On the subject of team-employed media and their ability to be objective, there's a Bay Area Giants guy named Marty Lurie who works for the Giants' flagship station, KNBR radio,
He is often critical of the team but in a non-incendiary, matter-of-fact, objective, and fair manner.
He has the respect of management (both station and baseball club), listeners, and other media members.
In other words, it is possible to be objective as a reporter of a team which indirectly employs you. You just have to have "the game" to pull it off… and maybe some fair-minded employers.