If voters are to elect leaders to represent their own points of view, a logical assumption is that voters know which leader indeed shares their views. Entman research in 1970s and 1980s revealed that the public was largely ignorant of the political positions of well-known national political leaders. Put all the info into one central database for all cooperating entities to share. Change the expectations, assertiveness, and sophistication of individual journalists. Journalism schools might alter undergraduate curricula and aggressively promote mid-career seminars that inculcate theoretical insights into the nature of mass communications.
National media reduce their cynical and suspicious approach to politicians.
Eliminate tendency to assume that politicians act purely on self-interest and desire actively to manipulate the public. Honesty and trust needed between politicians and journalists. Politicians might change their news managing ways. In presidential campaign coverage, national media could free themselves from staged events and horse-race trivia. Expand network news to an hour.