Look, I’ve Had It
I’m Sarah Mitchell, and I’ve been in this game for over 20 years. I’ve seen a lot of changes, but honestly, the news cycle right now? It’s completley bonkers. And I’m not sure we’re all gonna make it out alive.
Let me set the scene. It’s 11:30pm, and I’m sitting in my kitchen in Aberdeen, scrolling through my phone. I see a headline: “Breaking: Local Politician Caught in Scandal.” I click. And then… nothing. No details. Just “More to come.” Which, honestly, is just frustrating.
We’re All Addicted to the Chase
I remember back in the day, when I was a young reporter in Glasgow, working for a small paper. We’d chase stories, but we’d wait until we had something solid before we printed. Now? It’s all about being first. Accuracy be damned.
I was talking to a colleague named Dave about this the other day. He said, “Sarah, it’s like we’re all just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.” And I said, “Dave, that’s the most accurate metaphor I’ve heard in years.” Because it’s true. We’re so desperate to get clicks, to get views, that we’ll print anything.
And the public? They’re complicit. They want the latest, the fastest, the juiciest. They don’t care if it’s accurate, if it’s fair, if it’s true. They just want it now.
A Tale of Two Headlines
Last Tuesday, I saw two headlines that just about summed it all up. The first was from a reputable news site: “Local Business Struggles Amid Economic Downturn.” The second was from a tabloid: “SHOCK: Aberdeen Business on Brink of Collapse!”
Now, I know which one got more clicks. But which one was more accurate? Which one was more fair? Which one was more… human?
I called up Marcus, the owner of the business in question. He’s a friend of mine, and I’ve known him since we were in school together. I asked him what he thought about the headlines. He said, “Sarah, I’m just trying to keep my head above water here. I don’t need the press making things worse.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But Here’s the Thing…
It’s not all doom and gloom. There are still good journalists out there, doing good work. I see it every day. And there are still people who care about accuracy, about fairness, about the truth.
But we need to do better. We need to slow down. We need to think. We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place.
And look, I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve printed things I shouldn’t have. I’ve chased clicks instead of the truth. But I’m trying to do better. And I think we all should be.
Oh, and One More Thing…
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Anyway, I’m gonna go have a drink. It’s been one of those days.
Sarah Mitchell is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the news industry. She’s worked for major publications across the UK and has a soft spot for Aberdeen, where she currently resides. She’s opinionated, she’s flawed, and she’s not afraid to say what she thinks. You can find her on most nights at the pub on Union Street, complaining about the state of the news cycle.
To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing today’s media landscape, consider exploring this insightful analysis on why the news is failing us and the shared responsibility involved.
