to pick apart new stories and comment on politicians is because he does not have to play by the same rules as other news anchors. Ratings, while an important part of keeping the show on air, do not play such an important role in the subject matter he address. Channels such ass CNN and Fox, give in to the will of the people in that they have to address subject matter pertaining to theyre core audiences and are in constant competitian with each other. Jon's show has a less structured format then most others, like his counter-part Colbert, anchor of Colbert Report and author of a political satire, these men can take the time to dissect the new's stories in a way that no other can. The Fact that his show is on late at night only adds to his advantage. Not having to rival popular shows, Jon does what he whats when he wants, and the audience loves it.
Jon is an anomaly, a rarity that we must take advantage of while we can. Can we trust him? Who knows. Should we watch him and enjoy his humor as he intended it to be? The answer to that, is yes.
Personally, I love John Stewart. I find him to be hilarious. When I believe that this world is falling apart I turn on the Daily Show in order to hear the world's troubles pleasantly mocked. Stewart provides the satirical view that so many of us need when looking at current events. However, one cannot relate watching the Daily Show to viewing a news station. Stewart's writers are not trying to give a run-down of the day's top stories, they are attempting to entertain the viewer. To say that John Stewart is the nation's top newscaster is like saying the iPod is the best instrument. The Daily Show is simply a device through which to entertain not devise news. When it comes to John Stewart, he has no true wish to inform his viewers of anything more than the pure hypocrisy of our society.
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