You don’t need the latest poll figures to see suspicion toward the journalism profession has reached an all-time high. Given such surveys are primarily conducted by the press themselves, the results would probably be fixed anyway.    In recent years, incidents of impartiality from all the self-appointed “most trusted news networks” have everyone — media members and consumers alike, from both ends of the political spectrum — crying bias. It happens so  frequently it’s hardly news anymore.   Some “forward-thinking” mass communication experts have even suggested prejudice is unavoidable and should therefore be embraced. But whether you believe objectivity is obsolete, the basic principles of American media ethics are as timeless as their constitutional provisions — especially the First Amendment’s creation of an adversarial press-government relationship.   In the threefold political system of checks and balances, journalism has formed “the fourth estate,” occupying the roles of societal muckraker and watchdog. Its duties include reporting the truth to the public and holding all leaders accountable, regardless of party affiliation. Former MSNBC “Countdown” host Keith Olbermann is only the latest in a long line of industry insiders to fail that mission.   In an age where there’s no business but show business, journalistic neutrality is more easily preached than practiced. Just ask Juan Williams, the news analyst fired from NPR in October for expressing his personal, politically incorrect phobias.   But the next month, Olbermann went beyond voicing his preferences: He attached a dollar value to them — $2,400 toward each of three Democratic Congressional candidates, to be exact. One donation even transpired the same day its recipient appeared on “Countdown.” So, unlike the NPR fiasco, much more than freedom of speech was at stake for MSNBC.   Money changed hands while Olbermann flagrantly flouted both the Constitution’s “adversarial press” model and his employer’s campaign contribution policies.   Yet, for these grave transgressions, Olbermann merely received a two-day suspension that amounted to little more than a weekend grounding — most of which he spent on Twitter, lamenting his “exile” to thousands of fervent followers.   Two months later, his sudden, permanent departure from the network has reignited the furor of those same fanatics, among whom conspiracy theories run rampant: Did he quit? Was he fired? Is NBC Universal’s recent business transaction with Comcast Corp. to blame? In the wake of Olbermann’s exit, people have scoured the frequent tweeter’s posts, expecting him to enlighten them on the situation. His former bosses anticipated this, too. Their parting deal stipulates his hiatus from television must be at least six months, and neither side can discuss the decision’s rationale on any medium.   So for now, it remains a mystery why the left-leaning outlet allowed the contract of its top-rated personality, around whom MSNBC built its brand, to expire two years early.   If the organization did dismiss Olbermann, my only question would be, “What took them so long?”   Perhaps even the channel reputed as the liberal equivalent of Fox News realized ratings weren’t everything. Amid a news culture of deserved distrust, tolerating one less rhetoric spouter is a small step toward better discourse.   Considering our increasingly fragmented media world, these polarized networks aren’t disappearing any time soon. In fact, they’re more popular than ever.    People flock to attractive anchors who reinforce what they want to hear, and audience numbers lead company executives to believe they’re doing something right.   But tuning solely into the nonstop propaganda of either ideological extreme just isn’t healthy — it’s self-brainwashing.  Maybe we should force ourselves to watch MSNBC and Fox News and — heaven forbid — try to form our own opinion after hearing both sides. Now that’s what I call “fair and balanced.”   Kelly Hotard is a 19-year-old mass communication junior from Picayune, Miss. Follow her on Twitter @TDR_khotard.       ____ contact Kelly Hotard at [email protected]