So-called “hard-hitting” CNN spiked stories for decades under repressive Middle Eastern regimes (Warning: disturbing).
Now, “Mass media” is an easy target, but I think the basic problem with reporting state affairs is universal and insoluble. The more intrusive the state, the more state actions matter, but also the less easily secret and accurate information can be ferreted out while still staying in business (and I can’t think of any liberal states today). Additionally, media men are wary of alienating advertisers, and the bigger the moreso.
So, in an age of encroaching state involvement crowding out every area of legitimate human endeavor, I venture that honest, non-“infotainment” reporting of significance is prohibitively expensive. Readers can’t be told the truth (and they probably don’t want most of the truth, either, similar to my cynical take on Greenwashing).
There can only be private intelligence organizations (though they don’t call themselves that) reporting to the few and rich for investment reasons (who may have signed secrecy agreements). Even then, there are issues of mutual trust, etc.
For more, I suggest reading this: Never Trust Any Media Organization Large Enough to Gain ‘Access’!