Amen!!!!
"If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly."The question is not whether “the media” can "decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda.” They decided that the moment they decided to market themselves as being objective.If you think you are objective, it is futile to try to “give both sides of the story” - simply because you do not believe that there legitimately are other sides to the story than your own.
If you think you are objective, you will inevitably pull your punches when you present the other side of the argument.The only way to even attempt to avoid that trap is to admit you have a POV. But since admitting your own interests is the precise opposite of claiming to be objective, the “objective journalist” cannot even seriously try to be objective.
“Objective” journalism is inherently fraudulent. If you want “both sides of the story” (and there may very well be more than two sides to it), you must read each side as its proponent portrays it.