Recently NBC announced that they were going to send people who appeared as Muslims (whatever that means) into a NASCAR event to see the reaction from NASCAR fans. This seems to me to be making news, not reporting it. It may be interesting to note that the crowd they are attempting to profile is historically "redneck". I don't know if the redneck label is accurate anymore, or if the live audience is any different than the TV demographic, but I am concerned that they will report the expose as if it were news. Is an effort to stimulate a response "news"?
Polls today are similarly abused by news organizations. NBC has admitted blowing up a pickup truck. CBS presented poorly vetted "evidence" to discredit a candidate days before an election. CNN agreed to censor it's coverage in Iraq to maintain access to the Saddam/Baathist government.
Is it acceptible for a news organization to create news? Is it acceptible for a news organization to craft a poll to support a story line? Is it acceptible for NBC to culturally profile NASCAR fans? Would you believe it if they did it?