Stanford based Grade The News gave abysmal scores to bay area newssources, especially TV ones

Their grading criteria has 7 yardsticks that seem sensible:

1. NEWSWORTHINESS is based on two factors: 1) whether the story topicis "core" or "peripheral," and 2) whether the story is likely to havea direct and lasting (six months or more) informational impact on awide audience (at least 10,000 people).

2. CONTEXT measures the number of sources, and independent expertsources, in the day's top stories. An average of four regular sourcesor two experts merits an A.

3. EXPLANATION means big-picture reporting (about issues and thematictreatment of events) as opposed to episodic reporting (micro-view newsof isolated events that focus only on the event itself).

and others ...

It's cheaper and easier to fill a newspaper or newscast with reportsof seemingly random violence, fires, parades, reunions or evenfisticuffs between politicians than to treat a problem as an issue.All the sources necessary to harvest such a story are at the scene. Areporter can complete the story in several hours. And the drama or spectacle will draw readers or viewers across the region.

But such reporting leaves us mostly afraid, sad or perhaps feelinglucky to have avoided harm -- not informed of causes, effects andpossible solutions. Reporting violence episodically cultivates a sensethat nothing can be done.