Let’s play “Guess Who.”

He has delivered the rallying call for conservatives across America to mobilize against President Barack Obama’s policies. He is responsible for discrediting Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now and the eventual ousting of Obama’s Green Jobs Czar Van Jones. His viewership is in the millions and rapidly growing. Haven’t figured it out yet? Let me throw in a hint: His show can get a little kooky.

For those of you still guessing, I am referring to FOX News channel mega-star Glenn Beck.

Whether one loves Beck or reviles him, there is no doubt he is having a tremendous influence on the current political dialogue in the U.S. He is the constant talk of the town on the blogosphere, in newspapers, magazines, television and radio, not to mention the thousands of Beck-related YouTube videos. But apparently his fame culminated recently with an appearance on the cover of Time magazine titled, “Mad Man.”

Grant it even I can admit that Beck sometimes gets a little too wound up during some of his programs, but it’s the theatrical approach he implements that is really a part of the ever changing style of media.

After all, John Stewart was named in a Time magazine poll as the most trusted name in news. A comedian the most trusted name in news? A comedian whose international correspondents report from in front of a green screen?

Well, it’s not all too surprising — more and more, the opinionated and comedic style news program is becoming even more of the norm.

Arguably, Bill Maher laid the groundwork for a comedic unorthodox approach to the news with Politically Incorrect. FOX News provided the graphics, and the likes of Glenn Beck and John Stewart are simply perfecting it. News commentators are now increasingly adopting many of the elements of this new style of news programming. As newspapers reduce their sizes and switch to a more tabloid style (Chicago Tribune anyone?), this newer media style is also taking its own shape in print media, as well.

It appears our father’s news style is taking a walk on the green mile, if it isn’t already dead. Most importantly, ratings undoubtedly reflect falling prime-time news programming, as the likes of Beck and Stewart increase exponentially.

But getting back to Beck, his outrageous style and commentary ultimately is not all too different from his rivals on other networks. Beck definitely adds his own flavoring, but Keith Olbermann, for example, has been just as guilty of making outrageous statements about former President George W. Bush. After all, it was Olbermann calling Bush a fascist, war criminal and other derogatory labels.

Olbermann and many of his colleagues at MSNBC are attempting to ignite a race war in light of the anti-Obama policy protests and the Joe Wilson outburst in Congress. Many of the comparisons of Obama to Hitler and Stalin that are coming from the far-right are essentially the same comparisons that Bush received from far-left groups while he was in office. There is hardly anything that is different between the treatment of Obama’s policies and those of Bush from the fringe.

As young people, many of us will simply go with this new style of media, while some of us will want a return of hard-hitting traditional news styles. However, in the Internet age — where the world’s information is a mouse-click away — news media will have to evolve in order to keep the viewer interested.

Reach Joseph at jhermiz@asu.edu.