Thesis: democracy needs an informed citizenry, and the responsibility of the news and other media is to promote that.

Elementary, for all democrats. For the media in the democratic world, this has been their public pillar, on which they could stand with dignity (no matter what went on below that elevated position). Free media and free politics, with other independent institutions – legislature, judiciary, organised religion, markets – make up a virtuous cycle of institutions, mutually supportive even while critical of each other – indeed, supporting each other through free criticism.