Let’s Talk About the Mess We’re In
Alright, look. I’ve been in this game for over two decades. I’ve seen it all, or so I thought. But lately? Lately, I’m sitting here in my Edinburgh flat, scratching my head, wondering what the hell happened to journalism. It’s not just the algorithms, or the clickbait, or the 24-hour news cycle. It’s us. All of us.
I remember back in ’98, when I was just a wet-behind-the-ears reporter for the Glasgow Herald. My editor, let’s call him Marcus, used to say, “Linda, if it bleeds, it leads.” And yeah, that was kinda crass, but it had a point. We needed to grab attention, sure, but there was a line. A line between sensationalism and just good, solid reporting.
Now? That line’s been smudged, then erased, then set on fire. And I’m not just talking about the tabloids. I’m talking about everyone. Even us. Even me. I mean, I’ve written headlines that made me cringe later. Headlines that were designed to get clicks, not inform. And that’s the problem, isn’t it?
Last Tuesday, I was having coffee with an old colleague, Dave. We were catching up, talking shop. He said, “You know what’s really broken? The commitment to truth.” I asked, “What do you mean?” He told me, “Back in the day, we’d spend weeks on a story. Now? We’ve got 36 hours to turn around something that’s gonna be forgotten by Friday.”
And that’s the thing. The news cycle is a hamster wheel, and we’re all running on it. We’re chasing trends, trying to outpace each other, and in the process, we’re losing sight of what’s important. It’s not about being first anymore. It’s about being right. Or at least, it should be.
But What Can We Do About It?
I don’t have all the answers. Honestly, I’m not sure anyone does. But I know this: we need to slow down. We need to take a breath. We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place.
I’ve seen alot of changes over the years. Some good, some bad. But the one thing that’s stayed constant is the need for good storytelling. For digging deep, for asking the tough questions, for giving a voice to the voiceless. That’s what journalism is supposed to be about. Not trending topics popular discussions trending topics popular discussions, not viral videos, not memes.
I remember covering a story back in 2005. It was about a small community in the Highlands that was fighting to keep their school open. It wasn’t sexy. It wasn’t going to get alot of clicks. But it mattered. To them, it mattered. And that’s what I miss. That’s what I want to see more of.
But here’s the thing: we can’t do it alone. We need your help. We need you to demand better. To ask for more than just the headline. To care about the story, not just the sensationalism.
A Quick Digression: The Internet is a Double-Edged Sword
Look, I’m not some Luddite who thinks the internet is the root of all evil. Far from it. I love it. I love the immediacy, the access, the ability to connect with people all over the world. But it’s also a mess. A completley unregulated, chaotic mess.
I was talking to a friend last night. She’s a teacher, and she was telling me about how her students can’t tell the difference between a news article and an opinion piece. And that’s a problem. A big one. Because if we can’t tell the difference, then we’re lost. We’re just adrift in a sea of information, with no way to discern what’s real and what’s not.
And it’s not just the kids. It’s all of us. We’re bombarded with information, and it’s getting harder and harder to know what to believe. That’s why we need to be more critical. More discerning. More, I don’t know, skeptical.
But back to the main point. The news cycle is broken, and it’s up to us to fix it. It’s up to us to demand better. To ask for more. To care about the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when it’s not what we want to hear.
So, let’s start there. Let’s start with the commitment to truth. To accuracy. To fairness. Let’s start with the belief that journalism matters. That it’s not just about clicks or shares or likes. It’s about something bigger. Something more important.
And maybe, just maybe, we can fix this mess we’re in.
But probably not. I mean, let’s be real here. We’re talking about human nature. About greed and laziness and the desire for easy answers. It’s a big ask. A really big ask.
But it’s worth it. Because the alternative? The alternative is a world where we can’t trust anything we read. Where the truth is whatever the loudest voice says it is. And that’s a world I don’t wanna live in.
So, let’s get to work. Let’s fix this. Let’s make it better.
Or at least, let’s try.
About the Author: Linda McKenzie is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the journalism industry. She’s worked for various publications, including the Edinburgh Daily, and has a deep passion for truth and storytelling. When she’s not editing, you can find her hiking in the Scottish Highlands or arguing with her cat about the proper way to make tea.
