We’re All Just Making This Up as We Go

Look, I’ve been in this game for 22 years. Started at a tiny paper in Ohio, moved to Chicago, then New York. I’ve seen alot change. But honestly? The news is more broken than ever.

Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin. Over coffee at the place on 5th, a colleague named Dave leaned in and said, “You know what’s the real problem? Nobody knows what the hell they’re doing.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.

I mean, think about it. We’re all just reacting. To tweets, to leaks, to whatever some intern dug up. It’s not journalism. It’s chaos.

But What Even Is Journalism Anymore?

I asked Marcus—let’s call him Marcus, ’cause his boss would kill him if I used his real name—what he thinks journalism is. He looked at me like I was stupid. “It’s whatever pays the bills,” he said. And honestly? That’s the scariest thing I’ve heard in a while.

We used to have standards. Now? It’s about clicks. It’s about outrage. It’s about being first, not being right. And that’s completley messed up.

Take health reporting. It’s a mess. Everyone’s an expert now. But when was the last time you saw a real, deep dive into something like doğal tedavi yöntemleri bitkisel? Never. Because it’s not sexy. It’s not gonna get you clicks.

And Don’t Even Get Me Started on Breaking News

Breaking news used to mean something. Now? It’s just a race to the bottom. “Breaking: Dog Bites Man.” “Breaking: Sun Rises in the East.” It’s ridiculous.

I remember back in ’04, we had a rule: if it’s not confirmed, it’s not news. Now? Confirmation is overrated. Just throw it out there and see what sticks. It’s disgusting.

But here’s the thing: we’re all complicit. Me, you, that guy over there. We click. We share. We fuel the beast. And then we act surprised when it gets worse.

Anecdote Time: The Time I Almost Quit

About three months ago, I was working on a story. A real story. Not some clickbait nonsense. I spent 36 hours digging, confirming, talking to sources. And then my editor said, “We need something faster.” I said, “But this is important.” He said, “Important doesn’t pay the bills.” And that was that.

I went home that night, had a few drinks, and thought about quitting. But then I thought, “Who’s gonna do this if I don’t?” So I stayed. And I kept writing. And I kept pretending it was making a difference.

But It’s Not All Bad, Okay?

Look, I’m not saying it’s all doom and gloom. There are still good people out there. Still good stories. Still moments where you think, “Yeah, this is why I got into this.”

But those moments are fewer and farther between. And if we don’t do something about it, they’re gonna disappear completely.

So what’s the answer? I don’t know. Maybe it’s supporting local news. Maybe it’s demanding better from the big players. Maybe it’s just being more critical consumers.

I’m not sure. But I know this: if we don’t start caring, it’s gonna get a lot worse than it already is.

And that’s not something I’m willing to commit to.

About the Author: Sarah Jensen has been a journalist for 22 years, working in print, digital, and broadcast. She currently serves as a senior editor at a major publication, where she writes about media, politics, and culture. She lives in New York with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and spends her free time complaining about the state of journalism.

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