Thats not necessarily true.
If media outlets make a calculation that traffic will remain constant, just shift from originating at Drudge and FR to Twitter or Facebook, then it’s a wash. Some hate Drudge and FR so much that they’ll refuse to grant permissions out of spite.
The bigger issue is that if media outlets have total control over their headlines and links to their stories, and can pick and choose who to give use permissions to, they can negotiate those permissions for a price. Rather than being a straight cash payment, it’ll more likely be the sharing of user information.
I don’t imagine Jim Robinson would ever willingly agree to share user information with the press. But that would most certainly be the price demanded by the press.
I don't see how the links themselves can be copyrighted anymore than the news itself can be copyrighted.