People went out and hunted down the news. Some still do, but not for major network television. Network television is next to useless. Major print journalism is following close behind, because all major media are diluting the truth, avoiding the issues or slanting their reporting. Then we have the great checkout counter tabloids about who's in who else's bed, or what prophecies the seers found in their coffee grounds.
People buy and read that junk too.
Frankly, I wouldn't let them give me one free. Tonight makes it seem that way. Their opening segment was on the stock market surge after Alan Greenspan's lowering the interest rate a half point, and then the downer the day after. Two market analysts gave opposing opinions as to whether or not we are in recession. A fast few seconds were devoted to the fact that Sears has made the decision to close a number of its stores and lay off over 2,000 people, but if you were checking on dinner for about a half minute, you missed that story altogether.