The best description of the "less is more" approach, together with the
best critique of the "more is more" philosophy, is in a 1973 article by
Arnold Arons in American Journal of Physics, June 1973. It is called:
"Toward a Wider Public Undedrstanding of Science". There is also a
follow up article, from AJP, Feb. 1974, containing reply to criticisms
which is also very worth reading.
Anyone concerned with these issues who has not seen these articles,
should get them. The problems associated with grossly unrealistic
coverage have been known for 30 years, yet the pressure to cover more
and more in less and less time is still unabated in so many institutions
(including my own) and remains as destructive as ever.