Blogcritics.org interviews Jason Leopold about News Junkie

Imagine the passion most people have for sports teams and attach that to news and you’ll start to get an idea of how important I consider it to be on top of the news, as written about in the newspaper (as opposed to the awful, simplified pablum that is too often the fare on cable news programs.) But I have recently decided to stop calling myself a “news junkie.”

What has sparked this change? Is it because I no longer feel that everyone should try to read at least one newspaper a day? No, although I have relaxed my self-discipline on this issue, otherwise I’d be taping C-Span debates and reading the internet all night. Is it because I agree with many in society that the quality of journalism is in decline? No, although that is an issue that fascinates me and I like to ponder from time to time.

Is it because I’m no longer a journalist? No, that’s not it. If anything I find it more relaxing now to read the newspaper because I’m not constantly thinking, “Ok, what can be the local angle I can write about for this issue?”

Is it because I’ve found lately that the best place to read the newspaper is at a bar, since with that atmosphere and the consumption of alcohol some of the stories and issues — especially those regarding the war and the President — start to make sense? No, but we’re getting warmer now.