Nearly one-third of Americans under the age of 40 say satirical news-oriented television programs like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart are taking the place of traditional news outlets.

Thirty-two percent (32%) of adults ages 30-39 believe this to be true, while 42% disagree, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Thirty percent (30%) of those ages 18-29 say programs like the two Comedy Central shows that feature news reports with a comic twist are replacing traditional news outlets, but 35% disagree and another 35% are not sure.

Among all Americans, 24% say programs like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show are taking the place of traditional news venues, but 45% do not think so. Thirty-one percent (31%) are undecided.

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Thirty-nine percent (39%) of adults say programs of this nature are making Americans more informed about news events, while 21% believe they make people less informed. Twelve percent (12%) say they have no impact.

Twenty-one percent (21%) characterize programs like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show as at least somewhat influential in shaping their political opinions, including seven percent (7%) who say they are Very Influential. Most (70%) say they are not influential, with 44% who say they are not at all influential.

Americans under 40 again are far more likely than older Americans to view programs like this as influential. Fourteen percent (14%) of those 18-29 say they are Very Influential, compared to just one percent (1%) of those over age 65.

Younger Americans also tend to think the programs make them more informed about news events, while older adults are more skeptical.

Thirty-six percent (36%) of Americans have a favorable opinion of Jon Stewart, host of “The Daily Show,” while 35% have a favorable view of Stephen Colbert of “The Colbert Report.” Twenty-two percent (22%) regard both Stewart and Colbert unfavorably.

Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Republicans, 22% of Democrats and 21% of adults not affiliated with either party say programs like those of Stewart and Colbert are taking the place of traditional news outlets.

Twenty-six percent (26%) of Democrats and 21% of unaffiliated Americans say programs like these are at least somewhat influential in shaping their political opinions. Just 15% of Republicans agree.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of Democrats say the programs make them more informed about news events, as do 38% of unaffiliated adults and 28% of Republicans. A plurality of Republicans (35%) say the programs make Americans less informed, a view shared by 21% of unaffiliateds and just 10% of Democrats.

The findings are more bad news for one traditional news outlet - daily newspapers. A survey released earlier this month found that most young readers are rejecting daily print papers but are not going to the local paper’s website as an alternative.

However, most adults now find online reporting comparable to that in their local newspaper.

Colbert had 13% voter support in October 2007 when he announced he was thinking of running for the presidency. Eight percent (8%) supported Stewart’s bid for the White House.

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