Epistemology and the aims of journalism

An interesting post by John Holbo at Crooked Timber, and my subsequent debate in the comments. It deals, once again, with the fallout from the Weigel affair, which has stayed far longer than its due fifteen minutes on its own merits, but which has some added importance re: the issue of media bias. (To be honest, epistemology only really arises superficially, re: the possiblity of "objective" reporting.)