With advancements in technology, an economic downturn and constant changes in the media, it is easy to see why the term “news” is becoming potentially problematic and blurred.

Keeping up with the news used to be easy. A person would merely pick up his or her local paper, read it and be informed up to an acceptable standard. 

Now, however, with the invention of television news stations and news Web sites, the world of news has expanded into a formidable base of knowledge that few can say that they are up to date with.

The increasing disappearances of newspapers do not help these circumstances either.

Even though news is changing, people should not be discouraged from staying informed.

It does not excuse, either, that Americans would list comedian Jon Stewart as their No. 4 pick for their most admired journalist. Stewart has been the host of the popular late night program The Daily Show since 1999. Since that time, he has satirized news stories with a political spin from a heavily Democratic and comedic standpoint.

His program, while humorous and highly amusing, is not, however, a news program, nor is Stewart a journalist, a fact to which he readily admits. This show, while obviously misguiding people to a degree, does serve a valuable function.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart uses satire to bring to light the political issues present in the United States and in doing so, challenges people’s personal political opinions. Interesting too is the study by Pew Research that listed viewers of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report as the most well informed on national and international news as compared to other traditional news programs on channels such as CNN or Fox News.

While this statistic may seem contradictory at first, it begins to make more sense when one considers that viewers of these comedic programs are more than likely more informed because they seek other sources of news.

These people, these late night watchers of satirized news programs, are the ones the population should be emulating.

Although they may be up late, watching comedians pretending to be news anchors, they are adapting to the rapidly changing definition of news.

They are perusing the selection of news that the media now has to offer and ending their evening with a reality check courtesy of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Jon Stewart says that his show is an alternative for people who do not like the news. That’s fine, watch The Daily Show, but do not forget how important real, hard-hitting news is.

The more people stay informed, the more vigilant and aware they can remain.