Interesting, I've always thought the same thing. Journalism has always been something that pretends it's something else, but as it's gotten worse it's driven the more technically minded people out of the profession who tried to keep it more factual. Having sources linked is just one of many things that would improve it, but I suspect even the ones that play along will find ways of cheating. (like having lots of well cited circular sources that somehow go back to their organization)

Additionally like with research they should have to disclose funding - advertisers, investors, grants, etc. That wouldn't always be reasonable in print but online you can have links.