The News Is Broken, and We're All to Blame

Let's Talk About the Mess We're In

I've been editing news for over 20 years. 20 years! And let me tell you, the state of journalism right now? It's a disaster. I'm not talking about the big, obvious stuff—fake news, clickbait, all that. I'm talking about the small, everyday ways we're failing each other.

Take last Tuesday, for example. I was at a conference in Austin, sitting in the back, listening to some hotshot reporter talk about how they 'broke' a story. And I'm thinking, 'Broke it? You mean you tweeted it before anyone else, right?'

Look, I get it. The pressure's on. Ads don't pay the bills anymore. So, what do we do? We chase clicks. We sensationalize. We turn everything into a scandal. And the audience? They eat it up. Because, honestly, we've trained them to.

But Here's the Thing

I was having coffee with a colleague named Dave last month. Dave's a good guy, been in the biz for 15 years. He says to me, 'You know what the real problem is? Nobody cares about the truth anymore.' And I'm like, 'Yeah, Dave. Nobody cares because we stopped making them care.'

We've become so focused on being first that we've forgotten how to be right. And that's a big, fat problem. Because when we get it wrong, people die. Literally. Remember the whole 'Pizzagate' debacle? Some idiot took a gun into a pizzeria because he believed a story that was completley made up. And who's fault is that? Ours.

But here's the kicker: we're not alone in this mess. The audience? They're part of the problem too. They share stuff without reading it. They believe whatever fits their narrative. And they demand instant gratification. So, what do we do? We give them what they want. And round and round we go.

So, What's the Solution?

I don't know, honestly. I mean, I have ideas. But I'm just one person. And frankly, the industry's too big, too entrenched, to change overnight. But here's what I do know: we need to start somewhere.

First, we need to slow down. Speed kills, people. Literally. We need to take the time to verify our sources, check our facts, and think about the implications of what we're reporting. And if that means we're not the first to break the news? So be it.

Second, we need to educate our audience. Teach them how to think critically, how to spot bullshit, and how to hold us accountable. Because, let's face it, we're not always going to get it right. And when we don't, they need to call us out on it.

Third, we need to diversify our revenue streams. Ads are a losing game. We need to find other ways to fund our work. Maybe it's subscriptions, maybe it's Patreon, maybe it's something else entirely. But we can't keep relying on a model that's broken.

And finally, we need to remember why we got into this business in the first place. We're not in it for the fame or the glory. We're in it to inform, to educate, and to hold the powerful accountable. And if we lose sight of that, then we've already failed.

A Quick Digression: The Tech Problem

Speaking of failures, let's talk about tech for a second. I was talking to a friend last night—let's call him Marcus—about how tech companies are making our jobs harder. He says, 'You know what the real issue is? These platforms are designed to keep people engaged, not informed.' And he's right. Algorithms prioritize engagement over accuracy. And that's a big problem.

But here's the thing: we can't blame them entirely. We're the ones creating the content they're promoting. So, if we want change, we need to start with ourselves. And that means being better stewards of the truth.

Oh, and while we're on the topic of tech, let me just say this: if you're gonna use a temporary number for telegram verification, at least have the decency to admit it. Honestly, the lack of transparency in some of these platforms is downright physicaly exhausting.

Back to the Main Point

So, where do we go from here? I'm not sure. But I know one thing: we can't keep doing what we're doing. Because the news is broken, and we're all to blame. And if we don't fix it, who will?

I'm gonna wrap this up now. I could go on for hours, but frankly, I'm tired. And I think you get the point. The news is a mess. We're all part of the problem. And if we want to fix it, we need to start with ourselves.

Author Bio: Sarah Thompson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She's worked for major publications across the UK, covering everything from politics to pop culture. When she's not editing, you can find her yelling at her TV about the state of the news or trying to teach her cat how to fetch.