At one time, most major newspapers retained a stable of freelance writers and stringers. They weren’t paid much but did provide an important service - more coverage of the readership area and some unique and interesting stories that the staff didn’t or wouldn’t write. Then along came the stupid bed-wetting hippies and their self-important egocentric view of themselves and they killed that aspect of the print media. Quite simply, the hippy dopes didn’t want to be out-shined by better writers and researchers who were paid part-time or by the column inch.
Die long and loud, you freaks.
Who actually went out developed primary sources instead of sitting by the fax machine to receive the latest PR flack without question as long as it sticks to the party line