The printing press and the resulting information deluge had complex effect on Western ecclesiastic and political matrix. The mass production of Lutheran pamphlets can be perceived as one of the first propaganda material aimed at inciting populist support for the lower clergy in revolt against established ecclesiastic bureaucracy. At the same time, the Catholic church used the printing press to decrease regional variance in religious observation (mass production of catechism and using Jesuit school system), further centralizing control. Later, with decrease in cost of publication, texts of less significance and even utter garbage were mass produced, essentially drowning theological and philosophical texts into oblivion. Prioritization becomes lost in ready availability of information; much like an autistic child being unable to discern information due to thalamic gate malfunction.
Even Galileo attempted populist support for his heliocentric model by publishing a novella for general public consumption, rather than publishing an academic paper through proper channels - much like how climate science is propelled more by newspaper headlines, rather than via academic discussions. Populist appeal can only be possible, if information can be disseminated cheaply. Opportunists like Hogg would not have been so effective, were it not for readily available information distribution network of social media and "traditional" media. If the Hoggs of the world were to propose their policy through established political think-tanks or academia, in the absence of current information distribution network, they be laughed out of town.
The current education system is incompatible with reality of mass information availability. The priority for training ought to be the ability to discriminate relevant information from garbage, but most of the emphasis is on technical training. Of course, without a clear standard reference frame of principles and virtues, it is impossible for men to be discriminating in regard to the deluge of information assaulting their senses daily.