The Licht profile in The Atlantic is good, but, to me, dances around the biggest/most impt point: cable news is entertainment, not solely journalism or "absolute truth."

Its business model is one rooted in entertainment (upfronts); its top folks aren't called journalists, but "talent" and have agents; it's produced to manipulate (graphics; segment theme music; bright colors).

In other words, a lofty journalistic mission cannot work in the framing and format of cable television.