Weary of Content-less "News" Stories

I think that perhaps TV news programs are the worst offenders, but newspapers follow not too far behind.

In the case of the TV news, an event happens. We get the person-on-the-street interview, often prefaced with the implied or explicit question: "How do you feel about this event"?   This instead of the reporter preparing a report about the facts behind the event, including an appropriate analysis and presentation. 

A parallel in the Vancouver Sun today.  The headline reads:  "Mood desperate in Athens as austerity bites: Violence consumes streets as Greek Parliament approves controversial package". 

Call me crazy, but I expect that perhaps reading the story will give me some details about the controversial package.  Or, I would even like to know the nature of the effects that are actually causing demonstrations and riots in the streets.  What is it about the legislation that has such a direct impact on the citizenry that they take to the streets?

The details of the report on austerity indicates that there will be spending cuts and tax increases aimed at saving $40 billion over five years and a $70 billion plan for privatization.  Otherwise, the story focuses on a description of the rioting and the equivalent of the person-in-the-street interviews again.

The mind aches for some substantive information pointed at helping the reader understand some specific aspects of such broad-based legislative change.