The study examined the effects of exposure to The Daily Show on political learning and information seeking. It found that for less politically interested viewers, exposure to political issues through comedy programs like The Daily Show was associated with increased attention to those issues in other hard news media, supporting the "gateway hypothesis". Two studies showed those with low political interest spent more time seeking information on issues first exposed through comedy compared to hard news or mixed clips. However, political comedy was more likely to produce issue recognition versus recall of details, suggesting its limitations for political learning. The role of political comedy in democracy was discussed.

1. By: Michael a. xenos & Amy B. Bexker Moments of Zen: The Effects of The Daily Show on Information Seeking and Political Learning

2. Biographical Information Michael A. Xenos Assistant ProfessorMass Communications/PoliticalScience Louisiana State University ResearchInterests: political communication democratic deliberation public opinion political engagement

3. Biographical Information Amy B. Becker Assistant Professor: Mass Communication Communication Studies Towson University Research Interests: public opinion and citizen participation on controversial political issues, and the political effects of exposure and attention to political entertainment, especially late night comedy.

4. Biographical Information Matthew Baum Professor Harvard Kennedy School Research Addresses: The evolving relationship between the mass media, public opinion, executive decision-making regarding foreign policy.

6. A hard news story takes a factual approach: What happened? Who was involved? Where and when did it happen? Why?

7. A soft news story tries instead to entertain or advise the reader.

9. Priming Priming theory is the idea that media provides blocks of information to audiences. Then audiences use that frame of reference for further communication messages. Where agenda-setting theory is the idea media tells the audience the importance of an issue, priming tells the audience if the issue is good or bad.

12. Levels of political knowledge Soft news is associated more with recognition of information than recall Recall requires more information to be stored Recall is more difficult than recognition Soft news might get attention, but does it produce recall or recognition?

13. Applying knowledge to democracy What is the importance of a knowledgeable electorate? What do we need to know to function in democracy? Does political comedy detract from democracy?

14. Jon Stewart and democracy Does Jon Stewart have a responsibilty to democracy? Is anything ever “fake news”? Should Stewart be held to the same standards of objectivity and telling the whole story as other news outlets? Does Stewart contribute to political knowledge?

15. Check out these clips: Jon Stewart on Crossfire Jon Stewart on the Bill O'Reilly Show Is Jon Stewart good for democracy?

16. Conclusion The study found for less politically motivated subjects, exposure to soft news provides a gateway to hard news and political knowledge. The actually learning effects were limited in soft news.