NYT-News Analysis: In ‘Daily Show’ Role on 9/11 Bill, Echoes of Murrow

[kpete]

News Analysis
In ‘Daily Show’ Role on 9/11 Bill, Echoes of Murrow

...............

Mr. Stewart met with the show’s panel of first responders in advance and briefed them on how the conversation would go. He even decided which seat each of the four men should sit in for the broadcast.

For Mr. Stewart, the topic of the 9/11 attacks has long been intensely personal. He lives in the TriBeCa area and has noted that in the past, he was able to see the World Trade Center from his apartment. Like other late-night comedians, he returned to the air shaken by the events and found performing comedy difficult for some time.

But comedy on television, more than journalism on television, may be the most effective outlet for stirring debate and effecting change in public policy, Mr. Thompson of Syracuse said. “Comedy has the potential to have an important role in framing the way we think about civic life,” he said.

And Mr. Stewart has thrust himself into the middle of that potential, he said.

“I have to think about how many kids are watching Jon Stewart right now and dreaming of growing up and doing what Jon Stewart does,” Mr. Thompson said. “Just like kids two generations ago watched Murrow or Cronkite and dreamed of doing that. Some of these ambitious appetites and callings that have brought people into journalism in the past may now manifest themselves in these other arenas, like comedy.”

more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/27/business/media/27stewart.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp

[dmr]

1. k&r

:hi:

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. They just figured out that comedy is an effective source of persuasion?

[madmax]

3. When the stakes are that high

guys like Jon Stewart can make a huge difference.

Jon should continue to use his power of comedy and persuasion sparingly, but definitely use it!

He's a real mensch. Here's to you Jon :toast: :fistbump: