The difference could be that the paid “readers” on the news used to be journalists and now they are just readers. As for the print, there could be a similar evolution. There is no aggressive need to break a story that no one else has, or a hard boiled editor to make sure the sources are credible. All the money driven compression of the media has compressed the life out of it and we are left with the dregs. I think there was a wine thread on that kind of wine.
Maybe the next thread should be on what media actually reports honestly. I have read a couple of things in Mother Jones that seemed like they were honest. Here is another question. If you had a story of political corruption at a high level that was threatening to national security, who would you take it to to get the story out before you were wacked? The answer to the question, if you have one is probably the place you should go for news. I think I would contact MoJo, the Rolling Stone and the Drudge report to cover all the bases, then give a copy to the biggest shyster lawyer I know and send a copy to someone trusted.
