If honest journalists are “sticking around” that would mean loaning those shady editors with ulterior motives some of their credibility, thus helping to prop the latter up.
Interpret it this way please: I'm unable to understand the collection of words in your post because you're using overloaded words to describe a simplified scenario that doesn't match the reality of the world I've seen. Could you please clarify your point so that I can provide a more substantial response? Tyty.