re: All journalists know they are scheming, sold-out liars
Not all “journalists” know they are scheming. Example: Bill Kurtis of Chicago and Agent Orange fame.
Kurtis is the prototype for Ted Baxter on the Mary Tyler Moore show. Kurtis has no clue how he is used by his producer and others around him.
“Journalists” are on a continuum from the extreme of naivete to Alinsky-Machiavellian. Some are more naive on some aspects of journalism than others. Of those who are very much aware they are just mouthpieces for their producer some are aware the producer lies and they are repeating the lies while others are naive and don’t realize the producer lies ... even when they know that they are puppets of the producer.
Yes, there is a spectrum. But people who do not accept the “progressive” world view are quickly weeded out.