Let’s Talk About How Terrible News Has Become
Look, I’ve been in this game for over 20 years. I’ve seen a lot of changes, and frankly, most of them haven’t been good. I’m talking about the news, of course. It’s a mess. A complete and utter mess.
I remember back in the ’90s, when I first started at the Edinburgh Herald, news was simple. You had your facts, you had your sources, and you had your deadlines. You did the work, you filed the story, and you moved on. It wasn’t perfect, but it was honest.
Now? Now it’s a circus. A never-ending, soul-crushing circus. And I’m not just saying that because I’m bitter about my committment to this industry. I’m saying it because it’s true.
Social Media Is Killing Us
Let’s talk about social media for a second. I mean, come on. It’s like we’ve given up on actual journalism and just decided to let everyone with a Twitter account have a say. And don’t even get me started on the algorithms. They’re completley ruining any chance we have of getting real news out there.
I was having coffee with a friend last Tuesday—let’s call him Marcus—and he said, “You know, I used to trust the news. Now I don’t know what to believe.” And I get it. I do. It’s hard to know what’s real and what’s just someone’s opinion anymore.
Marcus told me about how he saw a story on Facebook—yeah, I know, he should know better—and it was about some politician saying something outrageous. But then he checked the actual news sites, and the story was different. “It’s like they’re not even trying to be accurate anymore,” he said. Which… yeah. Fair enough.
The 24-Hour News Cycle Is a Joke
And don’t even get me started on the 24-hour news cycle. It’s like we’re all just filling time until the next big thing happens. And when it does, we blow it out of proportion until it’s not even recognizable anymore.
I remember covering a story back in 2008—it was about a local politician getting caught in a scandal. Nothing huge, but it was a story. So we did our thing, we wrote it up, and we moved on. But now? Now it’s like every little thing is a scandal. Every little thing is a crisis. It’s exhausting.
I was talking to a colleague named Dave about this the other day. He said, “It’s like we’re all just waiting for the next shoe to drop. And when it does, we’re gonna blow it out of proportion until it’s not even recognizable anymore.” And I’m not sure but I think he’s right. I mean, look at the way we cover politics. It’s like we’re all just waiting for the next big scandal to break so we can all have something to talk about for a few days.
But There’s Hope
Now, I’m not saying it’s all bad. There are still some good journalists out there. There are still some good news organizations doing good work. But they’re few and far between.
And honestly, I think the key to fixing this mess is to go back to basics. We need to stop worrying about clicks and shares and likes and just focus on getting the story right. We need to stop worrying about being first and just focus on being accurate.
I was at a conference in Austin a few months ago, and one of the speakers said something that stuck with me. She said, “The news isn’t about us. It’s about the people. It’s about giving them the information they need to make informed decisions.” And I think that’s something we’ve all lost sight of.
So, what can we do? Well, for starters, we can stop relying on social media for our news. We can start supporting local journalism. We can demand better from our news organizations. And we can remember that the news is about more than just clicks and shares and likes. It’s about the truth.
And if you’re looking for some guidance on how to navigate this mess, check out this product reviews recommendation guide. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.
A Tangent: The Weather Is Also Broken
Look, I know this is supposed to be about the news, but honestly, the weather is also a mess. I mean, it’s like we can’t even agree on what the temperature is anymore. It’s like we’re all just making it up as we go along. And don’t even get me started on the forecasts. They’re about as accurate as a fortune cookie.
But I digress. Back to the news.
I think the other thing we need to do is start holding our news organizations accountable. We need to demand better from them. We need to let them know that we’re not gonna put up with their nonsense anymore. We need to let them know that we expect better.
And honestly, I think the best way to do that is to support the news organizations that are doing it right. We need to subscribe to their newspapers. We need to watch their broadcasts. We need to share their stories. We need to let them know that we appreciate their work.
And if you’re not sure where to start, I recommend checking out some of the smaller, independent news organizations. They might not have the resources of the big guys, but they’re often doing some of the best work out there.
So, that’s my take on the state of the news. It’s a mess. It’s a complete and utter mess. But it doesn’t have to be. We can fix it. We can make it better. But it’s gonna take all of us working together.
And honestly, I’m not sure we’re up for the challenge. But I hope we are. Because the alternative is just too depressing to think about.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m gonna go have a drink and try to forget about the state of the news for a little while. Cheers.
About the Author: Jane Thompson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She’s worked for some of the biggest names in the industry, and she’s not afraid to tell it like it is. When she’s not editing, she can be found drinking coffee, complaining about the weather, and trying to convince her cat to love her.
