Why would you think national news reporting in the 1960s, for example, was any better than today? There were only three TV networks, a few more radio networks, and mostly local newspapers that got most of their news from AP/UPI wire services. They all pretty much interpreted the news from the same liberal angle. State and local news was probably better back in the good ol’ days since a city of any size at all would have at least two competing daily newspapers looking for a scoop.
Looks to me like you answered your own question.
Thanks.