Sound like the "Everything is rhetoric" argument again.  Sure, everything
has some effect on the receiver--possibly.  Reporters (as well as
propagandists) can never know how their message may be received; we just try
to get it mostly right most of the time.  The level of skepticism/cynicism
of the audience is variable, as is their background, their interest level,
their fatigue level, etc., etc.  At least give some of us credit for trying
to get it right.  And perhaps even assume that it's POSSIBLE to get it right.