Media's ancien régime est mort...

Hugh Hewitt concludes his excellent piece on the Columbia Journalism School (where tuition and expenses have mounted to 59K per annum) this way:

In the past, almost every bit of information was difficult and expensive to acquire and was therefore mediated by journalists whom readers and viewers were usually in no position to second-guess. Authority has drained from journalism for a reason. Too many of its practitioners have been easily exposed as poseurs.

[CSJ dean Nicholas] Lemann understands completely what has happened. I think he regrets it. He is certainly trying to salvage the situation. And there is simply no way he can succeed.