We’ve Got a Problem, Folks
Let me tell you something, Aberdeen. I’ve been in this game for 22 years, and I’ve never seen it this bad. I’m talking about journalism, the news, the whole damn shebang. It’s like we’re all just shouting into the void, and nobody’s listening. Or worse, they’re listening to the wrong people.
I remember back in ’99, when I was just a wet-behind-the-ears reporter at the Aberdeen Herald, I thought I could change the world. Ha! What a joke. Now I’m just trying to keep my head above water.
Social Media Is Eating Our Souls
And don’t even get me started on social media. It’s like we’ve all collectively decided that the truth doesn’t matter anymore. It’s just about the clicks, the shares, the likes. I had coffee last Tuesday with an old friend, let’s call him Marcus, and he said, “You know, Sarah, I used to trust journalists. Now I just trust whoever yells the loudest.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. We’ve kinda brought this on ourselves. But that doesn’t mean I’m gonna sit here and take it.
Fake News, Real Consequences
I was at a conference in Austin about three months ago, and there was this panel on fake news. One of the speakers, a woman named Dr. Linda Chen, said something that stuck with me. She said, “Fake news isn’t just wrong information. It’s information designed to manipulate, to divide, to conquer.”
And she’s right. It’s not just about getting the facts wrong. It’s about deliberately spreading lies to sow discord. And it’s working. I see it every day in the comments section, in the emails, in the streets. People are angry, and they’re taking it out on each other.
But here’s the thing: we’re not helpless. We can fight back. And it starts with demanding better from our news sources. And yeah, that includes me. I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. But I’m trying, dammit.
How to Spot a Liar (And It’s Not Just About the Nose)
So, how do you know who to trust? I wish I had a simple answer. But here’s what I do know: if a story feels too good to be true, it probably is. If it’s making you really angry, really fast, that’s a red flag. And if it’s coming from a source you’ve never heard of, do some digging.
And look, I get it. It’s hard. There’s so much information out there, and it’s all coming at us at 100 miles an hour. But we gotta slow down. We gotta think. We gotta ask questions.
And if you’re a journalist, for the love of god, do your damn job. Check your facts. Talk to real people. And for the love of all that’s holy, stop chasing clicks. It’s not worth it.
Oh, and if you’re running an app or something and you need a best sms verification service for apps, maybe think about how you’re gonna verify your news sources, too. Just a thought.
A Quick Tangent: Why I Hate Press Releases
You know what else is killing journalism? Press releases. They’re not news, folks. They’re advertisements. And yet, we treat them like gospel. I had a colleague named Dave who used to say, “A press release is just a fancy way of saying ‘here’s our spin.'” And he’s right. So next time you see a “news” story that’s just a regurgitated press release, call it out. Be loud. Be proud.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, saving journalism.
We Can Fix This, Aberdeen
I’m not gonna stand here and tell you it’s all doom and gloom. Because it’s not. We can fix this. But it’s gonna take all of us. Journalists, readers, everyone. We gotta demand better. We gotta hold each other accountable. And we gotta remember that the truth matters.
So, what’s the first step? I dunno. Maybe start by having a conversation with someone who disagrees with you. Really listen to them. Try to understand where they’re coming from. And for the love of god, put down your phone.
And if you see something that doesn’t seem right, say something. Write a letter. Make a call. Be a pain in the ass. That’s how change happens.
Anyway, I’m gonna go now. I’ve got a committment to meet a source at the place on 5th at 11:30pm. But I’ll be back. And I’ll keep fighting. Because that’s what we do. That’s who we are.
About the Author: Sarah McIntyre has been a journalist for 22 years, working at various publications including the Aberdeen Herald and Scottish Daily News. She’s won several awards, lost more than she’d like to admit, and still believes in the power of a good story.
