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This will sound. . Odd. . But information dissemination cannot be a public good. It was a public good in the USSR. . . and in Germany in the 30's and 40's.. . And look where it got them.
Public good media inevitably leads to state-influenced or state-controlled media, at which point you may as well not have any media at all.
The only way for media to really work is to have people who care more about the news, than about lining their pocketbooks. These people exist - reporters, photogs, editors, etc. . . But they're bossed around by idiots who think money is all that matters.
It used to be different. TV news used to be a prestige-gaining loss-leader for the networks. It was supported by the profits made on the entertainment shows. But then someone figured out you can make money at news, too, and so now that's what's expected.
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