Does Fake News Mislead the Public: Issue 9

News broadcasts such as, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are labeled fake news because the humor is the majority of the content. When analyzing headline broadcasts it was found that hype is as much of a contributing element in their news as humor was in the comedy news shows. To some the question is simple, which one would I like to watch? many young adults are leaning toward the Daily show and The Colbert Report for their news because it presents itself in a less depressing light. And, "Times are hard these days" says Matt Murphy a newly founded viewer of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. When

 

The truth is both type of news coverage, whether serious or late night comedy, is not going to deliver strictly substance based news. And it would surprise you how much hype is filling up the news rather than substantial news coverage. Two writers researched and analyzed different surveys and sources regarding the issue and responded with a column in our text -  Taking Sides - Clashing views in Media, Politics, and Society with a yes and a no answer.

Julia R. Fox, Glory Koloen, and Volkan Sahin, are the authors supporting the yes position to the question does fake news mislead the public. After analyzing a study examining coverage of the fist presidential debate and the political convention on the daily show and on network nightly newscasts the study found the network coverage to be more hype than substance, and The Daily Show to be more humor than substance.

Barry Hollander supports the no side after examining learning from comedy and late night programs. The study examined whether exposure to comedy and late night programs informed viewers, focusing on recall and recognition. Support was found that the viewers were more likely to recognition than recall.

After doing research on the issue, conducting my own survey - in which i found NDNU students feelings on the legalization of marijuana and how media effects the attitudes of its viewers, as-well as analysis of the chapter; I feel strongly that media is effecting our attitudes regarding issues we deal with everyday. But comedic news such as The Daily Show and the Colbert Report are not misleading to the public and infact are less misleading than network news broadcasts.