Setting the bar?

On the Journalism.org Web site (FYI: notice Web is capitalized – this is one of those style guidelines I had to tape on my computer to remind myself of as it just doesn't seem necessary!), there is an article about "The Daily Show."

In 2007, according to the article, Americans were asked to name journalists they admired; Jon Stewart placed fourth along with real anchormen Brian Williams, Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather.

Note to Americans: Stewart is a comedian, not a journalist.

Note to American journalists and media: This satirical comedy show may have set a new bar for news coverage.

The Project for Excellence in Journalism asked, "What is Stewart doing on his program, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, that might cause people to consider him a journalist?"

Comparing the contents of the show to traditional media, the PEJ's answers were:
1. The show focuses heavily on politics and ignores other news entirely, similarly to cable news
shows and talk radio.
2. They use news footage in a documentary (but often satirical) manner "blending facts and
fantasy in a way that no news program hopefully ever would."
3. The show assumes and requires viewer's have a previous and significant knowledge of news…
in order for viewers to "get the joke."

Hmmmm, just mull those over for a minute. Do the people who credit the show as serious journalism really get the joke?

The article states, "According to a survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press in April 2007, 16% of Americans said they regularly watched The Daily Show or the Comedy Central spin-off, the Colbert Report. Those numbers are comparable to some major news programs. For instance, 17% said they regularly watched Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor, and 14% watched PBS’ NewsHour with Jim Lehrer regularly."

Now, before we get too upset about the fact that as many people watch The Daily Show as watch NewsHour, their survey "also suggests Daily Show viewers are highly informed, an indication that The Daily Show is not their lone source of news. Regular viewers of The Daily Show and the Colbert Report were most likely to score in the highest percentile on knowledge of current affairs."

Well, I guess if blending news and comedy does get people watching the news, it can't be all bad – right? Maybe nightly news programs should get the message and make the news more fun.