I see the news meta shifting towards individual journalists with a personal brand, like some of those on Substack.

I don't think there is anything to be done to save these larger newspaper organizations. I used to consume them but their signal/noise ratio is now so low I wouldn't read them even if they were free. The sacrifices in integrity and quality to satisfy low attention span, lowest common denominator readers signed their death warrant. No longer journalists, they transformed into ideologically reinforcing entertainment.