Yes, but if you say mainstream media is in danger to manipulate us. What are then the other medias? First which Media is there so trustful ? and second do they not also belong to someone. Is there not also the danger to manipulate us?
I dont know the American Media System. In germany are so many different directions build the "mainstream" that it is difficult to hide certain news.
The problem I see is, that through questioning the medias generell you sewing misstrust. And you get open for other sources, without checking them.
My Dad explained this to me when I was a kid, he worked for UPI, he said that all newspapers (except for the tabloids) were not profitable. In other words there was another motive for companies to have a news service other than profit (tabloids being the exception). They are all pushing an agenda, one way or another they have to keep the lights on. I listen to Steve Bannon, but his agenda is in your face. Trump has an agenda, Biden has an agenda, everyone of the politicians has an agenda. You don't raise millions of dollars for a campaign unless your agenda aligns with your donors.
The issue is are they honest, up front, and transparent about their agenda?
I heard one lady in Chicago very upset because she had voted for a candidate on the understanding that his agenda was to take money from the rich and give it to the poor. When she voted she assumed the poor meant her, but now that this guy is elected she finds out that she is the "rich" that he is taking money from and he is giving it to illegal aliens. I thought this was funny. She obviously misunderstood his agenda.
In the same way who can afford to have reporters all over the world covering every story, every war? The people who will profit from how the public reacts to the stories. If the public reacts by supporting the war, then the arms dealers and manufacturers will profit. If the public reacts by demanding a vaccine be mandated to the whole world then the vaccine manufacturer will profit.