>>>Italy in the 1920s, Germany in the 30s, East Germany in the 50s, Czechoslovakia in the 60s, the Latin American dictatorships in the 70s, China in the 80s and 90s - all dictatorships and would-be dictators target newspapers and journalists.
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>But you've used a "target" weasel word there. What form does the "targeting" take- calling them fake news, or something more? My recollection is that fascist governments take over media outlets and close down or at least move against the others, rather than calling them out for their fakery. Dictators are in lock-step rather than at loggerheads with media. Your attempt doesn't make sense.

Fascism happens slowly though, it doesn't happen over night. You're looking farther down the line and yes I agree with you on those points. But it starts somewhere - and that is by putting doubt in the validity of the news and press...for example calling them 'fake news' over and over and over and having campaign rallies all the time and calling them fake during those events...which needless to say can put those journalist and reporters in harms way. Other things are just as clear - such as snuggling up to other dictators and alienating allies.