As far as newspapers such as the Indianapolis Star are concerned, it is common for a newspaper of this size to be staffed mainly with hacks who aren't good enough to make it to the big-time. As a result, they write (and editorialize) like scared chicken turds because they see this as the qualities that the big dailies desire. Political correctness reigns supreme in their world. Their laziness makes the old "diversity, multiculturalism, and tolerance" ploy the order of the day, every day, in everything they write.
Fortunately, hardly anybody reads newspapers anymore.
It has only been that way since Gannet (USA Today) bought the paper. The Editorial page is still pretty conservative though.