There it was, right on the TV screen: “Obama talks to Wolf Blitzer.” Underneath, the next line read: “CNN interviews president.” These headlines were set against Blitzer’s talking head. He shared a little bit of what Obama told him Tuesday.

But that “talks to Wolf Blitzer” headline! How self-absorbed can cable TV get? Apparently, quite absorbed. Isn’t interviewing the president and other national leaders their job?

Imagine the same headline in the Tribune on a local level: “Kluever talks to Sarah Stultz,” with “Tribune interviews county administrator.”

Or: “Funk talks to Kelli Lageson,” with “Tribune interviews superintendent of schools.”

CNN might as well scroll a headline that says, “We are doing our jobs.”

The difference in styles highlights a stark contrast between print journalism and 24/7 cable TV journalism. Newspapers want to report the story. Cable TV networks present stories as if the reporters are part of the story.

Undoubtedly, Blitzer had a one-on-one interview with Obama. That’s hard to score. But the right way to present it is not that Blitzer spoke to the president. The right way is to give a headline about the most newsworthy and interesting thing the president said. In fact, the headline on CNN’s website was more appropriate: “Obama: I’ll be ready for GOP in 2012.”

For instance, if the Star Tribune had scored a one-on-one interview with Obama, it would be laughable to see a headline: “Strib interviews Obama.” It would be pointing out the obvious.

Our advice: Don’t get your news from the cable TV networks alone. Be sure to diversify your media sources. You learn to appreciate the nuances in how news is presented.