Abstract
The purpose of this project is to examine how Stephen Colbert embodies and critiques conventional news through his ironic persona. To carry out this study, I employ a rhetorical analysis drawing on both role criticism and performance criticism to examine several segments of the show. Since the 1990s, opinionated news programming has grown in popularity (Norton 315). In its quest for ratings and profit, sensationalism has taken center stage rather than investigative journalism (Selbst 482). Indeed, very few news programs are able to remain impartial with respect to the stories they report and how they tell them. Political humor has done much to criticize this unfortunate shift of priorities in news; however, perhaps no political humor program embodies the sensationalist, partisan rhetoric that has dominated news as well as The Colbert Report (TCR).
Advisor
Bostdorff, Denise
Department
Communication Studies
Recommended Citation
Russell, Mark, "Truthiness in News: How Stephen Colbert Embodies and Critiques Conventional News Through and Ironic Persona" (2012). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 989.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/989
Disciplines
Broadcast and Video Studies | Journalism Studies
Keywords
colbert, truthiness, journalism, media, news, irony, politics, postmodernism, media literacy, simulation, super pac
Publication Date
2012
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2012 Mark Russell