<p>I'm not saying that watching Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert are making people more politically aware. What I am saying is that those who do take the time to examine the political news from multiple media outlets then compare what they know about the political history of the topic, are the ones who are turning towards Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart.</p>
<p>For example; this is my media process:</p>
<ul>
<li>I listen to what some television news outlets are saying.</li>
<li>I read what some online media sources are saying.</li>
<li>I then examine whether or not I have read any literature on the topic.</li>
<li>I then conclude my opinion about the source of the news and the validity.</li>
<li>I then watch Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart.</li>
</ul>
<p>This is the common Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart viewer looks like.</p>
<p>For most of the network news viewers the process looks like this:</p>
<ul>
<li>I listen to what the television news outlets are saying.</li>
<li>(possibly) Examine against what I already know about the topic.</li>
<li>I then take it for face value.</li>
</ul>
<p>This is essentially what the survey concluded. The Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart viewers can sift through the cynical and satirical comments because they understand politics.</p>
<p>Here is the progression diagram:</p>
<p>"More people watching TDS/TCR + Less people watching network news = A more politically informed mass populace"</p>
<p>I don't think it is appropriate to put them together.</p>
<p>More people watching TDS/TCR = There is a growing number of politically aware people.</p>
<p>Less people watching network news = Less people are caring about the news or they are becoming more politically aware.</p>
<p>Edit:</p>
<p>I need photoshop on my computer. I could explain it more effectively with nice graphs :) The correlation has a lot to do with percentage movements.</p>
<p>yeah thats great but you're forgetting that the vast majority of americans dont know who jon stewart and colbert are. the vast majority of americans will believe anything cnn or fox news tells them. the vast majority of americans dont give a damn about anything because theyre too busy eating up garbade like american idol or americas top model. </p>
<p>also basing your argument around a few comedy shows doesnt seem like a great idea to me.</p>
<p>While having this discussion I think it is very important that everyone keep in mind that the entire point of TV news (or any TV show period) is to make profit. It is a business, plain and simple. The entire purpose is to get you to tune in and watch a show, and then be exposed to the commercials they run, which then makes you more likely to purchase a particular product. During Colbert, the commercials that are run will obviously be different than during O'Reilly, Olbermann, etc. Some of the commercials might overlap, which is good for them because then it exposes a much wider audience to the same thing.</p>
<p>When news organizations hire reporters they are not out there looking for the most educated or knowledgeable...the qualities they are looking for are looks, oratory skills, perhaps how "hip" they are, etc. Example:</p>
<p>People must first understand the motive behind any news organization or TV channel (even The Weather Channel). It solely exists to turn a profit. It's not there because they like talking to you about the weather as a hobby. Once you understand that, I like poppin's approach in his latest post in this thread. Seek out varying sources of reporting on the same story and come to your own conclusion. That doesn't mean only looking at New York Times, MSNBC, CBS, NPR and BBC (all left leaning). Or only looking at Fox News and...other right leaning media (can't think of any examples besides Fox News here). Take a look at reporting from all parts of the spectrum and decide for yourself.</p>
<p>Yeah! Optometry school! Anyone out there doing pharmacy or med school? I've considered becoming a physician, until I actually volunteered at a hospital and interacted with some of the patients.</p>
<p>hotelmoscow and Edward04: I agree with a lot of what you guys are saying. It all just rests on a personal opinion about the growth of our political culture.</p>
<p>alansda,
The Daily Show with (my name). Anything is possible!</p>
<p>I wanted to go to med school and worked at a hospital (Hoag in newport beach) and decided it's not really for me. so now i dont really know what to do. perhaps law?</p>
<p>I just like to study Philosophy, I wouldn't mind being a professor or even law school. But what I really wanna do is join the peace corps or start a charity/nonprofit organization, and go teach in 3rd world countries. can i do all of the above? heh</p>
<p>Looks like a lot of us plan to conclude our formal educations at law school.</p>
<p>For me:</p>
<p>CC --> UCB/UCLA w/ a BA in PoliSci maintaining above a 3.8-->Get MA somewhere in the east coast (Georgetown, Columbia, Yale, Harvard, etc) --> Law School (JD) hopefully at a top law school --> Political Internships --> ???</p>
<p>HahaA! That's awesome. Go all out and estabilsh your very own country then use your polar bear army to conquer the rest of Russia.</p>
<p>Being a lawyer sounds glamorous.. but personally I think it's an overrated profession. I always fantasized about being a writer/artist.. then realized how impractical that was.</p>