The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere

It's probably not yet obvious with most works published here that I am interested in (to shortly and vaguely state it) examining humanity's place in reality and virtuality and where they meet (Particularly; Urban Space & Virtual Communities). I ran across this quote which characterizes one avenue of my exploration. (Much of the quote could use rewording, but it's Wikipedia, good enough for starters)

"There is the illusion of a public sphere, according to [Jürgen] Habermas. Citizens have become consumers, investors, workers. Real news (information which helps free people stay free) is being elbowed out by advice, soft-porn, catchy garbage, celebrity antics, and has become infotainment, that is, a commodity competing in a mass entertainment market. It matters less whether news is right or wrong, and matters more whether it's gripping."

-from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Structural_Transformation_of_the_Public_Sphere

In thinking about the work itself I'm reminded of two problems with both Democracy and Epistemology; they always seem to be made up of "appropriate communities." (I'd bet money that's a Bryan Norton quote from "Sustainability" [probably the only decent English definition of the term although it's boring as hell to read])