How much laughter does it take to measure a political figure’s approval rating? How much applause and cheering signify support for a controversial viewpoint?
The answers become evident when watching “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report,” both which are broadcast on Comedy Central. In these programs, which are popular among college-age students, political views manifest in the form of laughter and applause.
Of all the polling, surveying and research techniques, one of the best ways to determine a college liberal’s political views may come from watching a 30-minute episode of “The Daily Show” or “The Colbert Report.”
And political figures have been quick to notice.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and a 2008 presidential candidate, for example, chose to announce his candidacy for presidency not on CNN or Fox News, but on “The Daily Show.”
However, many questions arise with the emerging popularity of these satire programs. How are they affecting students’ political views? Are they accurately portraying current events?
“To my knowledge, we don’t have any empirical evidence one way or the other on this subject,” said political science professor Jay Stevens. “What I fear is that the political satire you see on these programs might make students more cynical about politics.”
This may be occurring, but students have also commented on satisfaction from viewing shows that communicate like-minded views.
“I think these shows tap into the younger generation’s humor and dissatisfaction with our government and media,” said Brent Balloch, a psychology major. “It’s comforting to know my peers feel the same way and that we see things similarly.”
Regarding the topic of political persuasion, however, it appears as though the views a person brings to the show are the views they leave with.
“I’d say that my views fit the sources from which I receive my news,” said journalism major Collin Elliot. “So if I have a more liberal bias, I would be more likely to enjoy these shows than a person who approaches them with more conservative ideals.”
However, a controversial topic remains. Critics of satirical and biased news programs claim these shows distort reality and do not accurately portray the news.
Stevens sees it both ways.
“I guess it depends on how you see the world. If you see politics as complex, with levels of nuance, then no, politics are not accurately portrayed,” Stevens said. “However, most people are not that interested in politics, so they aren’t going to devote enormous amounts of time to study the political system.”
According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, viewers of “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” were among the most knowledgeable when quizzed about current events.
“My hope is that political satire will stimulate students to learn more and want to understand the complexities of politics,” Stevens said.
