I’ve Had It Up to Here
Look, I’ve been in this game for over 20 years. I’ve seen alot of changes, not all of them good. But lately? Lately, it’s like the whole news industry has gone off the rails. And honestly, I’m not sure we’re gonna make it back.
It started small. Little things, like when my colleague Dave—let’s call him Dave because he’d kill me if I used his real name—started changing his byline to ‘Content Creator’ instead of ‘Journalist.’ I laughed it off then. Now? Now I wanna cry.
But First, Let’s Talk About You
You. Yeah, you reading this. You’re part of the problem. Not in a mean way, but in a ‘you’ve enabled this mess’ way. You click the sensational headlines. You share the outrage bait. You consume news like it’s a buffet, and you’re gonna try just a bite of everything, even if it’s bad for you.
I get it. I do. We live in a world where news is free, so it’s gotta make its money somehow. But ads? They’re not paying the bills anymore. So what’s left? Clickbait. Outrage. Polarization. And it’s working. Because you’re clicking.
The Algorithm is Winning
Remember when I mentioned Dave? He’s not a ‘Content Creator’ anymore. He’s a ‘Digital Engagement Specialist.’ And his job? To figure out how to make you, dear reader, spend more time on the site. More time than you spend with your family. More time than is healthy for a human being.
And how does he do that? By feeding you what you want. What you click. What you share. It’s a feedback loop from hell, and it’s making us all stupid.
I remember talking to a source last Tuesday—let’s call him Marcus—over coffee at the place on 5th. He said, ‘You guys used to call me for stories. Now you just wait for me to tweet something controversial.’ And he’s right. We used to dig. Now we just wait for the drama to come to us.
But What Can We Do?
I’m not sure. Honestly, I’m not. I’ve got my own committment to this mess. I write for a living, after all. But I can tell you this: it starts with you. Stop clicking the outrage. Stop sharing the nonsense. And for the love of god, stop getting your news from Facebook.
And if you’re in Vegas? Check out the Las Vegas cultural events agenda. It’s a start, yeah? A tiny step towards something better.
But it’s something.
Anyway, I’m ranting. I do that. Ask my wife. She’ll tell you I’m basically a grumpy old man trapped in a middle-aged body. But someone’s gotta say it. Someone’s gotta call out the madness. And it might as well be me.
So here’s to the news. May it rest in peace. Or, you know, maybe it’ll get better. I’m not holding my breath.
About the Author: Sarah Mitchell has been a journalist for over 20 years, working for various major publications. She’s seen the industry evolve, devolve, and confuse the hell out of her. When she’s not writing, she’s probably complaining about the news. You can find her on Twitter @sarahmwrite, where she’s always happy to argue about journalism.
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