Today sees a burning economy, war in the Middle East, and a changing frontier in politics which sees an African American President of America, and a woman Prime Minister of Australia. Awareness of the changing world has never been so vital. Although the way we receive our news is changing, through technology, the way it is delivered is also shifting.

 

During the last ten years satire in main stream politics has become an essential part of the media. Prime time and late night talk shows are an example. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, who took over in 1999, implemented a change from comedy and comic topics to a more politically driven program. After these changes the show discovered massive success  as he took to politics with a humorous but informative manner as well as more alternative news. An example of his commercial and critical success is the prime time Emmy Awards were he won the Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program in 2001, 2003-2006, and 2009 as well as endearing the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series from 2003-2010.

 

the success of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, which also produced a successful spin off known as the Colbert Report, has influenced the international media even on our own shores. Examples of these are the 7pm Project and Good News Week. News is still important in its straight form but there is an increasing demand for wit and satire in news, particularly politics, were satire can break news down to a more understandable concept for different social fragments of society. This is imperative for politics as it makes it increasingly more relevant.