Did Reagan suffer the systemic MSM assault? No.
Grow up, Levin. Your never-ending contempt is annoying and a waste of precious airtime — 770 AM, NY, 6-9 PM.
Yes, he did. It was just that there were no 24/7 news channels. However, there was no conservative talk radio, as the "fairness" doctrine was still in place, and there was no internet (meaning no social media as well).
Sure, they thought he was a lazy dunce. They might have been a little less intense whether because they were slightly less biased or more afraid to out themselves, but they definitely bagged on him nonstop.
In the alternate reality you live in.
But in the universe where Reagan was elected, he was absolutely savaged by the press day in and day out for YEARS before the campaign, during the campaign, and as President.
He fought against rigged polls that had him losing right up to the election, AND unlike Trump, he had a serious third party challenger from the Republicans he also had to defeat.