Next time some holier than thou network executive or TV news personality starts feeding you a line about journalistic ethics, give them a swift kick in the nuts. The fact that Barbara Walters, arguably the first lady of network news, is leaving 20/20 because of pressure to appeal to teenie boppers and Gen Exers (the key demographic, by the way) should be proof enough that ratings are what really set the news agenda.

The "get," the grab of a celebrity interview subject, is an increasingly important part of network news operations and Walters, along with ABC News colleague Diane Sawyer and NBC's Katie Couric, has been among the fiercest competitors.
[...]

Walters told The New York Times that she's become uncomfortable with the pressure to find interview subjects appealing to young people who are less interested in news.

Although most news bigwigs admit that ratings are a necessary evil, not many will admit that they are the primary focus. They would have you believe in some journalistic ethics mumbo jumbo on one hand, all the while hawking George Foreman Grills and 'Made for TV' movies with the other. What it comes down to is that their sole purpose is to keep you tuned in long enough to sit through their commercials. It's all about advertising. Unless of course you have the fortitude to watch or listen to Public Broadcasting. In which case it's all about "sponsorships" and "donations."

Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just wish they'd have the guts to admit it.