(CNN) -- Aaron Sorkin's HBO show "The Newsroom" represents the reality of working in television news about as accurately as "The West Wing" captured working in politics -- which is to say, not at all. But both dramas did something more worthwhile: They expressed the idealism that should animate these careers. And in this time of creative destruction throughout the news industry, it's more important than ever before. That's why "The Newsroom" matters. When "The West Wing" debuted in 1999, the political arena was suffering from a well-deserved dose of post-Monica cynicism. The smart kids were all making piles of money on Wall Street by surfing the tech bubble, and with the 2000 election looming between Bush and Gore, the status quo of peace and prosperity seemed boring.
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John Avlon: "The Newsroom" isn't reality, but it expresses idealism journalists feel
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Avlon: Show's anchor Will McAvoy is now a character in social media, debates
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He says when news is about stars and cats, "Newsroom" offers inspiration
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Avlon: Show could attract young, talented and idealistic to journalism careers
And through at least the first four seasons, written primarily by the show's creator @placeholder, no matter which party you belonged to, once a week the show reminded you why you cared about politics in the first place.