Papers and Rags

Back in Boston we have three major papers, The Globe, the Herald, and the Phoenix. The Globe is what we call "the paper", the outlet considered the most prestigious and objective. Then there’s the Herald which we call "the Rag" because it’s articles are mostly reactionary rubbish and story’s recycled from the AP wire. The Phoenix, the independent paper with no cover charge, is the only paper we refer to by name. Most of its staff writers have communist tendencies, but it’s the only place off the net where you can find a movie review that isn’t studio purchased garbage.
This hierarchy seems to be the norm in most major American cities; a paper, a rag, and an independent. Each appeal to a different sector, but they all print the big stories. Their differences lie with the opinions. The Paper is usually slightly liberal, and the rag recognizably conservative, at least in blue states. People choose the one that reinforces their own views and ignore the other.
This hierarchy has also defined the structure of internet news, but with even starker contrast. There are extremely liberal sites and extremely conservative sites with very little ground left in the middle. You used to be able to rely of newspapers for an objective view point, but they’re dying out fast because no one reads them anymore. But why is that? Is it because people simply hate the feeling of newsprint in their hands, or is it because people aren’t looking for an objective viewpoint anymore? It’s a scary trend. One that I hope gets reversed in the near future.