Is it the responsibility of a newspaper to create a long-running scandal, or to report on the news/truth? I'm confused by people that say the motives of someon

Is it the responsibility of a newspaper to create a long-running scandal, or to report on the news/truth? I'm confused by people that say the motives of someone like Snowden or an institution like The Guardian are irrelevant yet then laud The Guardian for having a clear motive.