When did news become opinion?

This has been a long standing question for me. As I watch the major network's broadcast their evening reports several obvious things jump out. First, apparently there is only one set of writers who they all share. They routinely have the same subject matter to broadcast, even on days when there is no overwhelming national story. Its almost like price fixing, sometime in the day they must have a conference call to lay out the common agenda they intend to present.
My real question is why has uninformed public opinion become central to the reporting on almost every story? Is this a national conspiracy to attempt to get every living American a chance for their 15 minutes of fame? For example, this evening ABC broadcast a story on mammograms and a medical panels recommendation they were not critical for woman younger than 50. As part of that report they must have asked 10 patients what they thought of a report none had read, but were only informed of by the reporter. The fact all 10 were about to receive their annual mammogram certainly can have no influence in their assessments and opinions, can it? Personally, I would rather have seen them interview 10 men who had survived breast cancer and asked them about how critical the mammogram was, at least that would have required some research on the part of the news staff. If this issue is worthy of national news coverage, why aren't recognized experts called in to discuss the reasoning and implications? Is it because it would not be as emotional as interviewing someone in a medical gown walking into the examination?
This same sense of fair reporting was evidence last night when they asked a series of New York city residents about Sarah Palin's new book. Certainly you can expect measured, well thought out positions from the average NYC person on the street. NYC is legendary for its central American view and as a bastion of conservative thought. Personally I can think of no compelling reason to report on Palin, but at the same time attempting to make her a cartoon only strengthens the argument the liberal press is out to polarize the American population into two camps.
Wait a minute! Maybe this is all like the Colbert Report. It is all a parody of an actual news report and their real intent is to make us question the statements and come to a conclusion buried deep in the false logic of their dialogue. My hat is off to you Katie Couric, Charlie Gibson, Bryan Williams, your subterfuge almost had me...