Last week I saw some interesting information on how we consume media.

Specifically, the medium that I am talking about is television, and the interesting information I am talking about was how CNBC commentator Jim Cramer and “Morning Joe” news anchor Joe Scarborough attempted to spar with Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” host John Stewart.

Stewart is a comedian who pokes fun at everything from the economy to famous Hollywood celebrities. Cramer and Scarborough’s poking became an actual news item.

The argument started out between Cramer and Stewart. Cramer hosts CNBC’s “Mad Money.” Stewart kidded Cramer about his money advice because of the present economic recession.

The following day on “Morning Joe,” both CNBC personalities ripped on Stewart and brought him into the “mainstream” media by challenging Stewart for making fun of Cramer. Cramer and Scarborough said that it is basically pretty easy to string clips of people together and to call out Cramer to get an easy laugh, but basically not as easy to do real news like they attempt to do.

These statements led “The Daily Show” to invite Cramer on as a guest for the Thursday March 12, 2009, show.

The part that I see as funny as a media consumer and particularly as someone who makes a living understanding or trying to understand media is that CNBC, a network that prides itself on being a mainstream news organization covering the globe for its consumers and being the first place to turn for breaking financial news, is even talking about John Stewart. Not only are they talking about Stewart but are noticeably shaken by the humorous statements this comedian made.

Do you think they are shaken because Stewart is on the right track? Or is it because over the last few years shows like “The Daily Show” and Stephen Colbert’s “Colbert Nation” have fans who get their political information from these two shows?

I am guessing the latter is more close to correct, but I still find no need to give the comedians a pedestal.

I happen to love John Stewart and Stephen Colbert. I think that the brand of humor they bring is refreshing, and if it makes the younger generation pay attention to world events, then isn’t that great.

The problem that I see with these comedy shows teaching politics and world events is that many of the viewers of these programs will not go and seek more information than the clips they are given. They take the comedians at face value and do not strive for more information.

Now the comedians are doing a good job, but we the consumer of news are not. We are not looking at both sides of an issue and searching out the truth. The actual snippet of humor is funnier when we know more about the actual event.

Stewart and Colbert should be the appetizer or the dessert, whichever you prefer, and CNBC should provide the entrée — the meat, if you will.

During the Cramer interview with Stewart, which Stewart absolutely kills Cramer in a battle of wits; Stewart challenges CNBC to report the news. He correctly states that CNBC or any credible news organization has the “power of illumination.”

The problem, as Stewart alludes to, is that CNBC is not using it. He challenges CNBC and all news organizations to expose more of Wall Street instead of being friends with them.

It is funny because as I am writing this, a group called Media Matters, a liberal watchdog group, has started an online petition urging NBC to get tougher on Wall Street and it’s leaders. This is because Stewart exposed Cramer and CNBC for not doing the job they are supposed to do — reporting on issues — and not crying about a comedian hurting their feelings.

Good job, John Stewart.

Maybe this humorist will actually force all media groups: newspaper, Internet, TV and radio to get back to the job of real news and real reporting and less cross pollination of Hollywood combined with bits and pieces of real news.

I’m ready for that change. How about you?

Basketball

Good luck Friday, Ben Woodside and the NDSU Bison team. They battle Kansas in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.