Marc Twain used to say: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
(Interestingly you’re demanding the same: taking time to step back ;)
In a normal population you may be right, but in a field of experts, I'm happy sticking with the majority than with the one random scientist who believes in satanic rituals telling me hydroxychloroquine works.
Reporters 30 years ago might have had standards. I think those standards have slipped tremendously.
The North Koreans trust their journalists. They are the top of their field after all.
Democracy doesn't die in darkness. It dies in uniformity and groupthink.