Interesting poll released today
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.
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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.
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Forty-eight percent (48%) of Democrats say the programs make them more informed about news events, as do 38% of unaffiliated adults and 28% of Republicans. A plurality of Republicans (35%) say the programs make Americans less informed, a view shared by 21% of unaffiliateds and just 10% of Democrats.