Not all news and content creation can be done as a side job or hobby. The people who do journalism, create content, or support that goal of quality journalism need to make a living somehow.
It's possible that journalism becomes supported by patronage the way art once was.
The majority of online journalism seems to be regurgitated news agency reports and stuff that no one needs (or can get free from communities elsewhere).
lots of forums, blogs and aggregators perfected clickbait and cat picture distributions a decade ago.