A more serious problem is that context, in reporting terms, usually just means tacking a few paragraphs from previous stories to the back of the current story. You provide context by attributing one event to some other event that everybody knows about anyway. If somebody goes off welfare, it's because of tough new welfare regulations. If somebody else gets shot in an argument, it must be the breakdown of civility in our society.

Context is especially troublesome when it concerns foreign countries; attempting to provide context is what turned CNN into a talk show mall, instead of the ceaseless parade of flag-draped coffins, random shelling and food riots it should be. Where foreign affairs are concerned, the principle is that macro-events demand macro-explanations. Here's one of the motivations the New York Times provided for the growing popularity of Halloween in France:

Stagnant economies can even explain events in countries other than the countries with the stagnant economies. Want to know why the tourist economy is so hot in Mallorca?

And best of all, this game has no rules. Another news story I saw recently explained why Greece's tourist trade hasn't been so hot lately:

Since a stagnant economy can explain both the good news and the bad news, I'm hoping Germany's economy recovers soon, allowing the coverage to come full circle:

And that's all the news for today. Go out there and get the story. Then explain what it all means.