Is John Oliver a comedian or a reporter? Can communication of information be flavored with humor, or must it always remain stagnant and bland as it is on network television news? At a panel called Memes + Monologues: Lessons in Laughter for News on Tuesday, March 13th, panelists discussed the crossover of comedy and communication from their own individual perspectives.

“Using comedy as a way to assert national identity is our legacy, and this is nothing new,” explained panelist Keli Dailey. “For example, the comedy of the 80s in particular allows minority groups to speak on behalf of the progress of our nation.”

Comedy certainly has a unique role in our nation, as satire has been a part of journalism for as long as newspapers have been around. Interestingly, “Emerson College was the first university with a Comedy Major in the United States,” said panelist Jason Meier.

Dailey explained, “I think the lesson for journalists is to seem like a human being. Today, authenticity is currency. That’s what content creators can take from comedians.”

After all, isn’t expression through comedy a measure of intelligence? Why is it today that journalism must remain binary: as serious and informative, or hilarious and biased? To end the debate, it seems that the crux lies in that bias. Many audience members pressed the panelists on this notion: if journalists are meant to report, how can you inform and be funny whilst not having an angle? Certainly, the conversation needs to continue. We asked comedian Matthew Broussard after the panel for his advice.