Bad Press

Ron Chernow on the press then and now: "Our modern tabloid press seems almost tame by comparison. There was no pretense of journalistic objectivity and editors flayed politicians with impunity. Under classical pseudonyms, political operatives gleefully murdered reputations — Washington was blasted as a would-be king, Jefferson as a zealous atheist — leaving the founders somewhat scarred and embittered men."

Of course the tabloid format is held by the conservatives i.e. Boston Herald, NY Post and a host of others that revel in scandal.

And the beat goes on.