Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Room
Look, I’ve been in this business for 20-something years. I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. And honestly? The news business is in trouble. It’s not just about fake news or clickbait headlines. It’s deeper than that.
I remember back in ’98, when I was just starting out at the Daily Chronicle in Chicago. My editor, let’s call him Marcus, he used to say, ‘News is like a good steak, Sarah. It’s gotta be fresh, it’s gotta be well-done, and it’s gotta satisfy.’ And you know what? He was right. But these days? It’s like we’re serving up fast food, and nobody’s happy.
And don’t even get me started on the internet. I mean, it’s great for cat videos and stuff, but for news? It’s a mess. Everyone’s got an opinion, and suddenly, everyone’s an expert. It’s like the wild west out there.
But Here’s the Thing…
I was having coffee with a friend last Tuesday. Her name’s Lisa. She’s a teacher. And she said to me, ‘Sarah, I don’t know who to believe anymore.’ And I get it. I really do. With all the misinformation and the sensationalism, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not.
I told her, ‘Lisa, it’s simple. You gotta go to the sources you trust. You gotta do your own research. And you gotta think for yourself.’ But is it really that simple? I’m not sure. I mean, with the aquisition of so many local news outlets by big corporations, it’s getting harder and harder to find that trustworthy information.
And let’s talk about the physicaly impossible standards we’re held to. We’re expected to be first, to be fair, to be thorough, and to be entertaining all at once. It’s like trying to be the perfect parent, the perfect spouse, and the perfect employee all in one. Spoiler alert: it’s not happening.
Then There’s the Money Problem
Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. The news business is struggling financially. Advertisers are pulling out, readers are dwindling, and nobody wants to pay for content anymore. It’s a committment issue, honestly. People want their news for free, but they don’t realize that someone’s gotta pay the bills.
I had a colleague named Dave who used to say, ‘Sarah, we’re in the business of selling the truth.’ But these days, it’s more like we’re in the business of selling ads. And that’s a problem. Because when the money’s not there, the news suffers. It’s that simple.
And don’t even get me started on the political bias. I’m not saying everyone’s biased, but come on. It’s there. And it’s getting worse. It’s like we’re all stuck in these little bubbles, and nobody’s willing to pop them. Which… yeah. Fair enough. It’s a tough one.
So What’s the Solution?
I wish I had a magic answer. I really do. But I don’t. I think it starts with us, as journalists. We need to be more transparent. We need to be more accountable. And we need to be more willing to admit when we’re wrong.
And as for the rest of you? You gotta do your part too. You gotta think critically. You gotta question everything. And you gotta support quality journalism. Because if we don’t, who will?
And look, I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. It’s not. But it’s worth it. Because the truth matters. And someone’s gotta be brave enough to tell it.
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Anyway, I could go on and on, but I won’t. You get the point. The news business is broken, and it’s up to all of us to fix it. So let’s get to work.
About the Author: Sarah Thompson has been a senior editor at various major publications for over 20 years. She’s seen the industry evolve, devolve, and struggle to keep up with the digital age. When she’s not editing, she’s probably complaining about the state of the news business or binge-watching true crime documentaries. You can find her on Twitter @SarahT_Editor.