The Daily Show vs. the New York Times: Comparing Their Effects on Student Political Knowledge and Engagement

*Research for this project was approved by [Name Redacted] Institutional Review Board.

Abstract

Satirical news shows such as The Daily Show are popular with students, but are they appropriate for classroom use? In this two-group, pretest–posttest study, I examine differences in engagement, political knowledge, and political attitudes between two American Government classes: one assigned to watch The Daily Show and the other assigned to read The New York Times. The findings reveal no differences in engagement between the groups, but greater political knowledge in The Daily Show group, as well as more cynicism and less trust in government. I conclude that given the surprising lack of greater engagement in The Daily Show class, along with higher levels of cynicism and mistrust in government, The Daily Show may not be an appropriate substitute for The New York Times as a primary political information resource.

Keywords:

• Pedagogy
• politics
• media

Notes

*Research for this project was approved by [Name Redacted] Institutional Review Board.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Baranowski

Michael Baranowski is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Northern Kentucky, where he teaches in the areas of media, American politics, public policy, and research methods. He is also the founder and cohost of the bipartisan American politics and policy podcast The Politics Guys.