TV? Why?

I've been spending the last week at my grandparents, and I've learned a lot about the institution of television. Basically, that it's worthless.
It's funny. A very comprehensive argument has already been made about the negative values portrayed on TV to be presented to the world. Lack of self-esteem, lack of morals, lack of anything substantial...in fact, I wrote a paper once about the absolute stupidity of "reality shows" that exist to allow people to escape into an alternate reality that we'd all like to pretend that it's real...
But what about the news? How else can one find out what's going on if not by the mass media? Not having grown up watching television, the question never really bothered me, but I'm sure it's bothered others, and, perhaps in my naivete (or maybe because I'm able to give an unbiased opinion), the answer seems pretty clear. You want the news? Get a paper. (Although even that has issues.) Once you're on the Internet anyway (checking my blog ;) ), check a local news station's website...
But the television news, and perhaps all mass media, has a serious problem. They focus only on the bad going on in the world. They take things that you wouldn't even think about and make them into huge problems that you're now required to add to your list of worries.
Dunno. To me, it seems pretty silly. You can know what's going on in the world, and learn about all the wonderful things that're going on as well! I know this's been my soapbox, but what is with people and their obsession with focusing on the negative? I can't stand watching the news-I'd rather go and do something good for the world instead of just searching for more things to complain about. Maybe it's just me. I sure hope not.
Although I have to admit that there is a bit of merit to programs like those on the History Channel ;) There's a way to find good in everything, see? :)