A new survey by Pew Research Center found that despite the mass appeal of the Internet and cable news since a previous poll in 1989, Americans' knowledge of national affairs has slipped.
For example, only 69% know that Dick Cheney is vice president, while 74% could identify Dan Quayle in 1989.
Pew judged the levels of knowledgeability (correct answers) among those surveyed and found that those who scored the highest were regular watchers of Comedy Central's The Daily Show and Colbert Report. They tied with regular readers of major newspapers in the top spot, with watchers of the Lehrer News Hour just behind.
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3 comments:
Dear pumpernickel. Too many names are bandied about on the net. I'm a news fanatic (well, aussie news which is really light entertainment) AND I worked in PR and I still couldn't name the state opposition leader of NSW. The internet is such a broad medium that required such up to the minute reporting, that the important information is too easily watered down with non important info, over a shorter attention span... Makes sense?
lmm,
It does make sense, which is why I find it interesting that satirical talk shows on the US Comedy network have the most well-informed audiences.
pumpernickel
Dear pumpernickel. I can definitely see how that happens. There's an online newspaper (and now tv show) in Australia called The Chaser - they 'take the piss' so to speak (very funny). But it usually prompts me to use my brain and actually research what they're on about...
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