Colbert, Daily Show Hit The Real Journalistic Mark In Iran, Iraq

GlobalPost:

It's been a fascinating few weeks for global news -- the real kind, of course -- but also for the fake stuff.

Read the whole story: GlobalPost

Comments

[Harmony1812]

Kudo to Colbert for his stint in Iraq. He was great. I loved that he shaved his head to show support. He paid a wonderful tribute that reflected their serious sacrifice as well as entertained them and us as well. Great stick about boot camp!

[JuliaRain]

They use humor to make the truth bearable to listen to.

[Durango]

I didn't care that much for Colbert in Iraq as I don't think stand up is his best schtick.

But the troops over there obviously appreciated him and my opinion is irrelevant compared to their joy.

Jason Jone's coverage of Iran was terrific. Especially his stupid stupid questions to obviously intelligent and friendly opposition leaders. His demanding prconditions before talks was classic.

Garrison Kieller says the key to comedy is to take a normal situation and stretch it. Which is what Jason Jones did with his stupidity.

But the truly scary part is that he did not stretch the truth very far. There are many, many hacks in the Corporate media who are just as willing to be as ignorant as Jason. And just as willing to ignore what is so obviously in front of them.

Iran is a modern society full of people who are not that much different than us. And to make war on them would be a crime.

These fools want to bomb Iran. They want to kill the people who Jason Jones was interviewing. And hopefully Jones and the Daily Show crew just made that possibility that much more difficult.

[Weirdwriter]

Humor is the best ammo.

[freethinking moderate]

The Daily Show & The Colbert Report do more to prove the lie that there is a so-called Liberal Media. Its a lazy corporate media.

[Lahonda]

Amazingly enough, the effort made by these two shows to get a satirical laugh or two, exposes more truth and humanity about Iran than all the rest of mainstream media. It is harder to support the bombing of people you feel a connection for, isn't it?

[John Horner]

I gave up on Chris Matthews, Larry King and the like and have switched my viewing time to Stewart and Colbert. They say things which need to be said, bring fascinating guests on the shows and make me laugh at the same time. The old fashioned style talking heads do almost none of those things.

[Balzac]

Colbert sure was a hit with the military personnel in Iraq. I was displeased by the inclusion of former president GWB but I'm over it now. Like Obama, Colbert is just too important as a source of confidence and levity for me to be too critical.

I am very tired of seeing the Bush's create the illusion of social-acceptance by somehow finagling themselves into the same social events as very popular people.

I bet Colbert had already made the commitment to the USO tour before Bush finagled his way into a concurrent appearance and then Colbert had to play nice or risk politicizing the entertainment. Unlike Sean Hannity, Colbert wouldn't let our military personnel down after agreeing to do something.

[Durango]

You know Bush was actually almost funny.

Colbert could not politicize his show in Iraq. That would be wrong.

And like you point out . . Colbert and Stewart, unlike Hannity, Limbaugh and Bill O, know right from wrong.

[walk0nwalls]

Good read.

Jason jones did a particularly good job.

[MontanaSouth]

After the last segment Jason did, I could not help feeling empathy for how painful it must be to know that Ebrahim Yazdi, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, and Maziar Bahari were arrested and that Mazier Bahari is still facing the Iranian "legal" system as a pawn in this struggle. HIs reports made my heart ache for what is happening in Iran more than anything the mainstream media has done. Personally, I think he deserves a Pulitzer for these pieces. While I read and listen to the MSM, I always turn to these two shows for a fresh look at what is happening in the world. It is just an added bonus when I can laugh instead of grit my teeth and mutter "where is the "news" here".

[cered]

Interesting article!

[llisa]

"This is not journalism." ?!?

I beg to differ. This is journalism at its best.

Both these shows tell the truth, something the "real" news has forgotten how to do.

The humor is just the icing on the cake.

[digitalprophet]

I agree.. Mainstream Media Outlets fight for ratings and try to entertain viewers anyway.. Why not do it right? :)

[Harmony1812]

Maybe if news was funny more people would watch it. Stewart in particular is estute and hard hitting with interviews. His serious desire is to make "real" journalists accountable by upstaging them in a comedy setting. He is a master of his trade.

[Harmony1812]

The best demonstration that The Daily show is about real news is the incident with Tucker Carlson on crossfire. Crossfire was cancelled a few months after because he was right. Watch it at: http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_stewart.html
Stewarts estute interview with Jim Cramer also proved him to be a gutsy and well informed spokesperson and protector of "real media information".
Stewart and Colbert are,m ironically, our best protectors of the freedom of the press.

[elijahmalachimendoza]

This is the kind of journalism I could get use to: fun humor combined with the present reality of the event!

[digitalprophet]

Daily Show's coverage of Iran was amazing. More informative than "real" news. It's a shame the average person isn't smart enough to understand and differentiate the real news nuggets attached to the normal funny stuff. One could easily stay up to date watching the Daily Show if needed :)