In Washington, both during and in the fifteen years following WWII, there was indeed a reputable and very intellectual press corps. It all began to fall apart in the nineteen sixties, and its destruction was hastened by Watergate. Today, study the people attending the WH briefing. They are for the most part punks, opinionated punks, but punks nonetheless and of no redeeming social value.
I can’t disagree with anything that you have written, but I would add that they are punks with enormous egos. Somehow, someway, they always come back to insert themselves into the news, as if somebody cares. I despise them so.