> Wrong. Journalists have an obligation to favor the truth.

I'm not sure why you think we're disagreeing on this part. I'm explicitly asserting that they need to seek truth rather than pushing an agenda.

> If a party is not being honest or truthful, they should disfavor that party very strongly.

Here though, we do disagree. I think they should call out the lies and provide explicit, verifiable evidence that they are in fact lies. The should counter lies with truth.

But they should be blind to "parties" and not favor or disfavor anyone. From that point on you're drifting into "and they should agree with me, and say so" thinking. They should not be helping "shape opinion" and "steer people" even in a direction you happen to like today.

If the facts don't do the job, they shouldn't put their thumbs on the scale.