There needs to be a balance. Television news coverage is competing for the same viewers that are watching CSI, but the news doesnt have the special effects budget and weeks to work on a story.
So the most shocking makes the number one story, grabs the interest, otherwise people tune to a different station.
Same thing these days with radio, there are so many choices that each show competes for the listener that will go elsewhere. The thing is, most of my radio listening is done driving in the car, with my kids. And its hard to explain the facts of life to the kid in the back seat who might have follow up questions or missunderstand.
When we sit down and talk about it in the house they seem to "get it" more easily then driving in the car.