g2, I'm not sure just who or what you are criticizing, me, Sam Porter, or?  Nor just why I'm supposed to reject Sam's original premise if I suggest style matters.  To be clear, 1) I don't mean style is all-important , nor 2) do I totally agree with Sam's original premise--  of course, too much journalism has been "yellow" but there has been some darn good stuff as well; and as for good honest muckraking, we could use more of that, Lincoln Steffans style.  
In spite of my differences  with these I do think his true premise, that we need more good fair, objective debates is a good one.  Isn't that what you and I are trying  to do now, g2?
Doug