Why doesn't the free market work in journalism?

 Oh sure, there are people who don't want to know that they have cancer, enjoy a stage magician, or go to a movie hoping to be able to lose themselves temporarily in a fantasy world.

But I don't know anyone who consciously WANTS reporters, columnists, and news analysts to distort, spin and censor their information.

So how do the current newspapers, magazines, TV networks, cable channels, and radio stations stay in business?

More importantly, why should we have to struggle to get the REAL news in front of the masses?

And before you start blathering about "sheeple" and "head in the sand" metaphors, consider this.

Michael is concerned that once the current presidential election is over, that his web traffic will drop off like it did in 2008.

Why?!
Because of the new bumper crop of competing websites that will be sprouting up to report the truth? Because all of our problems will go away? Because Fox News will go libertarian 24/7? Because it really is all about Ron Paul as some kind of cult figure and nobody actually cares about his message?

Any thoughts?