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Agree this is a persuasion piece not straight journalism, but in the author’s defense, the article was originally published under a CC license, and he could have no idea it was posted on this website.

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There really isn't such a thing as straight journalism anymore. Most articles I've read are 'persuasion' pieces. It is rather sad.

Has it ever been different?

I think so. At least here in NL, the journalist class decided somewhere in 70s or early 80s, they had an obligation to do 'good' instead of only doing inpartial reporting.

Of course, their defintion of 'good' might differ from mine or yours.

The muckrakers were reform-minded journalists in the Progressive Era in the United States (1890s–1920s) who exposed established institutions and leaders as corrupt.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muckraker

What is the saying, and from whom?

To paraphrase, only things people don't want you to write is journalism, the rest is propaganda.

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