Let’s talk about how news has gone to the dogs
Look, I’ve been in this game for 22 years. I started at a tiny paper in Aberdeen, back when people still cared about local news. I remember when we actually had time to fact-check things. Now? It’s just a mess.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this kid from BuzzFeed asked me, “Don’t you think the 24-hour news cycle has democratized information?” I laughed so hard I choked on my coffee. (Which, by the way, was the worst coffee I’ve ever had. But I digress.)
Democratized? More like dumbed down. We used to have editors. Now we have algorithms. And don’t even get me started on the committment to accuracy.
Social media is eating our lunch
I had lunch with an old friend, let’s call him Marcus, last Tuesday. He’s a reporter at the BBC. We were talking about how social media has completley changed the game. He said, “The news isn’t about informing anymore. It’s about engaging.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But at what cost?
I mean, look at the physicaly impossible standards we’re held to now. A story breaks, and suddenly everyone’s expecting instant analysis. It’s not healthy. It’s not sustainable. And honestly, it’s not even good journalism.
I remember when we had time to dig into stories. Now, it’s just… react, react, react. No time to think. No time to verify. Just throw it out there and see what sticks.
But here’s the thing about breaking news
I was talking to a colleague named Dave the other day. He’s one of the good ones, still believes in the mission. He said, “Breaking news is like a drug. It’s addictive. And we’re all junkies.”
And he’s right. We can’t stop. Even when we know it’s bad for us. Even when we know it’s making us worse at our jobs. We can’t stop.
I think about this alot. About three months ago, I was at a panel discussion, and someone asked, “How do we fix this?” And I said, “I don’t know. But I know it starts with us.” With us taking a step back. With us remembering why we got into this business in the first place.
But then I look at the ammendments to the editorial guidelines, and I think, “Yeah, good luck with that.”
And don’t even get me started on local news
I was in Vermont last week, and I was trying to find out about Vermont local events this week. And it was a nightmare. The local paper’s website was a mess. No clear information, no real reporting. Just a bunch of press releases and rehashed wire stories.
It’s not just Vermont, though. It’s everywhere. Local news is dying. And when it dies, something important dies with it. The thing that connects us. The thing that makes us a community.
I don’t know how to fix it. I really don’t. But I know it’s a problem. And I know we’re not talking about it enough.
A quick tangent about something that’s actually working
So, I was at this little café on 5th, right? And I was talking to the owner, let’s call him Greg. He’s got this little newsletter he sends out to his regulars. Just a few paragraphs about what’s going on in the neighborhood. And it’s great. It’s simple. It’s local. It’s honest.
And it made me think, maybe that’s the answer. Maybe we need to stop trying to be everything to everyone. Maybe we need to just focus on the basics. On the stuff that matters to the people right here, right now.
But then I remember the pressure to go viral. To get clicks. To engage. And I think, “Yeah, good luck with that, Greg.”
So where do we go from here?
I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t. I think we need to start by admitting we have a problem. By admitting that the way we’re doing things now isn’t working. That it’s not making us better. That it’s not making our audiences smarter.
I think we need to start by remembering why we got into this business in the first place. By remembering that our job is to inform, not to entertain. To challenge, not to pander.
But mostly, I think we need to start by being honest. With ourselves. With our audiences. With each other.
And maybe, just maybe, we can start to fix this mess we’ve made.
But I’m not holding my breath.
About the Author: Jane Doe has been a senior editor for over 20 years. She’s worked at some of the biggest names in news, and she’s seen it all. She’s also probably had one too many coffees today. You can find her on Twitter @janedoe or not, she’s not that active.
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