They probably think it was good while it lasted. Easy money.
My newsroom experience taught me that anyone above Editor thinks the average reporter is a useful tool they can unleash on their ‘problems’ for financial/power gain. The average reporter on the other hand thinks they are part of the ‘elite’ because they get to go to events and rub elbows with ‘important people and carry out instructions on what to write, because they are TOLD what angle to take, unthinkingly.
Lastly, the ‘important people’ who are golf buddies with the management of the news org, think they can feed BS to the idiot reporters in the hopes of gaining some favor with the news org’s publishers and thus turn good press into profit/power.
It is “The circle of Stupid” because no one ever gets what they want and has to grovel before the other hoping to gain favor. Ultimately, when the business loses cred, the business downsizes, the reporters pack their desks with a dumbfounded look and go begging the people they once interviewed for a job, who are themselves usually in financial straits.
The looks on their faces when they realize that they are not, in fact, members of the ‘elite’ is one of my fondest memories from my time in the media.
Never once realizing they cut their own throats.