Not that it counts for much but who are the most influential political media figures? It's an interesting question, one that for the most part is hardly a provable assertion. How can one measure influence, after all?
You probably can't but you can at least measure how famous (or infamous) a pundit is. New York Magazine attempted to do just that by creating an index that looks at a given commentator's mentions in Google, blogs, newspapers/magazines, TV shows and then computes a "popularity score" based on the rankings for each category.
The top figure in the survey? Former Bush top aide Karl Rove with a score of 67.79. He's followed very closely by radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh with 67.35.
Third in the list is liberal comedian Jon Stewart of the Comedy Central's "Daily Show." Fourth and fifth place belong to Fox News Channel and syndicated radio host Bill O'Reilly, and MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews.
Top ten table is below. Check out the full list here. Hat tip: TVNewser.
While this survey is hardly scientific, I'm not exactly sure you could say it's completely inaccurate. Would love to see their methodology.
| Name | Blogs | TV | Debates | The Popularity Score! | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Karl Rove | 4.93 mil. | 71,367 | 3,813 | 778 | 0 | 67.79 |
| 2. Rush Limbaugh | 5.44 mil. | 71,011 | 4,125 | 585 | 0 | 67.35 |
| 3. Jon Stewart | 6.39 mil. | 62,901 | 3,957 | 3342 | 0 | 62.77 |
| 4. Bill O’Reilly | 4.61 mil. | 53,105 | 2,046 | 1,122 | 0 | 59.23 |
| 5. Chris Matthews | 2.86 mil. | 40,750 | 1,754 | 47 | 2 | 47.31 |
| 6. G. Stephanopoulos | 527,000 | 15,993 | 1,255 | 777 | 3 | 41.07 |
| 7. Stephen Colbert | 3.8 mil. | 44,933 | 2,622 | 174 | 0 | 40.30 |
| 8. Chris Wallace | 759,000 . | 12,307 | 1,023 | 293 | 4 | 36.01 |
| 9. Sean Hannity | 2.36 mil. | 27,114 | 1,174 | 796 | 0 | 34.87 |
| 10. Keith Olbermann | 2.38 mil. | 39,532 | 942 | 323 | 1 | 33.85 |
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator of NewsBusters and its Executive Editor.
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Stephen Colbert? Influential?
August 26, 2008 - 23:53 ET by TexndocI've never watched him, but isn't he basically a comedy act? Where's Borat?
He is indeed
August 26, 2008 - 23:57 ET by Matthew SheffieldHowever, because he's a lefty political comedian, the lefty press just won't shut up about him.
Funnier guy
August 27, 2008 - 00:10 ET by TexndocWell, I get more laughs from Olbermann who I think in this poll from their point of view is vastly lower rated than I would have expected. Moonbats on HuffPo and Kos are always "Wait 'till Keith tonight!" "I hope Keith...." Rarely do I see "Oh, what did George Stephanopoulis say?"
I don't know about any of
August 27, 2008 - 00:07 ET by RESTLESS 1I don't know about any of this. Just because soemone has google hits or mentions on blogs, doesn't necessarily mean they are influential. Rush, yes. Stewart, maybe. Some of the others, I doubt it. You can't discern influence without knowing the motives of the searchers or posters.
It's interesting, but it has some holes in it.
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
Rush is right. "America
August 27, 2008 - 00:21 ET by bigtimerRush is right.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
They need favorable/unfavorable
August 27, 2008 - 00:26 ET by Dee BunkI can guarantee that a large percentage of the Rove, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Matthews, Hannity and Olbermann hits are from negative things being said about them.
Stewart, Colbert, Stephanopoulos and Wallace probably have many more neutral and positive things being said. Jon Stuart is probably the most influential and that is really sad.
Sarcasm on But that can't
August 27, 2008 - 07:04 ET by Dave DSarcasm on
But that can't be possible. I mean he's just a comedian. Everybody knows nothing said through attempts at humor can ever be thought of as anything but a joke.(And would have no more effect on the views of the public as any joke would.) Of course nothing like that would even be worthy of serious analysis. I'd write more but I have to get back to this book I'm reading, Huck Finn. (Hmm, wonder why I would mention that, oh well.)
Sarcasm off
Where's Dick?
August 27, 2008 - 07:04 ET by NoMoreClintonsI'm surprised that Dick Morris isn't on that list. His books are always best sellers and he is always interesting whether you agree with him or not.
My list
August 27, 2008 - 10:25 ET by jawebster1For myself, the most influential are in order: Rush; Sean; Laura; Mark Levin; Bill O'Reilly; Glen Beck; Willie Cunningham; Bob Brinker. These are people I watch or listen to on a regular basis. Next come people I read on a regular basis: Ann Coulter and Matt Drudge. Other people I like; Bill Sammon; Brit Hume; Fred Barnes; Charles Krauthammer; Michelle Malkin; Neil Cavuto; Karl Rove; Michael Steele. These are my All-Stars with Rush and Sean the Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig of the team. Mark Levin is the Ty Cobb and Michael Steele is the Willie Mays. Go team!
I thought Jon Stewart billed
August 27, 2008 - 12:01 ET by mattmI thought Jon Stewart billed himself as a comedian, not a political commentator. I guess when it comes to left-wing blowhards there's not much difference.