Thinking about this, standards have evolved about what used car dealers can and cannot say about cars. If they lie, or intentionally mislead a consumer, they can be sued and sometimes prosecuted.
When it comes to the business of providing “information” about current events, there really is no standard. No one can–or SHOULD–be prosecuted for lying.
So why would not everyone lie? Well, if the MAIN business is actually providing the service of informing people about current events, then companies that lie are providing an inferior product, and in a truly competitive market inferiority means, ultimately, less revenue, and less profit, and less money in the pockets of those running the thing.
And empirically, in my understanding, the ratings of most of the left wing media are down considerable. With Trump gone, most people are no longer tuning in nightly for their dopamine hit of outrage.
Integrity is a business value. In news, convincing people you have integrity (which, to be clear, does not necessarily imply that you DO) amounts to a claim of a better product. You are offering better quality. People tend to buy more from people they trust and respect. Walter Cronkite was not completely honest, but he was perceived to be, and although I have not dug up the data, I’m sure his ratings were very good throughout his career.
And I will add that lies are most effective when delivered by people who are truthful most of the time. Even if they make you pause, the overall pattern will bring most people back to belief/credulity.
I wonder about Tucker Carlson. I truly love many of his monologues. He lambastes people who deserve it, and points out all sorts of ludicrous lies told by Democrats.
I really did think he needed to hit election fraud harder, though. I can’t make up my mind on all that. As he says often, they do their best to only deal in facts, so perhaps I can forgive him. But I mistrust readily, so even with him I am guard, and virtually everyone else I can’t even watch. Sheryll Atkisson and John Stossel are the only other two exceptions I can think of. I trust them.