Technology

There has always been true journalists, and it seems there are periods where groups become more prominent in waves, like you describe with that period, but, at least from the many news papers I have read from that time, from the US, Canada, and the UK it was all corporate voice, and extremely ham fisted government propaganda, and that portion of journalism seems to be outlier. Newspapers needs sales, Ads need viewer, etc., and sensationalist bullshit, outrage, and gossip, have always been the solution to that.

I can't tell you how many ads I have seen for over consumption, especially of questionable shit, with the US government calling for being a real American, or whatever, that buys this American product. Write-ups about military actions, especially ones with natives, that are basically just fabricated stories about brave christian soldiers protecting innocent homesteaders from the savages. When I first started looking these up I was kinda surprised at how bad it was actually, and I was expecting pretty much the same. The biggest thing I noticed was that there was a LOT more long form article 200 years ago. However they, like today, were largely industry/political puff pieces, socialite blather, etc.

Also, the amount of casual libel in century plus old news papers is insane. Absolutely would not fly today.