All the news that fits, we print

The New York Times has a slogan: "All the news that's fit to print." I think it's a good thought, but has been changed. Just about everything gets printed nowadays. To the reading public's detriment. Here's a story I followed up that was hyped on my MSN "news" page. (I redacted some information to make a point.)

As if (name of man) doesn't have enough problems, his younger sister was arrested in (city and state), and charged with two felonies in connection with the operation of a methamphetamine lab, according to a report.
(Named) County police Sgt. (name) told the (city and state) (name of newspaper) that (name of woman), 34, of (city and state), was one of three arrested and charged with the manufacturing of methamphetamine and generation of hazardous waste.
Investigators said that they observed a drug buy at a gas station and that the suspects then led police to a condominium where an active meth lab was discovered in a bathtub.
The (name of newspaper) reported that the suspects were taken for decontamination before going to lockup.
In 1999, (name of woman) was charged with felony shoplifting after stealing clothes from a department store in (city and state). In 1996, she was charged with unlawful use of a weapon in connection with a drive-by shooting at a motel in (city and state).
According to the website, (city) is in southern (state), near (city), where (name of man) grew up.
(name of man), 41, has said he will retire (name of employer and rating at work).
In October of last year, it was alleged that he sent lewd photos and cell-phone texts to (name of woman, her employer, and type of work done) when (name of man) (worked with her employer) there in 2008. In December, (name of his company’s management organization) fined him $50,000 for failing to cooperate with its investigation.
Earlier this month, two massage therapists sued (man, identified by his type of work), claiming they lost their part-time jobs with (man’s employer) after complaining about sexually suggestive text messages from him. The (employer’s management) said it could not substantiate their claims.
 
Two persons are named in this story. One is the man. The second is the man’s sister. There are names of others who are involved in various actions with these two: a police officer, an employee at a related company, the newspaper that reported the story.
The bare bones of the story are:
A woman was arrested on charges of operating a meth lab. Her brother has also been involved in possible unlawful activities in the past three years.

Is this news? I can tell you it took place in a small, southern town and that it is not (unfortunately) an uncommon occurrence in today’s society.
So what makes this a news story that is listed as “popular searches on Bing?”
He is famous. So, is the story about him? Or his sister? Do you really care about Bret Favre’s personal life? Or his sister’s? How about the personal life of the president of General Motors? Or the personal life of the owner of your local gas station? Does this constitute an attack on that person? Everything is “alledged,” “charged,” “claimed.” Some news. Now, I’m just asking questions, but why have we become so gossipy? “Did you hear about Sally? Do you know what she did? Isn’t it just awful? (Sally is your next door neighbor.) This is just about all that can be said about this “news.”

News used to be information about events that could affect your life and give you something to make judgments about how you would live it. Now it’s just reports of violence, crime, fires, accidents, personal activities of people you only know about but don’t know, and other “shocking” things. Who wants to be so shocked? About all that really matters is what the overreaching, overreacting, governments are doing without regard to consequences and careful consideration, and the weather forecasts, which are 30-80% accurate.
I suppose business reports, statistics on financial activities, etc. are fine, but since I’m now retired they have very little effect on me except to ruin my retirement. (Hey, my best choice at present is to get a gigantic 1.24 percent on my savings!)
And if you still want the details about Favre, just Google him or check it out using Bing. All the gory details, and probably lots more, are there.