I'd suggest pap isn't so much "what readers want" but rather "what's profitable." Not a glaring distinction, I know, but I think it's important because I believe people want smart, informative news, but if you're wanting to make the big bucks you want to entertain.

(I find it amusing that the media's constant coverage of a dancing monkey -- because who doesn't want to watch a dancing monkey? -- partially led to the legitimization and election of the dancing monkey, who then turned around and starting flinging poo at the media.)

A piece from 1999 that's relevant is "The Transformation of Network News" from Neiman Reports. (Links don't work here, if memory serves, but it's easily found.)

Anyhow: great article, thanks for this.