Interesting perspective.
Last night Q&A confirmed in my mind why main street media is facing the crisis that it’s facing. Your piece goes a long way to further emphasizing why the (media) business is out of touch with the majority of the public.

Despite their self important clap trap oft monitoring power etc it’s interesting to note that what was that they failed to address only acknowledged, only in passing, the media’s increasing preoccupation with profit. And in its pursuit how they are chasing smaller and easier markets.

One can note that (empty) media vessels do tend to make the most sound, more titillation than substance. Almost every thing is in the superlative ‘Fantastic’, ‘Catastrophic’, ‘Crisis’, ‘Shattering’ in the final analysis designed to attract the attention of lowest common denominator in other words Entertainment.

The editor from the Australian Boasted her paper’s circulation is growing. If true I’m not surprised simply because they are moving more to the right on almost every topic. They are in fact the print form of “Talk back shock jock radio”.
One only needs to consider the disproportionate amount of ‘Global Warming’ sceptics who pretend that this is the same as Climate Change or environmental derogation. One can be rightly sceptical about their motives who’s monitoring them?
Likewise there is a difference between Objectivity and Balance. It is simple not enough to just present both sensationalized sides.

While it maybe true that they get the biggest share of readers/listeners which is fine for business but for objectivity? But how much of a proportion of the population are actually listeners/readers? And those that are what are they consuming? i.e. why buy a home theatre to watch ‘reality TV’ ? Even the assumption that Aussies really want THAT much sport is dubious.

Hence the ‘blog’ factor is as you say EVERYONE speaking out. Main ('Lame') street media is ignoring the majority simply because it doesn't come in economical and exploitable demograhics. it is only extremes that are clearly definable.

911 was indeed a turning point.
To see all of Australian media jump on the US bandwagon without exception, with *so* many relevant facts and with all relevant history ignored. It was finally plain to my eyes that we do not have "bad journalism": We have truly shocking leadership.
To see the current reporting on Rudd as compared to Howard, so read the paid for energy industry hacks and climate deniers spin articles...
Thank God for the internet. Now lets keep it Open!