The Internet is a funny beast. Readership surveys seem to suggest that the ideal length for stories is either 200 or 2,000 words. There is no traditional 650- to 800-word newspaper article, and in fact, newspapers don't write the traditional news articles anymore either.
The attention span of the average person for the average news item that's not thrilling, doesn't have a huge appeal, or is not some kind of very insightful piece, whether investigative or that sort of thing, is about 200 to 300 words, and then they move on.
You're right in saying journalism at that level is becoming quite superficial, but that is as much at the reader level.... You give the people what they want, to some degree, and then hit them the next day with a little bit more and little bit more. The story can go on longer, but you don't get the same sort of fullness of coverage. I agree with you.