Finally, the get a syndication deal to publish a regular column or a deal or as a commentator on radio/TV. Suddenly they are "journalists!"  Then they continue to appear on Crossfire but also appear on MTP but are identified as syndicated columnists & radio hosts, even as journalists.

They have no background in investigation or fact checking  and are not constrained by any ethic from writing their opinions as fact, but are considered the equivalent of the Post/Times/ Newsweek scribes who willingly sit next to them discussing issues with Fat Tim or Tweety in their roundtables as if they are respected and trusted colleagues. I think the working journos cheapen their profession by blurring the line between them & these advocates like Williams & Gallagher, but aside from grousing about it amongst themselves, they don't seem to do much about it.

It's no surprise that it would never have occurred to this woman to tell anyone that she was paid to shill. That is all she has ever done, been paid to shill. I'm sure she's never been trained or paid to independently report anything.