I think one of the reasons I am no longer an avid consumer of daily news(papers) is that I realised most stories don't survive past the current news cycle and so are insignificant in the grand scheme of things and a distraction from important stuff. If an event is picked up and commented on by people I like to read or listen to, then it becomes worthwhile to spend some time going back and researching it.

A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith