Journalism in America is dead

Well certainly it has died in regards to the fanatically leftist loyal traditional outlets of ABC, CBS, NBC/MSNBC, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. One can also sort of wedge Fox News among them as well considering that half the time, they nowadays seem to be working for the Dem Party.

Actual independent news is now found ONLY on Elon Musk's Twitter-X, and independent conservative minded sites that actually present both sides of most events. The truth that the political Left doesn't want the nation to learn.

No, you’re right

Journalism as the "4th Realm" is Alive, Well, and quite Dangerous

More accurately,
The FREE PRESS and former journalistic INTEGRITY is Dead

When did it start?
I'd say it's a toss up between the New York Times burying the story about what Hitler was doing to the Jews sometime before the full truth got out and Walter Kronkite saying we lost the war in Vietnam.

That and Craigslist Gutting All Local Newspapers that had a responsibility to their own constituency.

...& local Newspaper owner and editor wealth brought by Classified Advertisement, in conjunction with functioning by assuring and sticking to who, what, where, when, why, and how reporting.
Those people are gone nationwide.

"The Networked 4th Branch of Government",
in these currently "United" States.
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Well, back to the 4th Realm concept, sometimes known as The Fourth Estate

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Estate

Q: When did it start?

A: Maybe with Edmund Burke, according to Oscar Wilde

my point is; they are not "Journalists"
they are not engaging in "Journalism"
by definition

Yours is a valid point.
"Free Press Journalists" are Equal with Facts in disseminating information to the public,
& are not to be confused with "Equitable Propaganda Journalists" in their manipulation of content.