I think what you're seeing is class solidarity of a sort from media failchildren who have assumed their whole lives that covering news would be exciting and obviously praiseworthy but not dangerous because that would be too scary. It makes them uncomfortable that a friendly nation that the US is doing nothing about tortured a colleague of theirs to death. They would prefer something be done, but short of public shaming have no tools at their disposal to get any results.
I think that accounts for a lot of the press coverage at least.