When we read a news story about a subject we know well, we are often struck by the many errors and misrepresentations the story contains. However, when we read a story about an unfamiliar subject, we tend to believe it without asking questions. We forget the errors from before. This effect is known as "Gell-Mann amnesia".
Granted, they weren't called out for holding politicians to the fire like they would be by today's partisan soaked public.