Why do people watch the news?

People watch the news to be informed. They feel that they can somehow get a better opinion by watching news... as opposed to... not watching it... and they then feel bad because they don't watch it. What they don't realize is that the major news networks are basically part of the same organiation, or, at least they are working together to manipulate the public's opinion. They don't realize that they can get their news from other places. Why can't they realize that the news doesn't give them the information they need to make an informed opinion or at least that the information they get is really scewed to represent one viewpoint and misrepresent another?

While you're right, you're not accounting for the inherent laziness of the American people. In a capitalist society, we don't have much time to be informed as our founding fathers intended. Instead, we rant on and on about those things that we do see, not realizing that so much is going on behind the scenes. It can be found, but only if we are looking for it. I think that the most ominous thing is all the presidential directives. Legislation is relatively easy to find and keep up with, but presidential directives are often veiled in secrecy and titled with phrases that would not perk the ears of the average reader. But that is why we have a free press. They are not doing their jobs for the good of the people, but much of that is due to ratings. Unfortunately, we are still more interested in Britney Spears' latest debaucle instead of demanding that the journalists actually give us information that is relevant and important.

Im sick of the news.Seems to be more and more that its like a giant soap opera on some accounts.They have to drag a story just to get ratings.Example paris hilton and anna nicole smith.Sad when they were showing the our soldiers are dieing over in iraq and they cut away to show stupid paris live car showing up to go to court.