Jon Stewart totally sticks it to the man as usual in his Rolling Stone interview, explaining that the 24-hour news networks rely on a narrative of conflict “because they’re on for 24 hours a day, so they have to create a compelling reason for you to watch them. Otherwise, they’re just Muzak – newzak.†So as melodramatic as news networks are, consider that the alternative would probably be pundits reading the paper aloud in a monotone while tinny instrumental versions of soulful love songs play in the background. It would be terrible!
Stewart also draws the unlikely comparison between his show and Fox News, saying that both are at their root “expressions of dissatisfaction†with the news and government. Sure, I guess, if you wanna be rational and evenhanded about everything.