With respect to the media, print or otherwise, one item often overlooked is the inability of readers to not only read the article from start to finish (we'll set aside critically for the time being) but most importantly to examine the article, whether print or online, to note: is this in the editorial or OPINION section versus the factual AP type news. While even the fact based news articles have a 'slant' to them (I.e sources cited but perhaps some sources 'ahem' omitted), there has been a decline in readers paying any attention whatsoever to whether an article is, in essence, the platform of someone whom the newsagent has allowed to publish under the aegis of free speech.
Regardless of an inherent 'slant' of a specific publication, the appearance in the opinion column does not necessarily give legitimacy and any reader with an education beyond the eighth grade ought to know this. Alas, points earned for the team or to confirm biases and rationalizations matter more than actually, you know, what the article truly conveys, which in some cases is just blathering nonsense. When one repeats that nonsense, then we have, you know, a whole lot of hot air.