Showing ads is one thing, but more savage beasts lurk in the javascript jungle...

Ads are fine.

Have you tried clicking through those deceptive dialogs and have you seen the list of "trusted partners" that will receive and gather tracking data about you?

Do you at least know roughly what the number of those "trusted partners" is?

Take a look, it could be an eye-opener.

...and to continue to beat the dead horse, news sites can either (1) straight-up paywall their content or (2) show ads without invading your privacy.

Tracking in every form but the anonymous, opt-in, and truly optional (no restrictions (other than the obvious) if you decline) in not acceptable.