In the military, there is a saying "What the boss checks gets done."  That is also found in many successful businesses.  General officers and other actual leaders monitor and correct deficiencies.  

There is also the principle that, "To fail to enforce a standard sets a new, and lower, standard."  To ignore the R-G's failures only sets that lower standard.

"Professionals", on the other hand perform based on internalized standards of their profession, whether they are being monitored or not.  Wage drones show up and do the minimum; true 'professionals' are on the other end of that spectrum.  

As far as alternative sources, OLive and the local TV stations are superior to the R-G for local, regional and national news and my browser offers me about 50+ other news sources every time I go on-line.  And for free.  They want me to show up to get more advertisers as I understand the new financial model.