I think you're missing a lot about modern journalism if you think that journalists just cover "things that have just happened." There is also investigative journalism, profiles, editorials, etc.
Just go take a look at nytimes.com. What fraction of the stuff you see there is just reporting on things that have just happened? If you think the New York Times really would be better if it were pared down to only "news," I expect you're probably in a very small minority.
It's not as if they all became homeless last night. That would be news.