"News is what a chap who doesn't care much about anything wants to read. And it's only news until he's read it. After that it's dead"

Evelyn Waugh's quote provides a sardonic reflection on the transient and often superficial nature of news usage. At its core, this statement critiques the ephemeral interest that lots of people exhibit towards present occasions. Waugh recommends that news, by its very meaning, is something that catches the attention of somebody who is normally disengaged or indifferent. This implies that the pervasive consumption of news is not necessarily driven by a deep-seated interest or concern for the world's happenings but may instead be fueled by a need for distraction or minor engagement.

The phrase, "a chap who does not care much about anything", defines a section of the population that might not be genuinely invested in the topics they're checking out about, dealing with news as a casual leisure activity rather than a source of considerable engagement or knowledge. It means a particular detachment and the shallow intake that underpins much of the modern relationship with media. This disengagement can be credited to the frustrating volume of news or the sensationalist nature of media, which contends for attention instead of depth.

The subsequent part of the quote, "And it's just news until he's read it. After that it's dead", highlights the short lived value that news holds for its customers. Once consumed, the info loses its immediacy and importance, being rendered outdated or "dead" in the mind of the consumer. This reflects a wider commentary on details overload and the unrelenting cycle of media, where stories quickly rise to prominence and simply as promptly decline from public awareness.

Waugh's observation speaks with the cyclical and sometimes vacuous nature of news consumption, where the relentless flow of details demands a brief shelf-life for each story, pushing people to continually seek the "brand-new" without totally digesting or reviewing the "old". In essence, the quote challenges readers to examine their intentions and the depth of engagement with the news they consume, advocating for a more crucial and thoughtful technique to comprehending the world.