I'm not back tracking. Although I'm starting to wonder if English is your first language.
Let me help you out.
As time went by, we were astounded by the freedom we were given. Some of the stuff we broadcast on News Thing was so juvenile, offensive and, sometimes, terrible that we expected to be kicked out at any moment. But we rarely saw the boss; we rarely had any interaction with the channel at all. That was almost suspicious in itself. Everyone on News Thing had worked for terrestrial channels for years; none of us had ever experienced such laissez-faire management.
and for you especially
Conspiracy theorists – and even some mainstream journalists – began to accuse us of being part of what they called Putin’s propaganda machine. This seemed laughable to us. For a start, we had complete editorial independence. Plus, everyone involved in making the show was essentially left of centre, your typical metropolitan liberal dickhead types (including me). Our output was often dumb and sweary, but usually balanced and pretty moderate in its views. We criticised Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn equally. The show was consistently pro-remain. The channel’s marketing slogan was: “Question more”. It was true that programmes such as Going Underground or George Galloway’s weekly discussion show liked to challenge what they saw as the lazy bias of western neoliberals; by comparison, News Thing was positively wishy-washy and mainstream.
Hopefully that wasn't too long for you to read.
From the begining - you wrote: ""Sam Delaneys show as **** as it was, was
totally independent of RT "
Totally = completely; absolutely. one hundred per cent;
Independent =
1) free from outside control; not subject to another's authority:
2) not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence:
I wanted to remain independent in old age. • (of income or resources) making it unnecessary to earn one's living:
a woman of independent means.
Nothing you just wrote / copy pasted indicated he recieved no money from RT/ Russian State for his show. Yes free of editorial control on his say so - but he wasn't entirely independent as he/his show was dependant on being paid to make the show to appear on RT channel which he realised himself when he said "I was, by then, aware of RT’s reputation. The channel is part-funded by the Russian state". (was he duped / naive in not realising the conection between RT > State Media.
Therefore he wasn't
totally independant as you claim - partly but not 100%.
Same as if you had kids who'd left home - if they have jobs and pay their own rent they'd be said to be totally independant.
But if you, say, employ them or help pay their rent then they aren't totally independent.