[eru]

Huh, I don't understand your reasoning.

The first half of your comment provides a sufficient reason why something resembling journalism stays alive: readers want these stories.

What does this have to do with democracy, and what's the causal chain that goes from democracy (or the zombie of democracy, I guess) to keeping journalism in suspended animation?

[lynx23]

Journalists claim their work is necessary for the democratic process. Which they use as a reason why their work is supposedly important, even though they are not really reporting anymore, just making up things.

[eru]

Sure, but empty (?) claims don't sustain existence.