I agree with most of the other posters; the mainstream media has basically devolved into putting on as many talking heads from extreme viewpoints as possible and letting them yell over each other while the station takes one side or the other. They all have. They report fluff stories and don't demand accuracy nor are they seriously critical of anything within our government.
The reason John Stewart won is he deserves it, largely because - despite the admitted left-leaning of the show - TDS calls politicians, and other major figures from the news networks when they contradict themselves or blatantly lie. If a comedy show can do that, you'd think a real news outlet could, too - but they don't and won't.
As a side note, while being viewed as a "left" show I can honestly say if you give them a shot, they are an equal opportunity critic. Many times they've landed on the Democrats, Obama and "left" news networks for melodrama and bull; the main reason is - weather anyone reading this likes to hear it or not - that they attack the right more is GOP and right-leaning programs tend to contradict themselves, lie and ignore proven facts far, far more than anyone else. Thus they open themselves to more attacks; it's not that both sides are perfect but the "right" seems way, way more brazen about it, willing to completely change their story interview to interview. Nothing more than that.
The reason John Stewart won is he deserves it, largely because - despite the admitted left-leaning of the show - TDS calls politicians, and other major figures from the news networks when they contradict themselves or blatantly lie. If a comedy show can do that, you'd think a real news outlet could, too - but they don't and won't.
As a side note, while being viewed as a "left" show I can honestly say if you give them a shot, they are an equal opportunity critic. Many times they've landed on the Democrats, Obama and "left" news networks for melodrama and bull; the main reason is - weather anyone reading this likes to hear it or not - that they attack the right more is GOP and right-leaning programs tend to contradict themselves, lie and ignore proven facts far, far more than anyone else. Thus they open themselves to more attacks; it's not that both sides are perfect but the "right" seems way, way more brazen about it, willing to completely change their story interview to interview. Nothing more than that.