Rasmussen Reports™ has a survey result that will make self-professed news junkies like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert (and their writers) wince: a sizeable minority of Americans now believes their shows are alternatives to the more traditional news options. Of course, the majority still doesn’t see things that way, but the younger you are, the more likely you are to agree with that minority view. Check out these and other findings from Rasmussen:

Nearly One-Third of Younger Americans See Colbert, Stewart As Alternatives to Traditional News Outlets
Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Nearly one-third of Americans under the age of 40 say satirical news-oriented television programs like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart are taking the place of traditional news outlets.

. . .

Among all Americans, 24% say programs like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show are taking the place of traditional news venues, but 45% do not think so. Thirty-one percent (31%) are undecided.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of adults say programs of this nature are making Americans more informed about news events, while 21% believe they make people less informed. Twelve percent (12%) say they have no impact.

Twenty-one percent (21%) characterize programs like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show as at least somewhat influential in shaping their political opinions, including seven percent (7%) who say they are Very Influential. Most (70%) say they are not influential, with 44% who say they are not at all influential.

. . .

Read the full article here

I never know quite what to think of surveys like these. I read a lot of news, but I still sometimes hear about things for the first time on The Daily Show or The Colbert Report. Does that mean I “get my news” from Jon and Stephen? And I think they usually present their stories pretty carefully and/or accurately, but there have been times when I’ve watched a segment and thought, “Well, that’s technically true, but the issue is really about this consequence …” Does that mean I think watching the shows makes me feel “more” or “less” informed? I don’t know if it’s possible to create a poll that takes nuances like these into account.

Anyhow, it wouldn’t be a break week if we didn’t have one of these articles on whether TDS and TCR are substantive. Now all we need is the poll asking “Stewart or Colbert?” and we’ll know it’s time for the new shows to come back.

EDITED TO ADD: This political cartoon EmperorJon pointed out to me made me laugh, and I thought it would be an amusing addition to the post.
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