Let’s Talk About How Terrible News Coverage Has Become
Look, I’ve been in this game for over two decades. I started back in ’98 at a small paper in Seattle, and let me tell you, things have gone downhill fast. I’m not just talking about the obvious stuff—print media dying, everyone getting their news from Twitter (which, by the way, is a disaster waiting to happen). I’m talking about the quality of journalism itself. It’s like everyone forgot how to do their job.
I remember when I was a young reporter, fresh out of college, working under this old-school editor named Marcus. He’d yell at us if we didn’t get our facts straight. He’d say, “You’re not just writing words, you’re shaping opinions. Act like it.” And he was right. But these days? It’s all about clicks and shares and “engagement.” It’s disgusting.
Just last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin, and I overheard two reporters talking about how they had to “spice up” their stories to get more views. One of them said, “I mean, who cares if it’s completely true? As long as it gets people talking, right?” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But that’s not how journalism should work.
The Problem with Sensationalism
Let’s take a recent example. Remember that whole thing with the supposed “miracle cure” for COVID? You know, the one that turned out to be complete bunk? I saw at least five major outlets run with it before anyone bothered to fact-check. And by then, the damage was done. People believed it. They shared it. They made decisions based on it. And for what? A few extra clicks?
I get it. I really do. The internet is a brutal place. If you’re not constantly churning out content, someone else will. But at what cost? We’re supposed to be the gatekeepers of information. Instead, we’re just another part of the problem.
I had a friend named Dave who worked at one of those big-name news sites. He told me, “Look, if we don’t put out at least three stories an hour, the algorithm punishes us. So yeah, sometimes we cut corners. But what else are we supposed to do?” And I get it. I do. But that doesn’t make it right.
The Rise of the Algorithm
Speaking of algorithms, let’s talk about how they’re ruining everything. I was at a panel discussion a few months back, and this data scientist—let’s call him Greg—was explaining how news sites are optimized for engagement. “The more outrage you can generate,” he said, “the more people are going to click. And the more they click, the more money you make.” It’s a vicious cycle.
And it’s not just the big sites. Even smaller, independent outlets are falling into the trap. I saw a local news site run a story about a minor traffic accident with the headline “Bloodbath on Main Street!” It was ridiculous. There was no blood. No bath. Just a fender bender. But hey, if it gets people clicking, right?
I mean, come on. We’re better than this. Aren’t we?
What Can We Do About It?
So, what’s the solution? Honestly, I’m not sure. But I do know that we need to start holding ourselves accountable. We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place. It’s not about the money. It’s not about the fame. It’s about telling the truth.
And if that means we have to slow down a bit, so be it. Maybe we don’t need to put out 50 stories a day. Maybe we should focus on quality over quantity. Maybe we should actually talk to people instead of just regurgitating press releases.
I know it’s not easy. I know there’s a lot of pressure to perform. But if we don’t start making changes, who will? The algorithms? The social media giants? Please. They don’t care about the truth. They only care about keeping you hooked.
And look, I’m not saying I have all the answers. I’m just saying we need to start having this conversation. We need to stop being complacent. We need to remember what journalism is supposed to be about.
So, let’s start there. Let’s start by admitting that the news is broken. And then, maybe, just maybe, we can start fixing it.
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Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m gonna go drink some coffee and try to forget about the state of the world for a little while.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She’s worked for major publications and has seen the industry evolve (and devolve) firsthand. When she’s not complaining about the state of journalism, she enjoys hiking, reading, and yelling at her cat.
