The news is there for ratings, not for news anymore. Reporters are more likely to cover a "story" they learned about from a press release than from monitoring a police radio or digging around city hall.
I have always taken "Freedom of the Press" seriously, an integral part of our democracy, but with whats passing for news these days, I believe, has put that right in jeopardy. How can anyone seriously defend a press that spends more time on the Paris Hiltons of the world than explaining what is really happening in Iraq, or giving us an intelligent report on why gas prices are so high, or how the mortgage industry is falling apart.
Typical report. "Gas prices are up 16 cents in the past 2 weeks." Now shots of prices outside a gas station, now a shot of cars filling up. Then we go to the interview segment "how are you coping" and talk to a few drivers that really have nothing to say. Then the reporter (excuse me, the person on camera) tells us they dont' know how high the price will go.. Then maybe stock footage of some "expert" saying almost nothing because the networks are convinced we can't handle anything too complicated, then back to the smiling on camera person to wrap it up
Its not news, its INFOTAINMENT, and (forgive the soapbox) I believe it is weakening our democracy.
BBC World News seems to be the last place to get actual news on TV. ON to the internets......