Let’s Talk About the Mess We’re In
I’ve been a journalist for 22 years. Yeah, I know, I look like I’m 30. Thanks, good genes. But let’s not get off track. The news is a disaster. And I’m not talking about the depressing headlines. I’m talking about the industry itself.
It started small. Little things. Like when I was at that conference in Austin back in 2015. Remember when conferences were a thing? Good times. Anyway, there was this guy, let’s call him Marcus. He was from some digital media outfit. Told me straight up, “Look, print is dead. Get with the program.” I kinda laughed it off. Ha. Ha. Ha. Famous last words.
But First, a Tangent
You ever notice how everyone’s always talking about “the algorithm” like it’s some mystical force? It’s not. It’s just math. Dumb math. And it’s ruining everything. I was at this bar last Tuesday, right? Over coffee at the place on 5th. And this woman, let’s say her name’s Linda, she’s telling me about how her nephew can’t focus for more than 30 seconds. “It’s all those damn videos,” she says. “He’s got the attention span of a goldfish.” And I’m thinking, yeah, no kidding. That’s what happens when you feed kids a diet of 15-second clips.
But I digress. The point is, the news isn’t helping. We’re all just churning out content. Content! Not news. Not stories. Content. It’s all about the clicks. The engagement. The bottom line.
Here’s What’s Really Grinding My Gears
I had this colleague, Dave. Nice guy. Smart. Wrote a great piece about local schools needing more funding. Took him weeks. Interviews, research, the whole nine yards. You know how many people read it? 87. 87! And the editor’s like, “Dave, we need more stuff like that Facebook post that got 214 likes.” I mean, come on. That’s not journalism. That’s a popularity contest.
And don’t even get me started on the comments section. I swear, it’s like the internet’s sewer. I remember this one time, I wrote a piece about the new bypass. Harmless stuff, right? But oh no. Some guy named “EdinburghLad69” had to chime in with “This is why we need Brexit.” I’m like, dude, it’s a road. A road.
But Wait, There’s Hope
Okay, okay. It’s not all doom and gloom. There are still good people out there doing good work. Like my friend Sarah. She’s over at the Edinburgh Daily, actually. She’s been pushing for more in-depth reporting. Real journalism. The kind that takes time and effort. And you know what? People are reading it. Not alot, but enough. It’s a start.
And look, I get it. The industry’s changing. We gotta adapt. But there’s a difference between adapting and selling out. We can’t just throw in the towel and start churning out listicles about “10 Celebrities Who Love Their Coffee” (which honestly nobody asked for but here we are).
So what’s the solution? I’m not sure but maybe we start by admitting we have a problem. And maybe, just maybe, we stop calling everything “content.” It’s not content. It’s news. It’s stories. It’s people’s lives. Treat it that way.
And hey, if you’re looking for some actual useful info, check out this home buying guide first time. It’s not news, but it’s honest. And in this day and age, that’s a start.
Author Bio: I’m Claire McAllister, senior editor with a chip on my shoulder and a love for good journalism. I’ve been around the block a few times and I’m not afraid to say what I think. Follow me @ClaireMcAllister on Twitter if you dare.
