24 Hour News: Is it really news or self preservation for ratings?

The 24 hour news cycle has made it more difficult for the public to determine what is an accurate reporting of the news as opposed to self interested, biased opinions that serve the political and social views of differing so called news organizations. Can 24 hour cable news be trusted? Are network news and traditional print media like the Washington Post & New York Times our last hope? How has the online media--blogs, internet web pages, Facebook, Twitter--influenced how we receive our news? What is the responsibility of the public relative to screening news to determine what is fact as opposed to opinion?