In a sane world, Theodore Roosevelt was correct when he stated that"It is not the critic who counts . . . the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena . . . who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds . . .But of course journalism consists of people who never enter the arena themselves, but only criticize and second guess those who do “strive to do the deeds” which are necessary for the public. Since they are critics only, not doers - and since they are free from internal competition because all major journalists are (ahem) associated via the AP - journalists take the opposite view to TR. They take, that is, the utterly cynical view that NOTHING ACTUALLY MATTERS except PR. If it isn’t in the papers or on TV - and they are in denial of the fact that Fox News is actually TV - that is, if they don’t say it, it isn’t real.And of course, THEY SAY that people who are 100% committed to the cult of PR are “liberal” or “progressive” or “moderate” or “centrist” - even though those labels are utter nonsense. “Liberals” aren’t liberal, and don’t promote liberty. “Progressives” don’t believe in progress in any sense that would have been recognized by the authors of the Constitution which explicitly empowers Congress “to promote the progress of science and useful arts.” And “moderates” and “centrists” are flat-out radicals. Any one of whom could become an “objective” journalist without changing his/her attitude one iota. Just as George Stephanopolis did.
“Liberals” aren’t liberal, and don’t promote liberty. “
I’d say you pretty much nailed it.