Journalism
In simple words, journalism is journaling or documenting events with the goal of informing readers.
Journalism is indeed a pillar of democracy. But when it is conducted with other aims that inform readers, the strength of this pillar and its contributions to a democracy is doubted. When journalists and media houses start becoming mouthpieces of political and religious factions, and when their work leans towards any ideologies, or when they deliberately ignore journaling or documenting all events associated with a particular topic, it isn't journalism any more, but an opinionated view no longer striving to inform people, but to influence them.
Nor must it be surprising if anyone takes a vindictive stand against media houses and journalists who have made it their goal to destroy that person by selling untenable views, false narratives and biased reports, because now, their journalism is no more a pillar of democracy but a pillar of that ideology and few vested interests. Their journalism does not serve the purpose of informing people, but destroying an entity.
Naturally, there would be counter responses and reactions to such journalism. And it would be ridiculous for such media houses and journalists to whine that they are being targeted or demand that they shouldn't be targeted. In any offensive move, counter responses and reactions are a consequence.
Many media houses and journalists claim of being independent; and in that name they raise money from readers. Irrespective of who owns the media house or who heads the editorial board, only those who practice unbiased reporting are truly independent; everyone else are slaves to the interests of their investors, editorial board, or their own prejudices and hatred.