Let’s Talk About the Mess We’re In
I’ve been a journalist for 22 years. Twenty-two years. That’s longer than some of you have been alive, probably. And in that time, I’ve seen the news industry go from black-and-white TV broadcasts to algorithms deciding what you see in your Facebook feed. And honestly? It’s a mess.
I remember sitting in a conference in Austin back in 2008, listening to some tech bro in a hoodie tell us that ‘the future is crowdsourced news.’ We all laughed. We laughed because it was ridiculous. But here we are.
Look, I’m not some old fogey who thinks the good ol’ days were better. The good ol’ days were kinda sexist, racist, and honestly, not that good. But at least people read full articles then. Now? We’re lucky if someone makes it past the headline.
Why Should You Care?
Because news matters. It’s how we know stuff. It’s how we make decisions. It’s how we keep those in power from getting away with, well, everything.
I was having coffee with my friend Marcus last Tuesday. Let’s call him Marcus because his real name is complicated and he owes me money. Anyway, he said, ‘Sarah, I don’t read the news. It’s all bad.’
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But that’s like saying, ‘I don’t look at the weather forecast because it’s always rainy.’ News isn’t sunshine and rainbows. It’s the stuff that affects your life, your wallet, your commute, your kids’ schools.
The Algorithm Problem
Here’s the thing about algorithms. They’re not evil. They’re just dumb. Really, really dumb. They don’t care about truth. They don’t care about context. They care about one thing: keeping you on the platform so they can show you more ads.
I had a colleague named Dave who used to say, ‘The news used to be a public service. Now it’s a product.’ And he’s right. We’re all just products now, aren’t we?
But here’s the kicker. We can fight back. We can demand better. And it starts with how we consume news.
How to Stop Being a Zombie Consumer
First, turn off the notifications. All of them. Your phone is not your friend. It’s a slot machine designed to addict you. I did this about three months ago. It’s liberating.
Second, pick a few reliable sources and actually read them. Not just the headlines. The articles. The whole things. I know, it’s a radical idea.
And third, talk about what you read. With real people. Out loud. Not in a comments section. That’s just an argument waiting to happen.
I get it. It’s hard. We’re all busy. But if you want to know what’s happening in the world, you gotta put in the effort. There’s no magic solution here.
A Tangent: Local News is Dying
Okay, this isn’t directly related, but it’s important. Local news is dying. And it’s a big deal. Local journalists hold local politicians accountable. They cover the school board meetings, the city council decisions, the stuff that actually affects your daily life.
I read a study recently. 214 local newspapers have closed in the last decade. Two hundred and fourteen. That’s a lot of communities without a watchdog.
So if you value having information about what’s happening in your town, support local news. Subscribe. Donate. Tell your friends.
Tech Startups and the Future of News
Now, I’m not gonna sit here and say all tech startups are evil. Some are trying to do good. Really. But you gotta be smart about it. Do your research. Check out tech startup news innovations if you’re interested in what’s happening in the space.
And look, I’m not saying you should become a news nerd like me. But you should care. You should want to know what’s happening in the world. Because ignorance is not bliss. It’s dangerous.
So, let’s all try to be better news consumers. For our own sake, and for the sake of democracy.
Anyway, that’s my rant for the day. Go read something.
About the Author: Sarah McKenzie has been a journalist for over two decades, working for major publications and covering everything from politics to tech. She’s opinionated, passionate, and not afraid to call out BS when she sees it. When she’s not writing, she’s probably arguing about the news with strangers on the internet or trying to convince her cat to cuddle.