Propaganda state run networks are for dictatorships, not democracies.
In a democracy, you essentially have 5 propaganda networks, each with their own agenda. Agendas go from pure government standpoint to business standpoint, some rich individual's standpoint, religious/ideology/political parties standpoint, ... Everybody knows the big events, because the networks know they have to have some kind of coverage, as it's everywhere.
This often goes right into ridiculous territory. Do you want to know the Socialist viewpoint on the recent strike in Brussels about pensions, and how in that strike the position of women compares to the position of children? Read all about it! Or don't, because of course it's 90% why all other political parties are so very, very wrong ...
To answer your question: Anything that abandons idea of centralised power with unknown electorate. History many times proves that it cause deaths of millions innocent people. Wars are possible only because idea of giving up personal responsibility for action in name of "safety, right, nation, greater good, you name it...", that centralised authority decide about.
Generally, knowing the truth is more useful than the alternative.
> There are countries with a freer press that fare better.
That's a non-sequitur if I ever saw squirrel.
> Throwing your hands in the air and saying "it's all pointless, only fools > care about improving things" is detrimental to fixing this mess.
No one said that.