Look, I’ve Been a Journalist for 22 Years
And let me tell you something, the news industry is in a right state. I’m not talking about the obvious stuff, like clickbait headlines or ads that follow you around the web like a lost puppy. No, I’m talking about something deeper, something we’re all complicit in. It’s like that time in 1998 when I was a young reporter at the Manchester Gazette, and I let a source feed me a story straight out of their fantasy football league. I was young, I was dumb, and honestly, I should’ve known better.
But that’s the thing, isn’t it? We all should know better. And yet, here we are.
We’re All Addicted to the Drama
Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin (yes, the one where the Wi-Fi was worse than my grandma’s dial-up), and I heard a panelist say something that stuck with me. He said, “We’re all addicted to the drama.” And I thought, “Well, isn’t that just the truth.” We love a good scandal, a juicy piece of gossip, a political fight that makes us feel all riled up. And the news industry? We’re the dealers, and we’re more than happy to feed that addiction.
I mean, look at the comments section on any news website. It’s a cesspool of outrage and vitriol. And whose fault is that? Ours. We’re the ones who keep feeding the beast, who keep writing the stories that make people angry, that make them share, that make them click. It’s a vicious cycle, and I’m not sure how we break it.
But Here’s the Thing About Breaking News
About three months ago, I was having coffee with a colleague named Dave (let’s call him Dave, because his real name is none of your business). And he said something that really got under my skin. He said, “You know what the problem is? We’re all so busy chasing the next big story that we forget to actually report the news.” And I said, “Dave, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” But then I thought about it, and I realized he had a point.
We’re so focused on being first, on breaking the news, that we often forget to actually verify it. We forget to talk to the people affected, to dig deeper, to give context. We just want to be the first to shout “FIRE!” in a crowded theater. And the audience? They love it. They share it, they comment on it, they argue about it. It’s a never-ending cycle of nonsense.
And Don’t Even Get Me Started on Social Media
I swear, sometimes I think social media is the devil’s playground. It’s where news goes to die, to be twisted and mangled into something unrecognizable. I remember when I first started out, back in the day when we still used physical cameras and film (kids, ask your parents). We had time to report, to write, to edit. Now? Now we’re expected to tweet, to post, to share, all in the name of engagement. It’s exhausting.
But here’s the thing: it’s not all bad. Social media has given us a direct line to our audience. It’s allowed us to have conversations, to hear their feedback, to learn from them. It’s just that sometimes, we need to remember that not everything is about engagement. Sometimes, it’s okay to just report the news.
So What’s the Solution?
I wish I had a simple answer. I wish I could say, “Here’s what we do, and everything will be fixed.” But the truth is, I don’t know. I think it starts with us, with the journalists. We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place. We need to remember that our job is to inform, to educate, to hold power to account. Not to chase clicks, not to feed outrage, not to be first at all costs.
And as for the audience? Well, we need to remember that they’re not just numbers. They’re people, with real lives and real concerns. And sometimes, they just want the news. Not the drama, not the outrage, not the clickbait. Just the news.
But look, I’m not naive. I know that change won’t happen overnight. It’s gonna take time, it’s gonna take effort, it’s gonna take a lot of hard conversations. But I think it’s worth it. I think we owe it to ourselves, to our profession, and to our audience to try.
And hey, if you’re looking for a way to stay informed without all the drama, you might want to check out services like receive whatsapp sms without phone. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s a start.
Anyway, I’ve rambled enough. I’m gonna go find some actual news to report. Maybe.
About the Author: Sarah “Salty” Jenkins has been a journalist for what feels like a million years. She’s worked at everything from small-town papers to national broadsheets, and she’s seen it all. She’s currently the senior editor at London Headlines, where she tries (and often fails) to keep her team in line. When she’s not editing, she can be found drinking coffee, complaining about the state of the industry, or trying to explain to her kids why she’s always “working.”
For a deeper look into the challenges facing the industry today, consider exploring this detailed analysis of contemporary journalism struggles.
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