Okay, your first lesson is stop putting much emphasis on what the media tells you. Clue: the economy is doing just fine. Just because the media treats every shift of fortunes as the ultimate in doom and gloom doesn't mean that we are headed for disaster.
The news media is only in the game for the money, and that means RATINGS!! They do not care about the truth, they do not care about giving you enough information for you to make your own decisions. The media also does not care about what is really important. They are far more concerned about Britney Spears and Anna Nicole Smith than they are in giving you real, insightful analysis of the latest bills being considered by our lawmakers.
Others will certainly fill you in on the biases of the various outlets...just remember that above all, the news media is out to hype and sensationalize everything in order to get you to watch/read THEIR news! "If it bleeds, it leads." That's the common mantra in the business.