I think it would be more honest if our 24/7 cable "news" outlets were not even called "news" channels. There will always be editing of news stories and that editing will reflect a certain left/right orientation. How many times have we seen a headline that is completely misrepresentative of the story below, or contradictory facts in the same story buried two columns in? We, however, are at a place where the big opinion personalities on the news stations influence content on other programs that are ostensibly hard news. Non-journalists that are nothing more than partisan spokespersons appear to provide "analysist" and "comment". Stars like Hannity and Cuomo will appear in other programs to comment. WTF? I have no idea what value these people bring to a story about covid vaccine logistics, the B737 MAX return to service or even the minimum wage. I think there are enough econ profs, public health and logistics experts and former FAA certification people to provide analysis. Donna Bazile, Karl Rove and Van Jones have nothing of news value to offer.
Our cable news offerings should be called 'Infotainment" programing and they should drop any pretense of being news outlets. Take a look at the 24 hour line up of programs. Even being generous with the definition of news content, only a couple programs are hard news in 24 hours of content. Everything else is your Rachel Maddow, Hannity, Morning Joe, Don Lemon, Steve Hinton, etc. That is all opinion and infotainment. They have become TMZ, and Inside Edition. Interestingly, CNN, FOX, and MSNBC websites have pretty straight news articles. CBS, ABC, NBC, my local non-affiliated stations, all have news programs, proportionally not much less than CNN or FOX, and no one considers them news channels.
There is lots of talk now about dropping social media accounts. I know folks that have done so. I suggest simply dropping cable news. I rarely see it. My local news will reliable inform me of the blizzard in the north east, coup in Burma, the shooting on the west side and as a bonus, the weatherman doing a remote with a Gila Monster as Punxsutawney Phil. Hey, support your local business. Ditch Big News. Free your brain.