It's almost like monied interests own the papers and want to protect their investments

Are you talking about The Register here? That's a fairly strange accusation for a news outlet that goes out of it's way to be provocative to the entire industry.

At least it used to - I haven't kept up much recently.

If you know better then please tell - but I'm not clear at this point whether you have an informed opinion - or whether you have no idea what The Register is.

I've never understood this take because it's possible to make money regardless of the direction that the share price moves.

You never know but hopefully