Sunday, March 30, 2008

Blog #16 - Is Fake News Good For America?

Is fake news good for America?

I pose this question for our blog b/c in many ways, though it makes us laugh and it has good reporting, it can also blur the lines between fiction and reality. First, let’s talk about the Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

Jon Stewart joined the Daily Show around 1999 or so and the show became a huge topical news hit when deadpan reporter Steve Carell (the same Steve Carell from 40 Year-Old Virgin, Dan in Real Life and Horton Hears a Hoo) got onto John McCain’s campaign bus called the Straight Talk Express and asked such goofy questions that seemed so real “that McCain didn’t know if [Carell] was joking or serious.” 1

Since then, The Daily Show has become the “pit stop” for politicians looking to get re-elected or people (including politicians) looking to pimp their new books. Even the president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, one of America’s most important allies in the war on terror appeared on the show last year (2007). When politicians appear on the show, they know they might get mocked, yet they play along with Stewart’s schtik anyway.
Appearing on late night shows, a tradition started by a saxophone-playing Bill Clinton on the Arsenio Hall Show in 1992, has tended to result in positive publicity for a politician. Whether it’s Leno, Letterman, Stewart, Colbert or Kimmel, “America wants to see these guys poke fun at themselves…” and “present a hipper, gentler side.” 1




Sometimes, these appearances don’t always go positively or they come too late to matter. In 1996, Senator Bob Dole went on the Late Show w/ David Letterman after he lost the election to Bill Clinton. Dole’s quick wit was such a huge hit that many voters wrote to him wishing that they had voted for him earlier. In the 2004 election, President Bush (“came off horribly wooden”) and Senator John Kerry (who rode a Harley onto Leno’s set) both flopped. 1

But, with all of these politicians playing along with the jokes and even being in on some of the gags, sometimes, a viewer might not know where the reality ends and the satire begins. Jon Stewart’s interviews are sometimes better than the ones that the professionals do. In 2000, The Daily Show won a Peabody Award for its coverage of the Bush / Gore campaign – an award that goes to people in the journalism field. And what about the Colbert Report? Stephen Colbert breaks his wrist and believes that “anything he cares about is important enough to talk about every day.” He wanted people to wear “Wrist-Strong” bracelets for wrist-awareness. 2 How much different is this silliness than Glenn Beck, MSNBC’s pundit, talking about his hemorrhoid surgery and the difficulty he had with it on TV? 3

So when we can’t tell the news from the comedy, when we can’t figure out the truth from fiction, how can we make informed decisions? How can we vote for the right candidates? Does all of this confusion mean that American democracy has become a joke? Or is it that the media isn’t doing its job b/c it is too busy following the government or corporate storyline?

The question: Is fake news good for America? Why or why not? Consider the discussion and the questions above before writing your answer (150 words minimum).
Sources:
1. Peyser, Marc. “Red, White and Funny: The new year will bring a host of intriguing faces front and center. Politicians. Actors. Tycoons. Educators. And one fake news anchor, bravely battling pomposity and misinformation. Jon Stewart prepares for Campaign 2004.” Newsweek. Dec. 29, 2003. P. 70.
2. Weinman, Jaime. “The Secret Agenda of the Colbert Report: in two years, he’s turned a “Daily Show” spin-off into a wacky sitcom.” Maclean’s. Oct. 22, 2007. P. 57.
3. The Drudge Report. http://www.drudge.com/news/102972/glenn-becks-eye-opening-hemorrhoid-surgery . Accessed 3/29/08.

52 comments:

Anonymous said...

Many people use fake news as their way of finding out information about the news. It is hard to tell the difference between what is real and what is comedy. People shouldn’t be using these tv shows as there sources of information. It is tough to tell what is comedy and what is not and people could be making important decisions off an unreliable source. Many people prefer to watch shows like the Daily Show instead of the news is because the Daily Show is funny and doesn’t put you to sleep. The news is too serious and repetitive and most people change the channel after ten minutes or so. Shows like the Daily Show are only thirty to sixty minutes long and many people can watch for that longer without getting bored. These shows are also on different channels like Comedy Central so it reaches to a different audience. This is why people watch fake news instead of the real news and it may become and problem to politicians in the future.

robert g 5th

Anonymous said...

Paul Sidlosky
I think that fake news is very bad for America. For those who are informed in what is going on in the world and educated in politics, it may give them a good laugh because they know how stupid or crazy that something is they are making fun of, such as a politician speech. The educated people can also differ between what is the truth and what is made up or exaggerated on the fake news shows. As for everyone else they may believe everything that John Stewart or Stephen Colbert are saying, and they may treat it as a real news show to become informed. The problem is fake news shows are fake, they are not intended to inform people but make them laugh about what they have already been informed of. People who are not informed might not take as a comedy, but more as a serious show, and become misinformed. Although those shows are always funny, they are also dangerous for the majority of the public.
Paul Sidlosky

Anonymous said...

Fake news can be good for America if it’s done correctly. The goal of fake news should be to inform the public of what’s going on in the world, but with a satirical spin on it. The satirical comedy should not only drive deeper points home, but also make the show more enjoyable than the average news program. Some shows like the Daily Show do this very well. They poke fun at current events, but still provide solid information about them. Other shows like the Colbert Report hardly ever touch on current events and just stick to Colbert’s rants about how bears are America’s number one threat. That’s not to say the show isn’t funny, but it is a lot less informative than the normal news or even the Daily Show. It’s good for American people to hear about what’s going on in the world and even better if they can understand the satire. Fake news programs can be good for America and even the less informative shows like the Colbert Report can’t do any harm.

Stefan Rush
4th Hour

Anonymous said...

No, fake news is not good for America. It puts out lies for everyone to see, and makes fun of some of the most serious topics out there. Though they say comedy relives pain, in this case of comedians making fun of the war and the president only makes it worse. People are trying to get there point across about the war and such. How can the people, when they are only remember as the one who was made fun of on The Daily Show. In this time of war Americans are suppose to come together as one to fight. Not make fun of the President or choices he makes. We are the one who put him in power, along with all the other Politicians. People get laughs out of these shows, unlike the news which is usually depressing. The more “fake news” there is the less real news will be watched. Which means fewer people who know about what is going on in the world, and even fewer who will want to make a difference. Though it might be entertaining it really is hurting American more than anything else.

Emma Schwartz
4th Hour

Anonymous said...

I think that fake news is a good and a bad influence on America. I think that it can be good. First I believe that you have to know the actual news to get the jokes on the fake news shows. I think that the fake news shows can be refreshing. These days you turn on the “real” news and there are stories of murders, drugs, and the war. The Colbert Report and The Daily Show shed humor on politics and celebrities. But I think that if people are relying on these shows only for their news of the world and politics it can be a bad influence. It would be like using South Park to pick who you are voting for. I don’t feel these shows are making fun of democracy. Ultimately I feel that these shows are funny, and when watched for the lighthearted humor (such as you would watch Saturday Night Live) they are good for America.
Kelsey Kaline
5th hour

Anonymous said...

Nicole N.

I do think that fake news is good for america because some people may not watch real news. Fake news is a source but a fun way to learn what is happeneing around the world. Fake news isn't so scary but they make it somewhat lighter for people to take in. Why watch and hear about something bad and scary when you can laugh but at the same time still understand.

Anonymous said...

Is fake news good for America?
I do not think fake news is good for America at all. Sure it makes us laugh but it can stretch the truth a lot. I would rather be told the facts than an exaggerated version of the facts. Some people may also not be able to tell which part of the news is real and what is not which is not good. If fake news is misinterpreted it can lead to extreme decisions such as voting for a president or political figure. If the Politian on the show act too laid back or different it may sway the votes they get to another candidate. People do not want a funny president they want one who can make change and help

Marin Haffey 5th

Anonymous said...

Emily Corless
2nd Hour

Fake news is bad for America. Fake news can take the reality away from certain things. Fake news also is a one sided perspective on the story. They take clips from certain things instead of showing the whole clip. The fake news never usually shows the whole picture and the different perspective. They also make funny comments out of very serious things, such as the war. The war in Iraq is not a funny topic and should be taken in a professional manner. People lives are at stake and innocent people die every day. Thousands of people risk their lives for this country for the freedoms we have. Fake news might give people a good chuckle and laugh but the show is getting away from the reality of things. If you watch the fake news all the time and don’t watch the real news you’ll forget what is happening in the world and you won’t see the whole story.

Anonymous said...

I think fake news is good for America because it’s still news. All of the jokes that are made come from or are exaggerations of real news stories. The way I see it, what’s the harm in laughing at our news instead of letting depress us? I also think it promotes an interest in current events. I mean people my ages generally don’t rush to the TV to turn on the news but maybe they do for something like The Daily Show. I just think that fake news is better than no news. I think it is especially important in times like these when our news is so bleak and depressing. If adding a little humor is what gets us through the daily news then what’s so wrong with that? Nothing. Some people may see it as cruel to laugh at the situations in America but to be honest, a lot of them deserve it.

Sarah Zamler
5th Hour

Anonymous said...

Is fake news good for America? The answer is yes and no, it all depends on who the viewer is. If the viewer has watched real news and knows about current events, then they will see the satire in the fake news and see why it is funny. This is when fake news is good for America, because even for those who don’t know all the facts, but know the issues, and are somewhat intelligent, then they will benefit from the news while being entertained. As I previously mentioned, fake news is also bad for America. An example of when it is bad is when the viewer (usually an unintelligent viewer) cannot tell the truth from the fiction. If the line news-comedy line is not clear, it is easy to be tricked into believing something that is not true. To vote for the right candidates we really need to do our own research and stay away from fake news and possibly bias real news. The fake news doesn’t make a joke out of America, although it may ridicule some of the governments choices that the majority doesn’t agree with. The media spends an appropriate amount of time covering the government, because it is a very important topic.

Jacob Trunsky
4th hour

Anonymous said...

I think fake news is a good thing to have. Even though most people say that it is a bad influence to kids. Although I think it is a great way to inform kids about whats happening in the world in a funny way. With it around kids can understand the news better. Its funny and they see what is going on in the world without having to ask people. Even though it may come a little late its still nice to hear about it. Usually I have to ask my mom about the presidential elections but with this I wont have to ask because I’ll actually want to watch it. With this news then more people will know more about what is happening in the world. It will have more viewers than the regular news. Overall, fake news is really helpful for kids by taking normal news and making it funny.
Nick Theisen
4th hour

Anonymous said...

I think that fake news is bad for America because it gives the citizens false hope. Some citizens may not have seen the real news and happens to watch the fake one and believe that what they are saying is true. When confusion is caused then the citizens might vote for the wrong candidate, then we find ourselves in trouble. Therefore this makes it much harder to decide on whom to vote for and what choice is the best. Most candidates have gone on these shows to try to prove to the people that they are cool and funny but that isn’t what we need from a future president; we need someone that takes the business seriously. If this continues on over the years the democracy will not be taken seriously. Even if fake news is bad it doesn’t change the fact that I or anybody else looks at it and doesn’t think it’s funny. I think that it was created because some news Medias are biased and aren’t doing their jobs.

Nikita Charles
4th hour

Anonymous said...

Fake news is good for America in my opinion. It provides information that isn’t always provided with real news such as CNN. Fake news shows are not hesitant to ask and show the real questions and answers that may be a little “aggressive“. Unlike fake news, reporters for real news broadcasters would be hesitant to ask these kinds of questions. Fake news can use this information as a joke and for comedy but at the same time, at least for me, I feel that fake news shows the real side to the story and what is really going on in America today instead of the changed news that CNN has to show. The real news media is following the government’s storyline instead of showing the truth to the viewers. Fake news helps show the truth from the fiction. To me fake news is the most surreal kind of news there is and the “real news” is showing the storyline and the real fake news to the American people.

Ryan Bertrand 2nd Hour

Anonymous said...

I believe people who use fake news, use it so that they can find out the real news. My reason being is fake news is like blackmail. If people say something that is not true about an event or someone that person will eventually come out with the "real news". There is nothing wrong fake news. In fact I think that most of the comments and other things are true. And it also has you thinking to yourself "hmm is that really true"? Fake News is also really entertaining(funny)most of the jokes are and comments funny. In conclusion I believe that there is nothing wrong with "fake news".

Tommy Syrkett 2nd Hour

Anonymous said...

I think the fake news programs are good for America as long as they don’t go too far. The fake news programs draw many viewers in; this creates high amounts of current event awareness. Many young viewers don’t find the news interesting. This means that they won’t watch it, and won’t learn about what is occurring around them. When they watch the fake news because they don’t find it boring, they are still becoming aware of the world around them. This helps broaden our nation’s knowledge of events.
The fake news has one major problem though; some viewers have a hard time filtering between joke and truth. With that problem, many people can become misinformed, and there for less informed than before. Another thing is that the fake news always shows the negative side of the news. If the fake news began to show how the world is improving, and what we can do to help, than that would increase our awareness far better. I think fake news is good, but has room for improvement.
Rob Salton , 4th

Anonymous said...

I think that fake news is good for America. It lets younger American voters, see some of the candidate’s actual personalities. Many young people don’t vote, because watching debates and different news programs seems dragged on, and often, they will talk about topics in ways that less educated young people wouldn’t understand. These people are more interested in comedic acts. By campaigning on late night shows, young people could hear what these candidates have to say in a more free way. It isn’t as uptight and serious. I do think that we need other ways to express serious topics also though. There should be some kind of interview with the presidential candidates that is a little less tight, and is explained so that these topics become clear to young voters. I think that there should still be the very professional debates for the older voters. Overall, I think that both forms promotions for the candidates is effective, and that they each show something about a candidate that the other does not.

Katie Bromley
2nd hour

Anonymous said...

I think that fake news is good for America because it can show the current events and then it can make different kinds of jokes about it and show it in a different way. And sometimes serious things need to be told in humorous ways so that a lighter side can be shown, and sometimes comedy brings people together in tough times. And they do talk about serious things but when they joke about it they try to show how there may have been some mistakes. And sometimes the fake news can show both sides of a story or event because it could make fun of the good things and the bad things. And the show/news won’t be bias like many reports are, so it the fake news could be good for many people. And it can be entertaining for some people who like the news but want it to be a little different.

-Maher Abou-Rass
4th Hour

Anonymous said...

I believe that fake news is good for America for a few reasons. I feel that Americans don’t always want to watch the news and always see the serious and real events that occurring around the world. I think that sometimes people just want to watch the news and laugh while hosts poke fun at events of politicians. People can always watch an event on the news and then watch it from a different stand point on the comical news stations. I think that sometimes people want to laugh at politicians who say or do stupid things without realizing it. I suppose that when people see politicians on shows like the Daily Show, or late night shows the kind of see the politicians making fun of themselves or doing something funny or outgoing and showing that their just not guys dressed up in suits and ties and that they can do things like play the saxophone or ride motorcycles.

Stefanos T. 2nd Hour

Anonymous said...

Is fake news good for America?
In my opinion the answer is no. I do not believe that by hearing or reading a false news story there are any good results. If we hear all these fake stores about war, the economy and the world, I believe that we will not appreciate when a bad event or story has a true effect on our lives. There is nothing wrong with trying to make a true story funny or easier to hear, or to make bad new have a good result. To make fun of our leaders to me is disrespectful when its done in front of the whole world. I also do not believe that countries outside of the United States necessarily understand our humor and the result could be viewed with shock, and worry about the false story. Just report the news as it happens and let the reader decide if he believes it or not.

Justin Laffer
5th hour

Anonymous said...

Yes, i do believe Fake news is good for America. With all the neagivity thats going on, i feel it is educational in a way and you can get a good laugh. For the people that are not as intelligent when it comes to politics and other government issues,they might get confused watching the 'fake news'. Overall i dont see anything wrong with it,or the message that it sends. Even though its not as serious the topics that they touch on are real, and very important.

Alyssa T.
4TH HR.

Anonymous said...

I personally think that fake news is good for America because it informs a younger crowd of people about stuff going on and puts a funny twist to it. So there is fuss of people not knowing the news from the comedy and the truth from the fiction, but that isn’t the fake news’ fault, maybe people should watch the news then the fake news for a few laughs. We can vote for the right candidates by watching a little bit of real news to see their political side and some fake news to see a more personal side of them. All of this confusion doesn’t mean that American democracy is a joke, it just means that we don’t take everything so seriously and that we can joke around when we want to. Now go and watch some fake news for humor and you will even learn things that are big news right now.
Derek M.
5th Hour

Anonymous said...

I think that for America fake news can be a positive, but also a negative influence. It can be directed as a negative influence because some people in America only watch the news whenever its convenient to them, and it just might happen that then they are able to watch the only news that is provided for them at the time is the fake news. Sometimes American citizens don’t know the difference. They don’t know what to believe or what not to believe because so many different “fake news “ broadcasting programs display such unusual things about the world that we just don’t know the difference. However, fake news can be portrayed as a positive influence because on the real news we only hear stories about deaths, killings, and pretty much everything that no one wants to hear about. Fake news can give people a way to laugh at the way the real news explains the torture and sad things around the world. People enjoy watching the fake news more so because it has a somewhat “happier” intake on what is happening, which leaves viewers in a better mood about certain topics. This question is very controversial, in my opinion I think It matters according to the topics the news is telling.

Melanie Shaw
4th hour

Anonymous said...

Is fake news good for America? I think that fake news is good for America for a few reasons. Fake news allows the viewers to see more of a personal side with the candidate which I think is very important. It also allows people to learn about the candidates and their views in a fun way which is more interesting to watch. Fake news also helps viewers be up to date with current events. I also feel the America is way to serious and stressed out when they actually watch news about the candidates, but with fake news they don’t have to be serious. They can be silly and relaxed but still learn about important facts about the candidates. I think that fake news is good for America.

Tyler Howe 4th hour

Anonymous said...

I think that “fake news” can be both positive and negative for America. On the negative side, some people can’t distinguish between the “fake news” and the real new so they could be misguided and confused with what’s going on. Some people could also get offended that serious issues are being made fun of, especially for those who have loved ones involved. On the positive side, “fake news” can be good because it can help lift people’s spirits and see the “light at the end of the tunnel” and even help them through the rough times. It’s also a good way to keep unity in America because if we started showing pictures of bloodied and dead U.S soldiers and telling people that there really is not set future goals, there will be more people angry with the government and a big split on those who believe the war should end and those who believe the war should continue. I think “fake news” needs to be well balanced with showing people what real news stations may not show to open peoples eyes, while giving people hope and lightening the topic.

Jessica Keyes
4th hour

Anonymous said...

I think fake news could be bad and good at the same time for the public of this country. It may be a funny show, but some people would have trouble telling the difference between the fake news and just the real news that they are making fun of. They could then get confused and use the wrong information as a source. It can also be good for those who are informed about the politics of this country. They would be able to tell the difference between the news and the jokes, and not get the two confused. It is nice to have a laugh every once in awhile about politics, but sometimes things get exaggerated and news could get stretched. That’s when others who are not too informed about politics enough get confused. That is the main reason it is bad for the country, just puts confusion into some people.
Trevor Nielsen

Anonymous said...

I believe that fake news is good for Americans on a certain level because during times of desperation or difficult measures, Americans can laugh about the matters and relax a little more. The main problem with fake news is that people cannot tell when the news becomes real and when it is fake and they might beleive something that is actually fake and untrue. John Stewart for example basically jokes around throughout most of his show and takes funny clips of important people to make them look or sound stupid, which is not necessarily fair because the clips might be from different periods of time. I believe that if people are really concerned about a topic then they should watch the real news on a different channel instead of watching a news program that is intended on being funny more then true. I also believe that there is a time for joking around and a time to be serious and John Stewart or any other host should know when this time is.

Ian Perfitt
U.S. History 2nd hour

Anonymous said...

I believe that "fake news" is one of the greatest things that have emerged from the complicated world of politics. America has seen its share of controversial, “new” ideas sprout from its land, but the idea of “fake news’ tops them all. And to all the naysayers, I have one thing to say: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is NOT A NEWSPROGRAM, it is NOT AN EVENING NEWS STATION, it is A TV SHOW, one that can be paralleled with a simple TV sitcom. The Daily Show has WRITERS, who WRITE THE SCRIPT, and who think of FUNNY THINGS TO SAY, on a TV channel called COMEDY CENTRAL. When the writers went on strike, The Daily Show was NO LONGER REPORTING NEWS. It astounds me how people take this show and others alike to the degree that they do. People complain that they can’t make informed decisions because they can’t tell the truth from the joke, but I say, if you can’t tell the difference, YOU DON’T DESERVE TO BE VOTING! If you don’t put in an effort into informing yourself about every day issues, then how can you complain about not being well informed??? YOU DON’T MAKE THE EFFORT, THAT’S WHY! At this point in time, there is no excuse to not be well informed because, with minimal effort, you can become just as knowledgeable as the next person. Yes, it is true that some people choose to receive their news from The Colbert Report over Fox News. It is also true that these fake news shows have a significant amount of influence in the world of politics. But isn’t that just what America is looking for right now? A place to laugh about the crazy things that go on in our country every day? A place to openly criticize what might be wrong? And, well, you might say that The Daily Show is biased. But is it any more biased than Fox News, a news station that is known publicly for being extremely conservative? The way the media is set up, a news corporation has the ability to report whatever they want, and more importantly, whatever they don’t want to. They can be controlled and advised to “wait until a certain date to break a story”, or just “forget” to break the story at all. While this is seemingly unjust, it is the way the system works and there is no end in sight. Ultimately, this is where fake news comes in; they have assumed the role of jester in the world of politics. They joke, the laugh, and they tease in order to make us feel better about ourselves and the situation in the world. And a lot of the time, what they say is true. Through critiquing daily issues, I think that these fake news reports do a good job at keeping the country “down to earth”. And that is why I believe that fake news is good for America.

Tyler Friedman
5th Hour

Anonymous said...

I think that fake news is good for people because they make the news important but at the same time funny. It also makes the news exciting to watch because a lot of people who watch the news get bored watching it. With the fake news, they get a lot younger people to watch it. This helps out because then the U.S. will have a lot more people interested in the news but in a more fun way. The fake news also gives good information that is important instead of the real news where they talk about things that are not so important. But there are times when the fake news goes a little too far because sometimes they just make fun of a serious point and when the young people talk about what they heard on the fake news, some people might take it serious and will give them the wrong impression. Overall fake news is good for America because it gives them the news that they need to hear.

Jake Cramer

Anonymous said...

Fake news can have a positive and negative impact on America and its citizens. Some ways that fake news is helpful are that the fake news shows that are shown criticize the way America and its politics are today and how the world is today. These shows exaggerate what is going on in the world and make fun of it to show the flaws of our society and how we can improve on these flaws. It can have a negative impact because if people do not know what is going on in the world and they watch this show, they might actually believe all the things and all the news that is shown on that TV show. This is because it is hard for people to understand that jokes on the fake news show unless they are well informed of what is taking place around the world. For this reason they won’t understand it. And those are some positive and negative effects of fake news shows.

Phil Bolton 5th

Anonymous said...

Us History Blog 16
I think that fake news has both positive and negative effects on America. Fake news helps people that have no interest in politics enjoy the news, and it puts a funny spin on everything to make upcoming events more enjoyable to watch. On the other hand, it may be bad for America because people are now starting to base their opinions on a fake news source. In my opinion it’s a funny show not to be taken literally, but to some people it is a show that ridicules America and its government. On the other hand, the people that love fake news shows may start to boycott real news and fake news could ultimately end up being our main source for political information(although that is highly unlikely). All in all I think that the main benefit from fake news sources is a positive one because they aren’t news shows, they are shows meant to entertain us.

TJ Hyland
5th Hour

Anonymous said...

Blog Is fake news good for America?
I think that fake news is good and bad for America because I would bet that most of the Americans in the country don’t watch the news, and the fake news helps because it is really funny. They need to know what is going on in the country and a lot of news shows are very boring. People now a days have very short attention spans, and they need to be entertained, and that is exactly what the fake news shows are doing. Plus they have a lot famous people on the show and comedians, like John Stewart, who just hosted the Oscars. Steve Carell was a correspondent on the Daily Show and is a famous actor now. The reason that the fake news is bad is it can go to far. Like my dad used to like the Daily Show but he stopped because John Stewart made very bias comments against the republican party, and my dad was offended. Plus some of the stuff on the show is stupid and taken out of contexted and that’s what people will believe and it isn’t true.

Alex Diaczok

Anonymous said...

I think fake news is good for America as long as you know the real news story. If you don’t know the real news story the jokes will not make any sense to the viewers. I also think that having fake news makes watching the news interesting and attractive to more of the younger people compared to the regular news that isn’t as fun or entertaining. Fake news is funny and also has famous people on the talk shows to boost ratings and spike the interests of the viewers. The fake news is also bad too because some people could take that news seriously and will not realize it’s fake or exaggerated. Its also bad because people watching might not understand the issue or the topic and if that happens they wont understand the direction of the show and take it the wrong way. Overall I think fake news is good for America beside its minor problems.
Raphael Egziabher

Anonymous said...

I think that fake news is good and bad for America. I think that it is good because it does inform people on the events taking place and does it with humor and that’s good because it makes the news going on interesting to the people that are watching it. Humor attracts many people so the news can be spread by these fake news shows. It is bad because it does make fun of the news that is going on and people might take is seriously and get offended by it. People can look at it as making fun of America and not taking the events going on seriously. But you can’t always look at the news so seriously and have to loosen up a little. I think that it is overall good for America because these shows are interesting and interest people and can inform people about the news that don’t really enjoy watching the regular news and can inform people that are looking for a little sense of humor and the news.

Jason S.
4th hour

Anonymous said...

Christy Slowinski
2nd hour
Yes I think that fake news is good for America. The real news doesn’t always talk about the important issues, and even though the fake news shows are making fun of the news, they are still giving you accurate information, and talking about what is important. Also theses shows, show a different side of many politicians that come on the show. They can ask them questions in a joking manner, which real news stations could not ask. I think that the fake news gives America a break, and sort of gives us a break from our problems. We still learn about the problems we are having, but at least we can laugh about it.

Anonymous said...

I think that fake news is most definitely not good for America. I don’t think it is good because it is one hundred percent false news. And most of America isn't informed about everything that is happening in politics and foreign news. So, with this false news that they see on television, they might infer or believe the wrong things. Another bad thing about fake news is that it is just plain stupid. It makes some well respected leaders, politicians and people look dumbfounded for things they might not have even done. And even if they have done some of those things they were probably good acts to society or just the right thing to do in that situation. But fake news makes it look like it is a crime or a bad thing to do in that position. Finally it derives from some of the real issues. They may talk about world issues but they don't talk about what is really going on. Overall I think that fake news is just a laugh and that is it. It doesn't help America and sometimes it probably even hurts America.

Ben Tredwell
5th

Anonymous said...

I think fake news is good for America in a lot of ways but can be harsh to some. It adds to many political campaigns and shows that even a president can goof off and have a fun time. In Bill Clinton’s case it made many regret the candidate that they voted for and put him in a higher position when it came to stating his views. Fake news can help viewers see a different view on something they might have been against. On the darker side there can be many issues that tag along with it. Some teens, including myself, don’t pay much attention to political campaigns in general and are lost when watching the late show making fun of them. Also the fact that Glenn Beck had major surgery and no one cared proves that certain issues should remain off screen. If a politician wants to make fun of themselves then so be it, but to discuss a topic that will eventually go down hill is wrong.

MOLLIE YARSIKE-5th

Anonymous said...

alot of people today listen to fake news as a way for people to hear what is going on in the world in an enjoyable way. but people shouldn't always relay on it because it is not alway the correct and even though it is enjoyable to with the comedians make fun of the politicians and what they are doing in Iraq and in the campaign it is better to know what is actually real in the country.

kathy kakoz

Anonymous said...

I think that fake news is great for America. Politicians tend to take themselves too seriously and it’s good to see the other side of them. It shows you that they can be a real person, just like us. From the episodes of the Colbert Report that I have seen, he tells the truth just in his own way and I still feel informed for example, about our water supply. It’s interesting that more people have started tuning in to these satire news shows now-a-days. I think it helps take some of the strain away from the delicate situations that plight our society. It’s nice to be able to laugh (if even for a moment) at the fact that we have been in the war for 5 years instead of feeling bitter and angry.

Ally R.
3rd hour

Anonymous said...

Fake news is good for American culture because it shows current events in a different light when compared to the news. Funny news is mainly unbiased when compared to other news stations and more politicians are making their way onto funny news stations such as, the Daily Show, or the Colbert Report, than ever before. Fake news also prompts awareness of current events by how if you have to know about these events to fully understand the jokes that are being made even though fake news channels often give a briefing on what the joke is about. Younger viewers turn to fake news because it is funny and they get to see a different side of the politicians that influence their lives. Fake news shouldn’t be confused with the real news because when fake news jokes are made the jokes are always emphasized setting them apart from the real news and sometimes the jokes are completely absurd, also making them stand apart from the real news. Fake news is good for our culture because of these reasons but also it provides a good laugh which is always good for America.

Robbie Lewis 5th Hour

Anonymous said...

Tragedy. fake news is some garbage but i must admit doe it is funny,yo i get my laff on wit fake news. yeah i be watching some Colbert and watever night live. people who are going to run for president should show the public more than one side to win alot of popular votes ina hood. see im saying, to be honest if obama didn't dance on ellen deg--(i cant spell her name) i wouldnt have kept watchin to listen to c wat he was gonna say ona show. i wanna see more clips of fake news.

Derrick Brown
5th hour

Anonymous said...

I think that fake news is not really helping anything in the country. Fake news attempts to get news across in a funny and entertaining matter, but what it is really doing is poking fun of politicians and leaders. The people that appear as guests on the show are often confused as to whether the questions they are being asked are true or not, as the example with Steve Carell shows us. For most people, fake news causes more hurt to the country than it is helping it. People have started to believe everything they hear in these fake news programs, which can lead to misinformation. This is not helping the country at all because why would we want fake news when we can hear the real news? This question should be asked to the leaders of these programs, like Steve Colbert and John Stewart. They are misleading the people into thinking that everything in politics should be a laughing matter. This is not true, because everything that could affect or impact our nation should be taken seriously. It is very important that we not let fake news fog our minds and make our decisions for us. We must think on our own and listen to the real news that will help us lead a successful life and help politicians successfully lead a country.

Anonymous said...

.I think Fake news is good for America because it makes news better. Gives people something to laugh at. News jokes are made to entertain their viewers. Fake news is also bad cuz most of it is unbaised news. It is bad to use fake news with events that are taken seriously. If you wont use fake news people wouldnt be be watching news. Yet fake news is a good reason for younger audience & it keeps people tuning in.

ashley davis

Anonymous said...

I don’t think that fake news is good for America because people do not know what is the truth or fiction. Even though it is funny, it just makes voting for the right candidate even harder. One way we can vote for the right candidate is to listen to the issues that they are presenting, and their plans to help change them. If we put our attention to their plans to help change America instead of the fake news that is in the media, we would probably have a much easier time voting for a candidate. I do not think that American democracy has become a joke, it is just something that people want to poke fun at.

Megan K. -4th

Anonymous said...

Of course fake news is good for our country! It has humor, the one thing just about every American loves. Although fake news is humorous, it gets real news and real problems out. The people hosting the fake news shows like John Stewart are very well educated about politics and discuss serious issues, just in a lighter atmosphere. No ten year old would be caught dead watching the news, but my brother has been watching The Daily Show since before he was ten. So many children watch fake news shows and are so much more educated than they would without it. Another thing is that seeing a politician joking around on a TV show makes people feel much more comfortable with him, just like when Bob Dole went on David Letterman's show. But really I just like to watch these shows for the laughs. They can make even the most serious of topics comically entertaining. And that's all I really care about.

Michael Guz
4th Hour

Anonymous said...

I think that fake news is not good for the citizens of America. Americans should base their decisions on what is true fact, instead of what might appear on comedy shows. There is nothing wrong with these shows, like The Daily Show; they are comical and interesting to watch. John Stewart really knows how to draw his audience in and entertain them, and there is nothing wrong with this – there is no reason for Americans not to watch it. However, they should not read in to it so far that they start to believe that everything on these comical television shows is true, instead of what is solid facts from the news. These shows were made to make people laugh, not to report what the real news is. If people misinterpret these shows, which some people are bound to do, the wrong choices could be made for America. Americans should realize they can’t believe everything they hear, especially when it comes from shows that are made to entertain people.

Bethany Slon
5th Hour

Anonymous said...

I do not think that fake news is necessarily good for America; I don’t think that it really serves an important purpose, but I also don’t think that it is hurtful towards America. I think that everyone really knows that shows such as the Colbert report do not contain proven facts. I think that for America to make restrictions on the media in these cases would be unconstitutional. I think that we were given free speech, and that we should be able to use it no matter what the issue. I think that if we become a country like china where we can only watch government supported programs, than our country will fall apart. I am not saying that I believe that these shows are very important to our country or are very accurate about our issues, but I think that they should be allowed to be aired and whomsoever would like to watch them may.

Megan w.

Anonymous said...

I really don’t think that fake news is bad for America. Many people use fake news as their way of finding out information about the news. But these people are probably don’t really care about what the news is really about, all they want to do is hear a couple jokes. And when the fake news shows show clips of a politician’s speech, all they are really doing is just taking it out of context and making it more appealing to the viewer by making fun of it. People that really watch the news watch it during the day and probably care about it, and follow it daily. There still are a lot of people that watch both real and fake news and that’s fine because they know not to take any of the fake news seriously. I think the only real harm that fake news can do is manipulate the younger audience into believing everything there show is trying to say, because some of their points are very convincing and their hosts are very admirable. I think that fake news is a great way to get a good new majority of Americans to take interest in news again, or for the first time.

Matt Bajorek
4th

Anonymous said...

I think that shows like the colbert report are good. I think they are good because they show us the other sides of politicians and to me that's a good thing. We always see the politicians as politicians or people who are trying to get this position for the government. We never get to see the laidback and reassuring side of our politicians. I think a show like the Colbert report opens us up to that side. So I don’t necessarily think of it as “fake news”. But in some cases there are times .They don’t play the whole story or interview, they cut and paste the parts that back up their statements or beliefs. It’s not fake news because the politicians really said those things, but not always in that order.
Rae williams 2nd hour

Anonymous said...

I think fake news is good, as long as the person watching can distinguish between what is fake news and what is real. Then, it’s just a matter of making people laugh and showing them a good time. I think that when the candidates go on the show, it gives them a chance to show themselves personality wise, and show the people what the can offer besides just political stuff. If the audience feels that the candidate in question interact with them well, then there might be a chance that they’ll vote for him later because they got to know him a little better outside of the rigid confines of the campaign. I don’t think that all media has to follow the story line because sometimes a laugh is good, and we need a break from all the seriousness. That doesn’t mean that democracy has become a joke, it’s just a way to realive tension.

Alexandra Anderson 5th

Gina said...

I think that fake news is a good and a bad influence on America. I think that its funny and can be good sometimes. But first I believe that you have to know the actual news to get the jokes on the fake news shows. I think that the fake news shows can be refreshing. Now a days you turn on the “real” news and there are stories of murders, drugs, and the war. The Colbert Report and The Daily Show is just funny the way they make fun of the real stuff like politics and celebrities. But I think that if people are relying on these shows only for their news of the world and politics it can be a bad influence. It would be telling the whole world that your black and when your really 100% white haha. I don’t feel these shows are making fun of democracy. Over all I feel that these shows are funny, and when watched for the humor its just like watching Saturday Night Live. We make fun of the politics too they just know how to do it better.

Anonymous said...

Blog16
2nd hour
i think women in the 1950's were so disatisfied with living the ideal life because once it acctually happens, theres more to it than what they see in the public image of it all. a few things that i think of about this is like how the job of the woman of the household is supposed to be seen as a stay at home mother that cooks and cleans, and while staying at home taking care of the kids, and all while staying at home, stay fit and thin for the husband. i think this image is similar to younger girls now of how women on tv or in modeling magazines and shows show the 'perfect figure' for a woman and anyone who doesnt look like that isn't up to par with all the other women of the world. this comparison could translate to the 1960's by women of that time wanting to marry earlier and being more dependant on men, but still want to look and feel like the models the public released of that time.

Anonymous said...

Is fake News good for America? Why or Why not.

I don’t think that fake news is good for American because fake news can be extreamly complicated for people who don’t pay attention to the real news. Fake news makes fun of what is going on in the news and changing around what is actually happening. Fake news sometimes also makes fun of the people that are in the news cast and the news reporters. For some people fake news is entertaining for them and it makes the boring things that are going on in the world and makes them more interesting. But, for the people that don’t pay attention to the real news, fake new is not good for them. It can confuse them and tell them the wrong information. Also fake news is mostly lying to the public about what actually happened and a lot of the time, they use a topic and don’t even tell u any of the real things that actually happened.

Carleigh Bechtolt