The problem is, what are you supposed to do about it without violating the First Amendment?

Stop using sources that push propaganda? Support independent journalists like 404 media & use fediverse social media?

no I think I’ll just stay on tiktok and twitter. thats where my friends are after all. (this is not an attack on you specifically but your argument is used like this all the time, there are reputable alternatives to mainstream media.)

Actually, I don’t think you understood my argument.

I’m not asking about what individual members of the public are supposed to do, I’m asking what lawmakers are supposed to do. I’m talking about beyond a mere boycott, which (as you yourself just pointed out) is a losing strategy.

If i ran the administration with a majority, the first stop would be the FCC to create legislation towards free and fair reporting that actually gets enforced, with punishment based on percentage of profit instead of flat rate fines. Monopoly of information laws should also be created via the FCC.

I do not though so. here we are :P

free and fair reporting

Thats not possible as long as the media is owned by oligarchs. Everything is propaganda; the effect of choosing which aspects if a story to emphasize and what context to include is a zero-sum game as far as shaping public perception.

percentage of profit

Most media are loss makers. By funding it, oligarchs are able reinforce a system that keeps the money flowing into their bank accounts.

“A perfect world is not possible so we should do nothing”

Your comment is propaganda thats trying to show the negative aspect of regulating a medium when the only thing to be gained from giving this viewpoint without a solution is defeatism.

and if you think Fox News is losing money I have a bridge to sell you.

who do you expect is the person deciding what reporting is free and fair? is there a governmental regulatory body, created with the purpose of determining if the reporting was factual? shouldn’t the efficiency of this process be improved via pre-approving any media by this regulator to avoid fines?

governmental regulatory body, created with the purpose of determining if the reporting was factual

Yes, thats the FCC, they did that historically, and required equal time/space for both democratic candidates and republican candidates. Naturally that meant channels would count up every 3 second clip and replay, and surrogates/pundits didn’t count at all.

what you are proposing is basically censorship, and state censorship is much easier to consolidate than the current billionaire-based one