anymore and yes, it is corrupting our institutions as well. There are standards and ethical bodies for journalists but the enforcement largely comes from lawsuits and professional shame. Most journalists come from Journalism programs the big three (Syracuse, Northwestern and Mizzou) where you are supposed to be taught how to research a piece, provide balance, how to avoid bias and importantly, not becoming PR hacks for politicians and businesses. Those who didn't come through journalism schools apprenticed and learned their craft and about ethics under other experienced journos or those who did get their degrees.

The reason I ask about Fox, (and most Murdoch "news" properties) is they look like MSM, try to act like MSM, but really aren't traditional MSM, not in the old school way where standards were important. They are more like an entertainment channel model, and they are by far the most abusive purveyor of lies and misinformation in MSM today. But just look at the profit! Their model absolutely pays. But it makes me fucking sick because I absolutely blame Fox and all these other bullshit clickbait "news" sources on the right like Hot Air, Breitbart, Gateway Pundit, Newsmax etc for the majority of the fake news and deterioration of media as a whole.

Is there a left lean in most MSM? Of course there is. There's a left lean with most highly educated people, that's simple fact. That's why it's important to not rely on just one source for all your news. WSJ, The Economist and Bloomberg are some of the others I'll rely on in addition to NPR, NYT and WaPo. I'd imagine most educated, informed people do the same. I don't believe in confirmation bias. But I do believe in certain standards with my reporting. And I'm so sick of hearing about this fake news bullshit. People at MSM outlets with standards are forced to provide very public retractions and get let go all the time.

MSM are not the enemy. There are mostly very ethical and hard working people (sprinkled in with some asses who eventually get booted out) who are doing this country a great service, and most of them for pretty shitty pay to boot. That this lying orange turd and his minions are literally attacking the MSM on almost a daily basis for "untruths" makes me sick.

Thanks for your measured response. Happy 4th.