Having given up cable several years ago, and only missing it a few times since, I realize I'm not exactly in the majority. But news was really most of the reason I had cable, and as time went on I realized that much of the "news" I was getting on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News wasn't really news.
Between segments that might feed you a bit of actual unspun information about the goings on in the world, it was more accurately described as thinly veiled talking points walking around, pretending to be news.
The worst of this came from the shows that had interviews of politicians and other political figures. Politicians have gotten so comfortable with just ignoring questions they don't like, and using every opportunity given to them to spout their prepacked talking points, there just isn't much of a reason to watch them most of the time. Might as well just be reading the emails from the DNC or RNC.
Ironically enough, these thoughts came to me as I was watching a clip from CNN's Piers Morgan on Monday. Morgan's First point is right on the money:
When some figure comes onto a news show, the idea is they are supposed to trade answers to the questions of the host in exchange for exposure to the audience of that show. But hosts usually let dodging slide, and when they press the politicians, politicians usually come up with some childish reason to be offended.
Some of the questions at the Fox News GOP Debate in Ames comes to mind. Fox seemed to want to give people a general feel for the candidates, not just talk about hot button issues, which makes sense this early in the cycle.
They asked some very pointed questions that visibly irked candidates, and caught some flak for it. Newt Gingrich, for instance, distracted people from his refusal to answer a question sent his way by attacking the questioner.
TVNL Comment: A bit late to the party, but welcome, anyway.