This is a critique, (of sorts) of how TV reporting has 'progressed' to me in my lifetime.
In the 1970's we only had a black and white TV. Richard Baker presented the news in a stoic and unemotional manner. It was about the news, not the reporter.
Then in the 1980's we had a few conflicts where Mr Hanrahan "I counted them all out, and I counted them all back" and Kate Adie threw herself into many a conflict.
I think at this point, I realised that reporting news had changed its perspective. Reporters were making the headlines.

Now with Covid and reporters "working from home", it has become more transparent.
Note the flawless hair and make-up.
The news is delivered in practised way. (look away from camera to make people think you are pausing for considered thought)

What annoys me most is the background. Carefully arranged bookcase with academic books that no one has read. Perhaps a carefully positioned photo of the family.

When i see news readers on BBC I just think my licence fee has gone on their "work clothes", taxis, make up and refreshments.

Just a bit sick of it,.....tirade over.

I disengage, I turn the page.

I have a totally irrational dislike of the now universal practice whereby newsreaders announce an item of news and then introduce the channel's political/ health/foreign/financial/sports editor and engage in a pre-rehearsed Q&A session. The same material could more efficiently be transmitted by one person and significant sums of money be saved.

It is the 24/7 TV news culture that has caused the problem. Before then, news broadcasts were just an obligation that came with the licening requirements. A field where quality dominated because you only had a short amount of time on-air and thus could afford to be choosy. Each channel had two main broadcasts a day.

I suspect that in the UK you could probaby date the problems starting with Angela Rippon and her appearence on (I think) the Morecombe & Wise show or another of that ilk. That is when the boundaries started to become fuzzy and now it is just essentially an arm of the entertainment business with them all attempting to outdo each other to get the viewers rolling in.

And given the decline of the traditional print media, it will only get worse because now almost ALL news coverage that people take in is visual. And that requires sound bites and so on along with presenters who essentially see it as a reality show for people who went to University. The decline in quality journalism is something we will all end up regretting a lot.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.