It's not like we needed proof that news programs are more infotainment than news, but this really drives the point home:
A Media Matters study of Sunday talk shows and 12 cable news programs from January 25 through February 8 found that few economists have been given time on television to talk about the economic recovery plan. During 139 1/2 hours of programming in which the economic recovery legislation was discussed, economists made 25 guest appearances out of a total of 460 -- only 5 percent.
As the country faced the next Great Depression, instead of hearing from people who were actually qualified to explain the ramifications of various economic proposals, we were treated to dueling talking points. And even then, it wasn't a very fair fight considering Republicans out-represented Democrats on the talk show circuit by an overwhelming margin.