The job of newspapers is complicated, isn't it. They're supposed to be conveying news, but of course in the process of doing that they're also defining, in part, what the news actually is. At the same time they're also supposed to make money for their owners/investors, and to do that requires some degree of sensationalizing stuff--I call it the Weather Channel Syndrome, since as far as the Weather Channel is concerned, every single storm is death-defying. I guess that the two things--purveying news and making money are sometimes at odds with each other, and for some news sources the balance falls in one direction or the other. But on the whole, and with obvious exceptions, newspapers are pretty honest brokers.

Having said that, let me add that no, I am not in the market for that bridge in New York City.

That is true, they do need to make news for their owners. And, I guess, I've been looking at the 24 hour "news" channels as, primarily there to relate te news, but there is nothing that saying that they have to do that. They are just like any other channel on TV. There to impart entertainment but use the news as their gimmick . Like the History channel or the food channel

As I understand it the three main networks have in their charter with the FTC to provide thirty minutes of news in the evening and allow thirty more minutes for local news. These are the only times that must be relegated to unbiased news.

The 24 hour dudes can fill their time with any show they want I suppose. That's why we get, Chris Mathews, o,Reily, Hannity, Rachel Madeuws , Piers Morgan, Anderson Cooper. Their job for their networks are to have something too keep their viewers coming back. Most of the time they do that well as they know their viewers .

I really need to tune to the regular networks for my news for TV, that is. Most where I get my news is on the web.

Dave

You're right, those will get the bradcast top stories, on the news channels . Lots of interest . The viewers will be most interested in blood. Sex stories and scandals also.

Dave

My thoughts;

News shows like Fox, CNN, MSNBC only have a very limited time to present the news. So they are only going to go with the biggest story - simply there are shooting everyday in the US - only the one who shot the most will be on TV.

Problem with TV news and Print as well;
Is Confirmation of events. CNN for one came out and said on some occasions that it self could NOT confirm a certain news event to their satisfaction and will not air that event. Even if there are other stations airing the same event before CNN.

YoYo;
Print news <- well when you buy it - it is already old news. Now I don't know about your neck of the woods but here , you get a paper once a day that is yesterday news, you then wait for the next print out tomorrow for todays news Print news is well great for people who don't have a computer to keep up with live news or like me the news paper is now only good for the shopping coupons