Daily Show viewers know more about presidential campaign than just about anyone else
From today's IMDB Studio Briefing:
Concerns that people who receive their political information from late-night comedy shows may not be adequately familiar with the issues in order to vote knowledgeably appeared to be laid to rest Monday by a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey. In a poll conducted between July 15 and Sept. 19, nearly 20,000 young adults were asked six questions about the presidential candidates' stands on various issues. Those who watched no late-night comedy shows answered 2.62 questions correctly. David Letterman's viewers answered 2.91; Jay Leno,'s 2.95; and Jon Stewart's (The Daily Show) 3.59. The results for Stewart appeared particularly striking to the pollsters, who noted that his viewers "have higher campaign knowledge than national news viewers and newspaper readers."
I do find this somewhat surprising, though I have to wonder just how carefully those "news viewers and newspaper readers" pay attention to their news sources. Because The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is so entertaining, it's easy to remember those campaign facts -- you have a joke to go with each of them that triggers the memory. Earlier in the week there were accusations that Stewart is using his show to promote John Kerry's campaign, which is patently ridiculous. Stewart may have no love for the Bush administration, but he has certainly made Kerry the butt of numerous jokes. Kerry's appearance on Stewart's show isn't what you'd call a "favor," either -- the invitation has been extended to President Bush several times.
I've been watching The Daily Show ever since the "with Jon Stewart" tagline was added. To see it mature into a comedic and cultural powerhouse has been one of the greatest pleasures in entertainment yet.
Concerns that people who receive their political information from late-night comedy shows may not be adequately familiar with the issues in order to vote knowledgeably appeared to be laid to rest Monday by a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey. In a poll conducted between July 15 and Sept. 19, nearly 20,000 young adults were asked six questions about the presidential candidates' stands on various issues. Those who watched no late-night comedy shows answered 2.62 questions correctly. David Letterman's viewers answered 2.91; Jay Leno,'s 2.95; and Jon Stewart's (The Daily Show) 3.59. The results for Stewart appeared particularly striking to the pollsters, who noted that his viewers "have higher campaign knowledge than national news viewers and newspaper readers."
I do find this somewhat surprising, though I have to wonder just how carefully those "news viewers and newspaper readers" pay attention to their news sources. Because The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is so entertaining, it's easy to remember those campaign facts -- you have a joke to go with each of them that triggers the memory. Earlier in the week there were accusations that Stewart is using his show to promote John Kerry's campaign, which is patently ridiculous. Stewart may have no love for the Bush administration, but he has certainly made Kerry the butt of numerous jokes. Kerry's appearance on Stewart's show isn't what you'd call a "favor," either -- the invitation has been extended to President Bush several times.
I've been watching The Daily Show ever since the "with Jon Stewart" tagline was added. To see it mature into a comedic and cultural powerhouse has been one of the greatest pleasures in entertainment yet.
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