News in the distant past was more sensationalist and overtly political.
News in the more recent past tried to be a little more hands off of politics. The market dynamics were usually such that you wanted to sell both to the left and the right. Some newsmen idealized this and sold the product with the idea of an allegiance to fact, and the idea that the facts would speak for themselves. Opinions were indulged on the editorial page (where advertisers fear to tread) and they could be safely ignored. Opinions were avoided elsewhere. Sensationalism was for tabloids; major papers achieved respect and a reputation and premium prices with their restraint.
News of the present finds the market dynamics have reverted; overt partisanship and sensationalism drive reader engagement again — but we’ve got a ways to go before we have overtly political journalism everywhere and widespread cases of yellow journalism like in the past.
News in the more recent past tried to be a little more hands off of politics. The market dynamics were usually such that you wanted to sell both to the left and the right. Some newsmen idealized this and sold the product with the idea of an allegiance to fact, and the idea that the facts would speak for themselves. Opinions were indulged on the editorial page (where advertisers fear to tread) and they could be safely ignored. Opinions were avoided elsewhere. Sensationalism was for tabloids; major papers achieved respect and a reputation and premium prices with their restraint.
News of the present finds the market dynamics have reverted; overt partisanship and sensationalism drive reader engagement again — but we’ve got a ways to go before we have overtly political journalism everywhere and widespread cases of yellow journalism like in the past.