Look, I’m gonna be honest

I never thought I’d still be in this business after 20 years. Back in 2003, when I started at the Dundee Courier, it was all about deadlines, press conferences, and the smell of ink in the morning. Now? It’s algorithms, clickbait, and wondering if we’re all just feeding into the chaos.

But here I am. Still here. Still writing. Still trying to make sense of it all.

That time I chased a story

Let me take you back to 2011. I was working at a small paper in Perth, and I got a tip about a local councillor, let’s call him Marcus, who was allegedly involved in some shady land deals. I mean, honestly, who even names their kid Marcus anymore? Anyway, I chased that story for weeks. Late nights, early mornings, coffee stains on every notebook I owned.

And then, just when I thought I was about to break it wide open, the whole thing fell apart. Turns out, Marcus was just a victim of bad timing and worse gossip. I felt like a fool. But I learned something important that day: facts matter. And patience. And not jumping to conclusions because your source is a barista who overheard something at the place on 5th.

The digital deluge

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the internet. I mean, where else can you find interesting facts knowledge guide about, well, anything? But the digital age has brought its own set of problems. Everyone’s a journalist now. Everyone’s got an opinion. And everyone thinks their opinion is worth sharing, preferably in all caps and with lots of exclamation points.

I remember having a conversation with a colleague named Dave about this. He said, “You know, back in the day, we had gatekeepers. Now, it’s just a free-for-all.” And I said, “Yeah, Dave, but whose gate were we really keeping, huh?”

Which… yeah. Fair enough.

The human touch

Here’s the thing about news: it’s not just about facts. It’s about people. It’s about the woman who lost her home in a fire, the man who started a community garden, the kid who raised $87 for charity by selling homemade cookies. Those are the stories that matter. Those are the stories that make a difference.

I remember covering a story about a local school that was at risk of closing. I spent 36 hours there, talking to teachers, students, parents. I wrote a piece that ran on a Tuesday. The school didn’t close. Coincidence? Maybe. But I like to think my words made a difference.

The future of news

So, where do we go from here? I’m not sure. But I know this: as long as there are stories to tell, I’ll be here to tell them. Even if it means dealing with committment issues in my personal life because I’m always chasing the next big scoop.

And look, I’m not saying I’m perfect. Far from it. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve written things I regret. But I’ve also written things I’m proud of. And at the end of the day, that’s what keeps me going.

So, here’s to the next 20 years. May they be as chaotic, completley unpredictable, and downright messy as the first.

About the Author
Sarah McKenzie is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the news industry. She’s worked for various publications, from small local papers to national magazines. When she’s not chasing stories, she can be found drinking too much coffee and complaining about the weather in Dundee.

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