President Obama targets media 'sensationalism'

President Barack Obama criticized the media during his commencement address at Barnard College, bemoaning the "steady stream of sensationalism and scandal" driven by ratings.

"No wonder that faith in our institutions has never been lower, particularly when good news doesn’t get the same kind of ratings as bad news anymore," he told the students. "Every day you receive a steady stream of sensationalism and scandal and stories with a message that suggest change isn’t possible; that you can’t make a difference; that you won’t be able to close that gap between life as it is and life as you want it to be."