They blamed us when news for shitty too."this is what you want". No. Its gaslighting and also fuck you. If you did what i wanted you'd all be long dead so shut the fuck up and get back in your volcano line
Billionaires and investment companies buying radio, TV and print media outlets, massively consolidating them and then turning all of them into engagement bait, rage bait and propaganda factories is what ruined journalism. Radio, TV and newspaper deregulation in the 80s and 90s was a massive mistake and is the major driver of the breakdown of civil discourse over the last 30y. Which, of course, is good for billionaires and Wall St because it leaves society too dysfunctional to reign in business as usual profit extraction.
You're right about the problems, but I wouldn't characterise deregulation as a mistake, it was a calculated plan that achieved its goals which were to benefit capital.
I just think it's important to understand that capitalism is set up to operate this way and will always devolve into barbarism.
There's a pattern of belief among the rich and powerful that is basically like, "people don't actually know what they want. They think they do but what they actually want is different, even if they don't recognize it." When they say "this is what you want" they think they're giving us the thing we actually want. They believe what they're saying.
I find that to be equal parts fascinating and terrifying.
There's no money in giving them what they want. The money is in giving them what you can give them cheaply that others can't. If part of that is gaslighting....
Well there is truth in that. Look at politics. Lots of people what a better workd and know what the end result us , but they don't know how to get that. Or for a simple example. People will reply to survives saying they want dark roasted coffee, but they mostly buy medium roast i the usa.