There is no author, only a text.<p>If Jon Stewart acts like a media critic and promotes integrity in journalism, his motivation is an implementation detail.<p>Asking if it is all just an act is an easy way not to meet the argument. This is why the "real" media call him a comedian or entertainer. His criticism is not crucial to them, it's all peripheral issues.<p>If on the other hand the goal is to put him on a pedestal or judge him, his mental states might be relevant.