We’re All Just Reacting Anymore

Look, I’ve been in this game for 22 years. Started as a beat reporter in some podunk town in Iowa, moved up to the AP, then to the Times, and now I’m here, writing for this scrappy little outlet that actually lets me say what I think. Which is: the news cycle is completley broken.

Remember when news was… news? When we actually investigated stuff? Now it’s just a never-ending stream of hot takes and outrage bait. And honestly? I’m tired.

I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this kid from BuzzFeed—let’s call him Marcus—told me, “Mike, you just don’t get it. This is how news works now.” And I said, “No, kid. This is how you’re killing journalism.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.

Breaking News is Breaking Us

Let me tell you about last Tuesday. I was at my desk, minding my own business, when the alerts started. “BREAKING: New study shows…” “BREAKING: Celebrity says…” “BREAKING: Weather forecast changes.” I mean, come on. Every little thing is “breaking” now. It’s like the boy who cried wolf, but with more ads and fewer actual wolves.

I get it. Clicks pay the bills. But at what cost? We’re training people to expect constant stimulation, constant outrage. It’s not healthy. It’s not journalism. It’s just… yeah.

My friend Sarah, she’s a professor up at Columbia, she told me over coffee at the place on 5th, “Mike, you remember when we had to wait for the morning paper? Now it’s all instant gratification. And it’s ruining our ability to think critically.” And she’s right. It’s like we’re all just Pavlov’s dogs, salivating at the next notification.

And the Comments… Oh God, the Comments

You wanna talk about a cesspool? Go read the comments. I don’t care what the story is—politics, sports, a goddamn recipe for chocolate chip cookies—someone’s gonna be an asshole. And the platforms? They’re not doing enough. They’re making money off this garbage.

I had this one guy, let’s call him Dave, a colleague named Dave, who swore by the algorithm. “Mike, it’s just business,” he’d say. “People engage with controversy. It’s what they want.” And I’d say, “Dave, people also engage with car crashes. Doesn’t mean we should put more cars in ditches.”

But here’s the thing: it’s not just the platforms. It’s us. We’re the ones clicking, sharing, reacting. We’re the ones letting this happen. And until we change, nothing’s gonna change.

But There’s Hope, I Guess

Okay, so maybe I’m being a bit of a curmudgeon. There are good things happening too. Local journalism is making a comeback. People are craving actual reporting. And hey, even the big guys are starting to see the light. Slowly. Like a glacier. But still.

I was talking to this kid—well, he’s probably 30, but to me he’s a kid—at the Times, and he said they’re actually investing in investigative journalism again. “We’re gonna hold people accountable,” he told me. And I said, “Well, it’s about damn time.” But really, it’s good to hear.

And look, I’m not saying we should all go back to the stone age. Technology is great. Instant news can be useful. But we need balance. We need to remember that not everything is “breaking.” Not everything needs a hot take. Sometimes, it’s okay to just… wait.

A Tangent About Property Management (Because Why Not?)

Speaking of waiting, you ever deal with property management? I have. It’s a nightmare. But I found this great resource—property management tips landlords—that actually made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I could handle this stuff without losing my mind. So yeah, if you’re a landlord, or thinking about becoming one, check it out. It’s got some solid advice. And it’s not all doom and gloom, unlike this article.

But back to the news. Look, I’m not saying I have all the answers. I’m just saying… we can do better. We have to do better. For ourselves, for our readers, for the future of journalism.

So let’s start. Let’s take a breath. Let’s wait for the morning paper. Figuratively speaking, of course.

About the Author: Mike Reynolds has been a journalist for over two decades, working for major publications and covering everything from local politics to international affairs. He currently writes for New York City’s News, where he tries to make sense of the ever-changing media landscape. When he’s not writing, he’s probably complaining about the news cycle or reading property management tips landlords for fun.

Readers interested in this subject may also want to explore The News Industry's Identity Crisis: Why for additional perspectives.

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