Abstract
A vital public sphere is essential for a healthy democracy. Unfortunately, research has shown that the public’s engagement in politics and current events has been on the decline. The lack of engagement is partly due to the lack of critique and fact checking done by the mass media. In recent years, the public is increasingly watching infotainment shows such as The Daily Show. Some even report they obtain their news from these shows. This study used Berg’s process for qualitative content analysis to examine the parody used in The Daily Show. Four clips were analyzed for the four operations of parody. These operations must be present for parody to go beyond simply amusing the audience. When these operations are used, the parody also informs and provides critique. According to this study’s findings, the four operations of parody are present in The Daily Show. Therefore, it contributes to the public sphere by providing its own critique and by encouraging the audience to become engaged.