Why Watch the Local News?

     Lewis routinely watches the news (Channel 1), most mornings.  Over 5 years, the same kind of stories get told, while more important issues are totally ignored.  It's quite a phenomena.  Why bother watching the news anymore?  I can predict exactly what they're going to say: a shooting in the Bronx, a mugging in Brooklyn, a traffic jam in midtown, delays on the subway, bridge lane closures, a financial firm went bankrupt (after absconding with funds), an assemblymen or councilwoman was indicted for fraud/embezzlement, a new political candidate promises change, a hung jury, the Rockaways get neglected by the city, Staten Island feels ignored, the weather report has a chance of rain/chance of sun, and a sports team won or lost a game--causing temporary emotions from fans who await the next game.

     The news hardly ever reports on more substantial issues of any weighty importance.  They don't talk about our ineffective/corrupt FDA, or foods that are unsafe, or political decisions that are being made by tax-paid government WITHOUT taxpayer awareness.  (When was the last time your Congressman asked your opinion before he voted?)  The news ignores most world events.  The news tends to favor negative events--that often reoccur--and rarely focuses on positive events: people making a difference, good deeds, charity, accomplishments.
     Maybe "back in the day" of REAL investigative reporters, they actually updated the public on such topics.  Nowadays, "talking heads" merely recite (unrehearsed) from the tele-prompter script.  They probably have no idea if the information is accurate or true.  (Hence, the TV show, "The Newsroom").  They don't even bother researching their own stories anymore.  They just read the script.  Gone are the days of Edward Murrow, Jack Paar, Walter Cronkite, and Dan Rather.  If you look online for "News Bloopers", you can tell how useless most "commentators" are.
     When the local news finally mentions something of substance, like a MTA derailment that kills hundreds of people (due to negligence)... they never follow up on it.  Viewers don't get to see what happens next.  There's no closure to the story.  Maybe it's a lot of "hush money", or maybe the channel doesn't care.
     But, it begs the question, "Why watch the news"?  It's like reading comic books where the same things happens.