We’re in a Mess, Folks
Let me tell you something, I’ve been in this game for over two decades. I started as a beat reporter in some godforsaken town in Ohio, and now I’m a senior editor at a major publication. And I’m telling you, the news is broken. It’s not just the media’s fault, but damn, we’re not helping.
I remember back in ’98, when I was just starting out. My editor, let’s call him Marcus, he had this saying: ‘If your mother says she loves you, check it out.’ That was our mantra. Now? It’s all about clicks, shares, and that damn algorithm. It’s disgusting.
But Why, Though?
I was having coffee with a friend last Tuesday—over at that little place on 5th, you know the one—and she said something that stuck with me. ‘It’s not that people don’t care about the news, it’s that they don’t trust it anymore.’ And I mean, look, I get it. We’ve all seen the headlines, the sensationalism, the straight-up lies. It’s a mess.
And it’s not just the big names. Local news? They’re struggling too. I had a colleague named Dave who worked at a small station in Austin. He told me they had to cut back on reporters because, ‘Honestly, who’s gonna pay for news when you can get it for free on your phone?’
Social Media: The Great Equalizer?
Now, don’t get me wrong. Social media has its place. It’s democratized information, sure. But it’s also turned us all into armchair journalists. Everyone’s got an opinion, and suddenly, that opinion is fact. It’s maddening.
I remember this one time, about three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin. Some hotshot tech guy was talking about how social media is the future of news. I raised my hand and said, ‘But what about verification? What about facts?’ He just laughed and said, ‘Facts are overrated, man. It’s all about engagement.’ Which… yeah. Fair enough, I guess. But still.
Look, I’m not saying we should go back to the days of gatekeepers and gatekeeping. But come on, there’s gotta be a middle ground. And honestly, I’m not sure what that is. Maybe it’s about transparency. Maybe it’s about admitting when we screw up. Maybe it’s about using a disposable number for instagram verification to verify sources. I don’t know. It’s all a bit much.
A Tangent: The Good Old Days
You know what I miss? The days when news was just news. When you could turn on the TV or pick up a paper and get the facts without all the noise. Now? It’s all opinion, all the time. And don’t even get me started on the comments section. Ugh.
I had this one source, let’s call him Greg. He was a politician, and he was the worst. Always spinning, always trying to control the narrative. I remember one time, he told me, ‘It’s not about the truth, it’s about what people believe.’ And I was like, ‘Greg, that’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.’
So What Now?
I don’t have all the answers. Honestly, I’m not even sure I have any of the answers. But I know this: we can’t keep going the way we’re going. We need to do better. We need to be better.
And maybe, just maybe, 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. Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when it’s not what people want to hear.
So, yeah. That’s where I’m at. The news is broken, and it’s up to us to fix it. Or at least try. Because honestly, I’m not sure who else is gonna do it.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson has been a senior editor for over 20 years. She’s worked at major publications, covered everything from politics to pop culture, and has a deep love for the news—despite its many flaws. She lives in New York with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and spends way too much time on Twitter.
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