The old order was dying. It was beginning to create rather than report the news. Too bad he held on unnecessarily. Too bad he actively and obviously tried to turn an election by reporting falsehoods.
He did try to turn an election. But, being human and very ambitious, his principal motivation was to get a scoop, to be the first with the mostest. And he didn't report a falsehood. He made assertions which couldn't be adequately substantiated. Quite a different thing.
MSM has been creating the news for over 30 years, they didn't just begin doing it. The difference now is that outlets like FR exist. They can't get away with it anymore. That's what Rather is upset about.