Hmm. Can't resist elaborating, can I? Okay...

The purpose of "the News" as it exists now is not to inform the people, it is to mould them, condition them, and direct them in order that they will do what the $ySStem wants them to do, cooperate, and remain largely ignorant of what is actually occurring. It is also a form of daily entertainment for minds seeking something to chew on, of course...but that's secondary.

The News is crafted to maintain compliance and manufacture consent. It is also crafted to keep alive and foment various hostile divisions between different groups (such as Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics...or Republicans and Democrats...or liberals and conservatives...or religious people and atheists...or straights and gays). A public constantly divided against itself is a public that can be more easily controlled from the top down, and their anger and frustration can then be periodically directed against each other rather than against the $ySStem...and the $ySStem can impose increased "security" measures and augment its police powers to deal with those outbreaks, thus extending its overall power and control.

As Boss Tweed said, "You can always get one half of the poor to kill the other half for you." If it gets out of hand, you send in the army and declare martial law.