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@futurebird

Reading back, I think my intent and take is tangential to yours rather than really in response to it. But it also seems like the kind of thing that might interest you - happy to delete if I've derailed too far, however.

I am not sure that limiting journalism to those who can afford to get a degree in it was actually a good idea.

I'm probably biased, as I got on-the-job training in one area and at one point ended up doing news and investigative journalism - there are certainly points where I would have appreciated more training, a broader angle on my craft, I'll admit.

But the prestige and academic clout of journalism means that you don't see a lot of people from disadvantaged backgrounds getting into the profession (I was less than six months sober and housed when I got my first staff gig, although I'd exchanged money for writing before).

As a professional, it only seems to be becoming wealthier, whiter and more conformist, with the manufactured consent already inculcated before many writers even get their first gig.

I'm not saying "everyone sells what they can to tawdry rags for money" is a better way (hell, even the tawdry rags prefer an oxbridge background these days), but there has to be some kind of middle ground.