I was in j-school at the eruption of the internet age, and it was interesting to see how the information was being formulated and packaged. The professor I had (who is now an assistant professor at Ole Miss) who insisted on us learning all the old DOS protocols. Alas, now, most of those things are archaic, and .html is the way to go.
What I find now is that the new kids who are going into it - and being taught by the old librals who are entrenched in the j-schools are being met with resistance from these more conservative kids who, tho willing to work their ways up the feeding chain, aren't willing to espouse anything but what they are being taught - namely, regurgitate what's already been written. Those who are bucking the trade are writing for the new media, while the old reporters are "dying" off.
The few that are holding on for dear life are turning off the kids, who know that those who are hanging on by a thread, are espousing their own agenda.
(I would also get a mound of newspapers, but I am also a "compassionate conservative": someone who hates wasting paper, so I read my news online (to keep the paper waste down.) tee hee!
I once vaguely read that progress comes not from persuasion, because those that hold the old, failing positions are personally, professionally and mentally entrenched and it is only when they die off, does the new theory becomes accepted. This human age phenomena is commonly noted in histories of the sciences, and I don't see why it wouldn't be in other professions as it seems to have a basic human ring of truth in our own observation of our fellow species members.
As to your comments on young conservatives, I can imagine. I attended UMass and felt completely isolated in the late '70's. However since then I have come to realize it wasn't my values or political views, it was just me personally. :)