Maybe because back then media tried to inform people, not just shape public opinion and define what opinion is the "right" one. It began few years ago and you notice it the most during elections. Instead of informing about candidates/parties they say "either you vote for our candidate or you're evil nazi racist xenophobe populist and world is going to end".
I'm sorry but that's not press. I get it, they are on your side so you're defending this propaganda while hiding behind this "defending the free press" thing. This is happening in Europe too, in my country the left also organized protest to "defend the free press" just because someone dared to criticized objectivity of our national media (btw they got fined for their US election reporting because their source was only CNN and they invited only anti-Trump people).
But that's nothing new, we see it almost every week - the new left fighting for freedom and democracy while violently threatening anyone with different opinion.