to some extent it's probably a vicious cycle: previously paying eyeballs get drawn away to sensationalism (innately more interesting) over time, journalism funding goes down, less resources to put out journalism, more efforts at sensationalism to get a cut of the eyeballs, to where we are now.

OTOH FT/economist haven't shut down as far as i'm aware. not sure they're bastions of accuracy (or journalism) but pay to play may work for high quality content.