If you are defining "media" by how influential they are, then I absolutely agree. Personally, news media should be defined by journalistic prowess. And if you go back to the days we grew up in, that was also held at much higher standards.
"Journalistic prowess" is trained at the university level, and measured in part by industry prizes. The gatekeepers that enforced those higher standards are still around, and they are apparently allowing reporting that Trump supporters don't like. Is it possible the critical thinking skills of many Americans have declined instead?
Of course it is possible that critical thinking skills of many Americans have declined. I'd argue that is a significant probability. But "instead"? These are not mutually exclusive criteria. The institutions training aspiring journalists might still be there, but they have probably also suffered from a gradual movement to activism and away from what you and I would call journalism (what you would also call journalism were you not so eager to remain adamantly partisan and loyal to your "team"). I was listening to the tapes where Zucker is telling his reporters what they can and cannot report. I mean, honestly? Its not about news anymore. Its about propaganda. Influence - as you pointed out inadvertently.
One of the first values you learn in journalism courses (I know, I've attended) is the value of objectivity. Closely followed by the impossibility of it. The rest of the course, the vast majority, is about the methods to be used to discover and account for one's own subjectivity. This is still the way it's taught, the readership has changed.
So, just so I am sure what you are saying. It is your belief that journalists out there right now are just as careful to not impart their subjectivity in their work (reporting, investigations, etc) than they were when we were growing up? I'd really just like that to be on record if it is indeed what you believe.
There is a lot more demand for opinion now, and it does get printed on the front page, often not clearly labeled as such in the poorer media, but clearly labeled as such in the better media. The reader needs to pay attention. But we have a large segment of the electorate now reading ONAN (sic) and believing everything. Lol @ "on the record". Again, where do you think you are? Lmao
I think I am on a forum where the majority of the people are hyper partisan and care more about scoring a political point rather than having true dialogue to better the discussion and, perhaps, enrich the discourse. Unfortunately those people say one thing on one day, then go right against it the next. So posts need to be kept in order to keep them honest. Me included. If you don't want to be considered one of those interested in having a good discussion and wish to be just a drive by troll or something like it (not saying this is what you are) then that is OK too. I'd just prefer to separate wheat from chaff for selfish reasons. But I think I got my answer, you see journalists as an honorable profession as it ever was.