The once-bold line between journalism and the entertainment industry continues to fade with each passing year. This was only further confirmed when CNN recently announced that “America’s Got Talent” judge Piers Morgan was selected to replace Larry King when he retires in December. As opposed to King’s journalistic background and interviewing experience, Morgan’s credentials include editing tabloids in Britain and winning “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

It is scary to think that an entertainment industry insider is replacing a man who knows the issues and is unafraid to ask tough questions. Of course, in a society where the famous are more closely listened to than journalists, the move is not at all surprising. It reflects an idea that has dominated the media over the last decade: News serves to entertain, not inform.

Many news organizations look to the celebrity gossip mill just as much as city hall for their headlines. Celebrities’ lives have always been fascinating to the public, but this type of news has reached the point of over-saturation.

With a multitude of shows and even whole networks dedicated exclusively to entertainment, you would be hard-pressed to turn on your television and not be bombarded by celebrity gossip being passed as news. Even network news broadcasts are dedicating more of their time to celebrity stories, as they know those reports will draw viewers. When more people care about Justin Bieber than the mid-term elections coming in the next several weeks, it is apparent that these stories capture our attention more than the our country’s future.

Another result of the entertainment industry’s harm to journalism is the amount of sway celebrities have on the public conscious regarding social issues. Despite hours of interviews and research, people are rarely inspired by traditional journalists to care about social injustices. However, if Kim Kardashian decides she is in favor of saving the whales, it becomes everybody’s cause. Celebrities’ voices speak louder than those of the Anderson Coopers and Bill Moyers of the world.

The work of journalists is all of a sudden being co-opted by celebrities who know little to nothing about their causes. For all we know, their publicists could have suggested taking up an issue. The fact that atrocities continue unnoticed until Bono speaks out says volumes about our apathy towards events that don’t directly affect us.

The prevalence of entertainment news takes time that should be dedicated to critically assessing the presented information. When stories about public policies and social issues are paired alongside frivolous celebrity reports, we tend to forget about the big issues. Many people give so much attention to celebrity stories that, when it comes time to discuss the real issues, they are ill-informed. This is disheartening to the journalists who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of gaining knowledge and sharing it with others.

Now you can see why I am more than a little concerned about one of TV news’ most respected journalists being replaced with the poor man’s Simon Cowell.