Good topic M_G (and congratulations on turning 80 recently. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/party.gif" alt="" /> Oh no, wait a minute, that was MG the make of car, not M_G the master arguer.... )

Newspapers:

I think that the key to the modern role of newspapers is summed up in a made up English word - Infotainment. It's a mixture of Information and Entertainment.

Somebody made the word up to describe the approach now taken by many TV programs, neswpapers, magazines etc.

Unfortunately, newspaper owners find that long, deeply researched articles cost a lot to produce and aren't all that popular in the mass market. The magazines that still try to take this approach have limited circulation compared to newspapers.

What sells is a blend of informative material liberally spiced with scandal, sex, outrage and endless crap about so called 'celebrities'. The newspaper that I buy (The Australian) has some good reporting, and interesting columns, but it still quite deliberately spices up topics to stir people up and get its readers and its columnists arguing with each other. For instance, the paper will choose to print readers' letters that say something provocative and then the next day there will be a flood of attacks or supports. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> Readers seem to prefer a bit of competitive action in their papers.

But 2 or 3 days is about the longest they keep 'debates' going and then it's on to the next drama or controversy. Very much like the Argumentative Git thread really! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />

I stil enjoy my daily read, but I take it all with a pinch of salt. If you've ever read the coverage of an event or topic that you happen to have been involved with yourself, you quickly realise that the few hours a reporter gets for research and writing is often not enough to give a lot of depth or accuracy.

So for me it's Entertainment, Information, and excellent fire lighting material - in roughly that order. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />