Look, I’ve Had It

It’s 11:30pm on a Tuesday, and I’m staring at my screen, trying to make sense of the latest ‘breaking news’ alert. Again. And honestly, I’m just… done. I’ve been in this business for 23 years, and let’s just say I’ve seen some stuff. But this? This is something else.

I started at the Dundee Courier back in ’99. Yeah, I know, ancient history. But back then, news was news. You had your facts, you had your story, and you had your deadline. Simple. Now? It’s a circus. A completley out-of-control circus.

But First, a Quick Story

Last week, I was at the pub with an old friend, Marcus (not his real name, but let’s roll with it). He’s a teacher, decent guy, knows his stuff. We’re having a pint, talking about life, and he says to me, ‘You know, I don’t even bother with the news anymore. It’s all just noise.’

And I get it. I mean, I really do. Because I see it from the inside. The pressure to be first, to be loud, to be… something. Anything. It’s exhausting. And it’s not just the big networks. It’s everyone. It’s us. It’s me.

So, What’s the Problem?

Well, where do I start? The sensationalism? The clickbait? The fact that half the time, we’re just making stuff up because we need to fill space? Or maybe it’s the fact that we’ve become so obsessed with being first that we forget to be right.

I remember talking to a colleague named Dave about this. We were at a conference in Austin, Texas, and he said, ‘Look, I get it. We need to keep up. But at what cost?’ And I asked him, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘Well, have you seen some of the headlines lately? It’s like we’re trying to outdo each other in the absurdity stakes.’

Which… yeah. Fair enough. I mean, I’ve written some of those headlines. And I’m not proud of it. But you try telling that to your editor when they’re breathing down your neck about page views.

And Then There’s the Internet

Oh, the internet. Where do I even begin? It’s a wonderful thing, don’t get me wrong. But it’s also a never-ending pit of misinformation, half-truths, and outright lies. And the worst part? We’re all guilty of spreading it.

I was talking to my sister about this the other day. She’s a nurse, works long hours, doesn’t have time for this nonsense. She said to me, ‘You know, I see these things on Facebook, and I think, ‘Is this real?’ But then I see it on the news, and I think, ‘Well, it must be true.”

And that’s the problem, isn’t it? We’ve become so used to the noise that we can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not. And it’s not just the big stories. It’s everything. It’s the small stuff, the everyday stuff. The stuff that matters.

But There’s Hope

Now, I’m not saying it’s all doom and gloom. There are still good journalists out there. People who care about the truth, about getting it right. People who understand that their committment is to the facts, not to the algorithm.

I was at a workshop about three months ago, and I met this woman, let’s call her Sarah. She’s a young journalist, just starting out. And she said to me, ‘You know, I want to make a difference. I want to tell stories that matter.’ And I thought, ‘Well, isn’t that refreshing?’

Because that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Telling stories. Real stories. Stories that matter. Not just the ones that get the most clicks or the most shares. But the ones that make a difference.

A Quick Digression: The Weather

Speaking of making a difference, have you seen the weather lately? I mean, it’s crazy. I was talking to a friend about this, and he said, ‘You know, I think we need to pay more attention to environmental news climate update.’ And he’s right. We do. Because it’s not just about the news. It’s about our future. Our kids’ future. Our grandkids’ future.

Back to the Point

So, what’s the solution? I’m not sure. I mean, I have my thoughts. But honestly, it’s bigger than me. It’s bigger than any one of us. It’s about the industry. It’s about the culture. It’s about the way we consume news.

But here’s what I do know. We need to do better. We need to be better. We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place. And we need to start telling stories that matter. Again.

Because the news isn’t broken. It’s just… lost. And it’s up to us to find our way back.

About the Author
Sarah McKenzie has been a journalist for over 20 years, working for various publications across the UK. She currently lives in Dundee with her husband and two cats. She loves her job, but she’s not afraid to call out the industry when it needs it. You can find her on Twitter @sarahmckenzie.

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