Most trusted? Him?

[JackLuis]

In an odd turn of affairs, Jon Stuart was voted "as America's Most Trusted Newscaster, " WTF?

It was a Time poll, the demographics are frightening.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Uh, who is Jon Stewart?


Sorry, just getting my digs at popular 'culture'.

 

[Liar]

In an odd turn of affairs, Jon Stuart was voted "as America's Most Trusted Newscaster, " WTF?

It was a Time poll, the demographics are frightening.

Kind of tells you what people think of actual news media people, when a "clown with a cable show and the attention span of a badger on acid" (Steward's own words, although I might be paraphrasing there) is considered trustworthy.

 

[TE999]

Jon reports the news and jokes about it...the Big 2 1/2 don't...although most of it is bullshit. Especially out of Washington DC.

 

[Boxlicker101]

In an odd turn of affairs, Jon Stuart was voted "as America's Most Trusted Newscaster, " WTF?

It was a Time poll, the demographics are frightening.

I think it was a matter of "least distrusted." I watch or listen to Jon Stewart and trust him to make me laugh. He doesn't claim to be doing any more than amusing people, so he is not distrusted. The others do claim to be presenting the news, and people don't trust them to do so without lying, or shading the truth.

Apparently, 56% of the respondents gave an answer, while the others demonstraterd their distrust of newscasters in general.

 

[Liar]

I think it was a matter of "least distrusted." I watch or listen to Jon Stewart and trust him to make me laugh. He doesn't claim to be doing any more than amusing people, so he is not distrusted. The others do claim to be presenting the news, and people don't trust them to do so without lying, or shading the truth.

Yeah, I think that's it. Also, he IS pretty good at targeting the others in the real news media and call them on their bullshit when they're not doing their job. Pointing out when mainstream media makes themselves look stupid is one of The Daily Shows best schticks.

 

[Tx Tall Tales]

This is a TIME poll, right?

The same TIME that says the World's Most Influential Person is....

(drum roll please)

moot (aka Christopher Poole) - the founder of 4chan

'nuff said.

 

[oggbashan]

Best Dressed; Worst Dressed
Best Group; Worst Group

Magazine Polls tend to send the poll targets from one extreme to another. Whoever was Best Dressed last year can be Worst Dressed this year.

It doesn't matter. All the poll indicates is that the person/group is recognised.

Of course, these polls do not have to be scientifically based. Leading questions are common. So is intentional bias.

Even academics can make errors in devising poll questions. The wording of the questions has to be carefully crafted to avoid skewed answers that destroy the validity of the results:

When did you stop hitting your wife?

Choose one, and only one of the following answers:

I stopped this week.
I stopped last week.
I stopped this month.
I stopped last month.
I haven't stopped.

Og

 

[rgraham666]

TV journalism was doomed the second it was changed from a service provided to the pubic to a profit center for a corporation.

 

[3113]

Why so surprised?

I'm in agreement that I'd trust Stewart over almost any other newscaster in America, but why so surprised, Jack? He is the jester in the court, as it were, the one willing to present the truth that no one else will examine, point out or investigate. Why should this horrify you? Most especially, why not celebrate it and thank god? He interviews scientists and writers and economists, he promotes BOOKS! Sometimes he argues with big names or promotes a movie, but most of the time, it's AUTHORS that he's talking with.

In other words, you're horrified that the most trusted man in America is the one who is urging people to learn about science, understand the intricacies of politics, and read books? Rather than, say, some other news caster who interviews the latest Survivor kicked off the Island, or the remaining two American Idol contestants, or some hair dresser who believes that Obama is a Kenyan spy? Would you really have America trust those other newscasters over the one that urges people to read and educate themselves? Really?

I think it was a matter of "least distrusted." I watch or listen to Jon Stewart and trust him to make me laugh. He doesn't claim to be doing any more than amusing people, so he is not distrusted. The others do claim to be presenting the news, and people don't trust them to do so without lying, or shading the truth.

Spot on, Box. I'm in full agreement.

Yeah, I think that's it. Also, he IS pretty good at targeting the others in the real news media and call them on their bullshit when they're not doing their job. Pointing out when mainstream media makes themselves look stupid is one of The Daily Shows best schticks.

Yep. As I said, the jester who can mock the rest of the court, telling truths that others don't dare tell, or simply using people's own words and deeds to point out what others will not--often that the Emperor has no clothes.

When all the media was reporting on Michael Jackson's death, this is what Stewart reported on.... Now given how nonstop the reporting on Jackson was to the point where everyone got sick of it, who would you trust more? Any one of those news people reporting ad infinitum on Jackson's death, or the one guy who left off reporting on Jackson at all, pointing out instead the stupidity and self-serving nature of the reporting on Jackson?

 

[trysail]

Uh, who is Jon Stewart?


Sorry, just getting my digs at popular 'culture'.

While fully comprehending your "dig," I'd describe him as one more in an all-too-long line of wiseasses— one which would particularly include Jay Leno.

One thing he's not is: Murrow, Chancellor, Huntley, Brinkley, Lehrer, MacNeill or Cronkite ( I hope and fully trust that you will recognize that the name "Rather" is conspicuously and deliberately missing from the foregoing list ).

 

[Liar]

While fully comprehending your "dig," I'd describe him as one more in an all-too-long line of wiseasses— one which would particularly include Jay Leno.

One thing he's not is: Murrow, Chancellor, Huntley, Brinkley, Lehrer, MacNeill or Cronkite ( I hope and fully trust that the name Rather is conspicuously and noticeably missing from the list ).

For the record, Jon Stweart would fully agree.

(Maybe not about the Rather thing. I have no idea where he places him.)

The difference between Leno and Stewart is that one has a lot of wit, and the other has a lot of chin.

 

[DesertPirate]

Time is just a glossy version of the Enquirer anymore.

 

[JackLuis]

Yeah Box, I think you hit it on the head. Jon calls himself the "Dancing Monkey" and he is funny. He does call a lot of bullshit correctly.

Biography.com has a very good Bio on him, Lost the link or I'd post it.