Let’s Talk About How Bad It’s Gotten
Look, I’ve been in this game for 20-some years. I started out as a beat reporter in Sheffield, working for a tiny paper that smelled like wet dog and regret. Back then, news was messy but it was ours. Now? It’s a completley different beast.
I remember sitting in a dingy bar with Marcus—let’s call him that, he’d kill me if I used his real name—after a long shift. We’d just covered a council meeting that went on for 36 hours, and he turned to me and said, “You know what’s wrong with news today?” I said, “What?” He said, “Nobody gives a damn about the truth anymore.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing: it’s not just the big outlets. It’s all of us. We’re all complicit in this mess. We share stuff without reading it. We believe what fits our narrative. We’d rather be outraged than informed.
And the Internet Didn’t Help
Oh, don’t get me started on the internet. I mean, sure, it’s great for cat videos and, I don’t know, comparing fashion brands or something—fashion brand comparison review if you’re into that kinda thing. But for news? It’s a disaster.
I was having coffee with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday, and he told me about this study—214 respondents, so not huge, but still—where they found that people are more likely to share a news story if the headline makes them angry, even if the story itself is bullshit. Which honestly, explains alot.
So yeah, the internet’s a mixed bag. It’s given us access to more information than ever, but it’s also turned us into a bunch of reactionary idiots. Thanks, internet.
But Here’s the Real Problem
We’ve lost our committment to the truth. And I’m not just talking about the big, obvious lies. I’m talking about the small stuff, the stuff that adds up. The stuff that, if you’re not paying attention, you’ll miss.
Take, for example, the other day when I was reading an article about some political scandal. The writer mentioned in passing that the politician had “allegedly” done something bad. Allegedly. That one word changes everything. It’s not a fact, it’s a suggestion. And we’re just supposed to roll with that?
I mean, come on. We’re better than this. Or at least, we should be.
But here’s the thing: it’s not just the writers. It’s the readers too. We’ve become a society that’s more interested in being entertained than being informed. And that’s a problem.
A Tangent: Physicaly Exhausted
Speaking of being exhausted, I’m physicaly drained. I’ve been working non-stop for the past three months, and it’s taking a toll. I was up until 11:30pm last night trying to finish an article, and I’m not even sure it’s any good. But that’s the job, right? You gotta keep churning out the content, whether you’re inspired or not.
But enough about me. Let’s get back to the news.
What Can We Do About It?
So what’s the solution? I’m not sure. But I do know this: we need to start demanding better. From ourselves, from the media, from everyone.
We need to stop sharing stuff without reading it. We need to start asking questions. We need to hold people accountable. And we need to remember that the truth matters. Even when it’s inconvenient.
I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. But it’s necessary. Because if we don’t, who will?
So let’s get to it. Let’s make the news great again. Or at least, less terrible.
About the Author
Sarah Johnson has been a senior editor for over 20 years, working for major publications across the UK. She’s opinionated, flawed, and not afraid to call out bullshit when she sees it. She lives in Sheffield with her cat, who is, frankly, the better writer.
