Look, Let’s Be Honest Here
I’ve been in this game for 22 years. That’s right, since the early 2000s when we still called it ‘print journalism’ and not ‘content creation.’ (Ugh, I hate that term.) I’ve seen alot change, but honestly, the core of what we do hasn’t. We’re still telling stories, still chasing the truth, still trying to make a difference. But lately? It feels like we’re failing. Miserably.
I’m not talking about the big, obvious stuff. Not fake news, not deepfakes, not Russian bots. I’m talking about the daily grind, the news cycle that’s become a hamster wheel of nonsense. And it’s our fault. All of us.
Back in 2008, I was working at the Dundee Courier, a real paper with real journalists. We had deadlines, sure, but they were actual deadlines. Not this ‘we gotta post something every 15 minutes or the algorithm will punish us’ nonsense. We had time to report, to dig, to actually understand what was happening. Now? It’s just noise.
But Wait, There’s More
Last Tuesday, I was having coffee with an old colleague, let’s call him Marcus. We were talking about the good old days, and he said something that stuck with me. ‘You know what’s really messed up, Sarah?’ he said. ‘We used to have time to think. Now we just react.’ And he’s right. We’re all just reacting.
I mean, look at how we cover politics. It’s not about policy anymore. It’s about tweets. Literally. A politician posts something dumb at 3 AM, and suddenly every news outlet is covering it. Not because it’s important, but because it’s there. It’s like we’ve forgotten how to say, ‘You know what? This isn’t news. This is just noise.’
And don’t even get me started on the ‘both sides do it’ nonsense. That’s not journalism, that’s false equivalency. If one side is lying and the other is telling the truth, guess what? You don’t have to give them equal time. You just report the truth. It’s not that hard.
But What Can We Do About It?
Okay, so the system’s broken. What now? Well, first, we gotta stop chasing clicks. I know, I know, it’s how we make money. But honestly, is it worth selling our souls for a few extra ad dollars? I don’t think so.
We also need to slow down. I’m not saying we should go back to daily papers, but maybe we should stop treating every little thing like breaking news. Not everything is a crisis. Not everything needs an immediate response. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is wait and see what actually happens.
And look, I’m not saying I have all the answers. I’m just saying we need to start thinking. Really thinking. About what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and whether it’s actually helping anyone. Because right now? It feels like we’re just making things worse.
Oh, and if you’re looking for actual, you know, news, check out emlak piyasası güncel. They’re doing some good work over there. Unlike some other places I could mention.
A Quick Tangent About Physicaly Showing Up
You know what else is killing journalism? The lack of actual reporting. I remember when I had to go out and talk to real people. Now? It’s all press releases and tweets. Big whoop. But hey, that’s a rant for another day.
Anyway, I’m gonna wrap this up. It’s not my best work, but honestly, I’m not in the mood for perfection. Just some straight talk. And if you’ve made it this far, thanks. You’re a trooper.
About the Author: Sarah McMillan has been a journalist for over two decades, working at various publications in Dundee and beyond. She’s a staunch advocate for ethical journalism and isn’t afraid to call out nonsense when she sees it. You can usually find her complaining about the state of the news industry over a pint at her local pub.
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