I mean, that's the whole argument of Chomsky's manufacturing consent. It's not that there are people at the top dictating what does and does not get published, rather that there is a system of incentives in mainstream news outlets that discourage dissent from mainstream politically favorable opinions. Sure, as an up and coming New York Times reporter, you can stick to your guns and want to report on controversial issues, but if it's really controversial and against the consensus of most of your liberal colleagues, then you might just not be up for that promotion.

If someone thinks that's not true, ask yourself: do you really think that reporting on vaccine anomaly data, or Ukraine corruption will get you more or less upward mobility than reporting on shooting hot air baloons or whatever media orchestrated distraction is happening at the moment in the NYT?