Jennifer Vick, a psychology freshman, does not understand political jargon, but she does consider herself a knowledgeable citizen who keeps up with current events.
Vick is just one of thousands of Americans that tune into the sarcastically offbeat “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
According to TV Guide, Comedy Central’s alternative news source garners approximately 640,000 viewers in the 18-to-49 age range when it airs weeknights at 10 p.m.
“The Daily Show” is a contemporary blend of stand-up comedy, news reporting and farce, featuring a guest every episode, ranging from musicians, actors and especially politicians during campaign seasons.
The satirical news source is currently covering “The Road to the White House,” tackling the candidates, platforms and even the president himself. The guests, even those outside the political scope, often get embroiled in heated debates with Stewart.
Stewart differs from mainstream media outlets because he is opinionated and offers his own interpretation on the news, something reporters are taught to resist.
For example, instead of just presenting videos of nominees speaking on their platform, Stewart splices what the candidates are saying in everyday language and points out any inconstancies or questionable remarks he can find in their speeches.
Ben White, a theatre sophomore, is a fan of the show’s anchor.
“He’s a funny guy,” White said. “I enjoy watching his personality.”
Stewart took over the hosting gig after comedian Craig Kilborn moved on to host his own late night show.
Marla Peirce, an architecture freshman, is an avid news watcher, turning into cable news sources at least three to five times a week to keep abreast of current events. However, she is not one of the multitude watching “The Daily Show.”
“Usually I just watch CNN and Larry King,” Peirce said. “I sometimes listen to NPR to get a basic idea of what’s going on.”
“The Daily Show” is well received because it presents the world on a easily understandable level, believes Vick.
“It’s funny,” Vick said. “He’s making fun of current events. It’s fun to see the humorous side of news. When you watch the local news it’s all about who was murdered, where and when.”
While Peirce does consider herself an informed individual, she admits she also does not like watching local news.
“I guess I’m not as interested in local news,” Peirce said. “You can get the news [on cable] whenever you want.”
A detrimental part of watching any news outlet is the validity of the source. With such a large following, either “The Daily Show” viewers trust their news source or nd enough entertainment to keep their interest.
“When I watch the news,” Peirce said, “I try taking into account that any news station or report has preconceived opinions. I gather the facts and I decide for myself what is valid.”
Vick knows that a news source should be trusted. She thinks Stewart is a viable messenger of the news.
“I think he knows what he’s talking about,” Vick said.
White is only a casual viewer, but he agrees with Vick about the show’s host and his credibility.
“He’s great because he’s direct about everything he says,” White said. “He doesn’t beat around the bush.”
Vick may not understand what exactly presidential candidates are proposing, but she turns to “The Daily Show” for clarification.
“When I listen to politics, I’m like ‘English please,'” joked Vick. “The show brings politics down to our level so we can see their platforms. It’ll help out a lot because more people our age could care less about politics. If it’s in a show they watch anyway, they’d get more involved.”