Jon Stewart: Media Should Be Powerful Tool Of Illumination

Last night, Jon Stewart had CNBC’s Jim Cramer on The Daily Show for an interview that was cleverly introduced as a sendup of the contrived drama seen on mainstream TV news shows.

But as soon as the interview began, Stewart was serious – the hard-hitting journalist speaking real truth to power. His entire effort should be a lesson for all journalists, because it reminds us what real journalism looks like.

Real journalism is evident in the actions of people who do their research, find the facts, and relentlessly pursue truthful answers – all without telling you they’re doing it in a cheap attempt to make you think they’re on your side. I’m wary of anybody who has to advertise what they’re doing with slogans like “Fair and Balanced”, show titles like “No Bias, No Bull”, and segment titles like “Keeping Them Honest” – as if I’m not smart enough to get it just by watching them in action.

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Photo Credit: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (Creative Commons)