Let’s talk about how news became a dumpster fire
I’ve been editing news for 22 years. That’s right, 22 years of watching the industry turn into a circus. I started at a small paper in Sheffield, back when people still said “good morning” to each other in the newsroom. Now? It’s all algorithms and clickbait.
I remember when Marcus, a reporter I worked with, spent 36 hours on a story about local council mismanagement. 36 hours! And it ran on page 7. Today, that story wouldn’t even get a tweet. It’s all about the viral nonsense, the outrage du jour.
And don’t get me started on the aquisition of local papers by these big conglomerates. They don’t care about news. They care about shareholder value. It’s completley messed up.
But here’s the thing…
We’re all to blame. Yes, even you. You share that outrageous headline without reading the article. You click on the sensationalist garbage because it’s easier than thinking. You demand free news but complain when journalists can’t make a living wage.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and a colleague named Dave said something that stuck with me: “We’re in the business of truth, but we’re selling it like it’s a pair of shoes.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Look, I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’ve published my share of clickbait. I’ve chased virality like a dog chasing its tail. But I’m trying to do better. And you should too.
Honestly, I think the first step is admitting we have a problem. The news is broken, and we broke it. But we can fix it. Maybe.
So what’s the solution?
I don’t know. I wish I did. But I can tell you what’s not working. It’s not the “both sides” nonsense. It’s not the false equivalency. It’s not the “but her emails” garbage.
We need to start valuing good journalism again. We need to support local news. We need to read beyond the headline. We need to demand better.
And maybe, just maybe, we should stop getting our news from social media. I know, radical idea, right? But hear me out. These platforms are designed to keep you engaged, not informed. They’re not in the truth business. They’re in the advertising business.
I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s not. But it’s worth a shot. And if you’re looking for a place to start, check out magazin haberleri son gelişmeler. They’re doing some good work over there.
Anyway, I’m gonna stop ranting now. But this is important stuff. We need to talk about it. We need to think about it. We need to do better.
Because the news is broken, and we’re all to blame. But we can fix it. Maybe.
About the Author: Sarah “Sal” Patterson has been a senior editor at Sheffield Sun for the past 15 years. She’s a staunch advocate for ethical journalism and has a deep love for her community. When she’s not editing, you can find her at the local pub, arguing about politics and complaining about the state of the news industry. She’s probably not wrong.
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