I’ve Had It Up to Here with Breaking News

Look, I’ve been in this game for over 20 years. I started out as a wet-behind-the-ears reporter for the Dundee Gazette back in 1998. I’ve seen a lot of changes, but honestly, the way we consume news these days? It’s completley bonkers.

I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this guy—let’s call him Marcus—stood up and said, ‘The news cycle is like a dog chasing its tail.’ And I was like, ‘Marcus, my friend, you’re not wrong.’

We’re all so busy chasing that next breaking news update today that we forget to actually, you know, report news. It’s like we’re all caught in this never-ending hamster wheel of clickbait and sensationalism.

My Friend Sarah’s Theory

My friend Sarah—she’s a journalist over at the Dundee Courier—she has this theory. She says, ‘The internet made us impatient. We want everything now, and news outlets are just feeding into that.’

I mean, she’s not wrong. Remember when we used to wait for the morning paper? Now, if something doesn’t pop up on my phone within 36 seconds, I’m already annoyed. It’s like we’ve trained ourselves to expect instant gratification, and news outlets are just scrambling to keep up.

But here’s the thing—speed isn’t everything. Accuracy matters. And in our rush to be first, we’re often wrong. And that’s a problem.

That Time I Got It Wrong

I’m not saying I’m perfect. Far from it. Back in 2005, I was working for the Dundee Herald, and we got a tip about a big story. I was so eager to break the news that I didn’t double-check my sources. Turns out, the story was a complete fabrication. I was physicaly sick with embarrassment.

But that’s the thing—we’re all human. We all make mistakes. The difference is, some of us learn from them, and some of us just keep making the same ones over and over again.

And that’s what’s happening with the news cycle right now. We’re making the same mistakes, over and over again, and nobody’s learning from them. It’s like we’re stuck in this groundhog day of bad journalism.

Anecdotes and Rants

I was having coffee with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday. He said, ‘You know what the problem is? Nobody reads past the headline anymore.’ And I said, ‘Dave, my friend, you’re preaching to the choir.’

It’s true. We’ve all become headline skimmers. We read the first line, decide if we care, and then move on. And news outlets know this. They know that if they can get us to click, they’ve won. And so they’re all trying to outdo each other with more and more sensational headlines.

But here’s the thing—sensationalism doesn’t equal good journalism. In fact, it’s often the opposite. And yet, we’re all guilty of it. We’re all trying to get that next big story, that next big click, and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

And that’s where we’re going wrong. We’re so focused on the committment to our audience that we’re forgetting our committment to the truth.

I mean, look at the way we cover politics. It’s like we’re all just waiting for the next scandal, the next gaffe, the next thing we can turn into a viral moment. And in the process, we’re losing sight of the bigger picture. We’re losing sight of the fact that politics is about more than just soundbites and scandals. It’s about policy. It’s about people. It’s about the future of our country.

Social Media and the News

And don’t even get me started on social media. I mean, I love a good tweet as much as the next person. But the way we’re using social media to spread news? It’s a disaster.

We’re all so quick to share, to retweet, to like, that we’re not taking the time to fact-check. We’re not taking the time to think. We’re just reacting. And in the process, we’re spreading misinformation like wildfire.

I remember about three months ago, I saw this story on my feed. It was about some celebrity who had supposedly died. And I was like, ‘Oh my god, that’s terrible.’ And I shared it. And then, 10 minutes later, I saw another story saying that the celebrity was actually alive and well. And I was like, ‘Oh my god, I’m an idiot.’

But here’s the thing—it’s not just me. It’s all of us. We’re all guilty of this. We’re all guilty of sharing things without thinking, without fact-checking, without taking the time to make sure it’s true.

And that’s a problem. Because the more we do this, the more we’re contributing to the problem. The more we’re making it okay to spread misinformation. The more we’re making it okay to prioritize speed over accuracy.

What Can We Do?

So, what’s the solution? I’m not sure. I mean, I have some ideas. But honestly, I’m not sure if any of them will work.

I think, first of all, we need to slow down. We need to take a step back and remember that speed isn’t everything. That accuracy matters. That the truth is important.

And I think we need to hold ourselves accountable. We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We need to remember that we’re not just entertainment. We’re not just clickbait. We’re journalists. And we have a responsibility to the truth.

And I think we need to educate our audience. We need to teach them that not everything they read online is true. That not every headline is accurate. That not every story is worth sharing.

But I’m not sure if any of this will work. I’m not sure if we’re capable of changing. I’m not sure if we’re capable of putting the truth above the click.

But I hope so. Because if we’re not, then we’re in trouble. We’re in big trouble.

And that’s all I’ve got. I’m gonna go have a cup of tea and try to forget about the state of the news cycle for a little while.

About the Author
I’m Jane McDonald, a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the news industry. I’ve worked for a variety of publications, including the Dundee Gazette, the Dundee Herald, and the Dundee Courier. I’m passionate about good journalism and holding the powerful to account. I’m also a bit of a perfectionist, which can be both a blessing and a curse. When I’m not editing, you can find me hiking in the Scottish Highlands or trying to bake the perfect sourdough loaf.

To gain a deeper understanding of the crucial role local journalism plays in keeping communities informed, consider exploring this thoughtful piece on the impact of local news.