“Isn’t it absurd that many have to turn to publications like Mishpacha to gain insight.”
Yes it is. Their local shul Rav is almost always more approachable, knowledgeable and likely comes out more than once a week. Asei licha Rav.
“Charedi journalists can only second guess the appropriate charedi stance.”
I’m not a jornalist, I dont know what they do or dont know or how they formulate the positions they take in their articles, if they in fact articulate positions and not merely report news. Will leave it to those more knowledgeable than me to answer this one.
“Our only connection to Gedolim are the pictures printed in the Hamodia and on various tzedaka campaigns.”
Why do you need a connection to a “gadol” or “gedolim”, get close to a local Rav and discuss all your nagging questions with him. Of course, if you live in the same locale as a “gadol” then try to discuss your questions directly with him.
More generally, why do you feel gedolim must editorialize about every “issue” the general public deems “important”? They are not news editors.