In many ways yes. News competes for the same time and budget as entertainment. These are both activities that people spend their disposable time / income on.

In many ways yes. News competes for the same time and budget as entertainment. These are both activities that people spend their disposable time / income on. They are not Food, Shelter, etc. Nor will someone refuse to go to their kids ball game because they need to read the USA Today.. No news like a movie or a tv show is something to pass the time when you have nothing else to do. Also keep in mind Trust in news is at a all time low, in part because the news themselves treat it as entertainment by sensationalizing everything, "if if bleeds it leads" and other High Drama "news"