NPR posted a piece about the new book by Alex Jones titled Losing the News: The Future of the News That Feeds Democracy. Jones, the host of the PBS program Media Matters and the NPR program On The Media, has an interesting take on where news comes from, referring to it as a “core” that drives almost all industries:

This iron core does not include Paris Hilton’s latest escapade or an account of the Yankees game or the U.S. Open. It has no comics or crossword puzzle. No ads. It has no stories of puppies or weekend getaways or recipes for cooking great chili. Nor does it include advice on buying real estate, investing in an IRA, movie reviews, or diet advice. There is nothing wrong with any of these things. Indeed, pleasant and diverting stories are far more appealing to most people than the contents of the core, which some find grim, boring, or riddled with bias.

The full excerpt from his book can be found here.

Thanks to Aimee Gauthier for the scoop.