Look, I’ve Had It
It’s 2023, and the news is a mess. I mean, honestly, it’s a complete shambles. I’ve been editing for 20-plus years, and I’ve never seen it this bad. Then again, maybe I’m just getting old and cranky. (Probably both.)
But seriously, folks. I was at a conference in Austin last March, and I heard this guy—let’s call him Marcus—say something that stuck with me. He said, “The news isn’t about informing anymore. It’s about engaging. And that’s the problem.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
I remember back in the day—this was, like, 1998—when I first started at the Dundee Courier. We actually cared about getting the facts straight. We’d spend hours verifying sources, double-checking figures, making sure we weren’t just regurgitating press releases. Now? It’s all about speed. And clicks. And algorithms. (Ugh.)
Speed Kills
Let me tell you about last Tuesday. I was at the office—over coffee at the place on 5th, actually—and I got into this huge argument with a colleague named Dave. He was all, “But we need to be first!” And I was like, “Dave, we need to be right. First is just… noise.” But did he listen? No. Because speed kills, folks. Literally. Remember that time a major news outlet reported that a celebrity had died? Turns out, they were very much alive. But by then, the damage was done. The retraction? Buried on page 18.
And don’t even get me started on social media. I mean, honestly, it’s like the Wild West out there. No fact-checking, no accountability, just a never-ending stream of hot takes and half-baked opinions. I had this friend, let’s call her Sarah, who swore she only got her news from Twitter. I asked her, “Sarah, do you even read the articles anymore?” And she just shrugged. “Nah, I just read the headlines and the comments.” I facepalmed so hard I think I gave myself a concussion.
But Wait, There’s More
Here’s the thing, though. It’s not all doom and gloom. There are still some amazing journalists out there doing incredible work. I mean, look at the folks over at The Guardian or The New York Times. They’re still committing—committment, damn it—to investigative journalism. They’re still holding power to account. They’re still telling the stories that need to be told.
But they’re also struggling. Because the industry is broken. Advertising revenue is down. Subscriptions can’t keep up. And everyone’s chasing the same damn algorithm. It’s a vicious cycle, and I’m not sure how we break out of it.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, we need to demand better. From ourselves, from our colleagues, from our sources. We need to slow down, take a breath, and remember why we got into this business in the first place. To inform. To educate. To hold a mirror up to the world and say, “This is what’s happening. This is what matters.”
And if that means we’re not first, then so be it. Because being right is way more important than being first. (Honestly, it’s not even close.)
Oh, and One More Thing
Look, I know what you’re thinking. “Wow, this guy is really down on the news industry.” And yeah, maybe I am. But I’m also hopeful. Because I’ve seen what good journalism can do. I’ve seen how it can change minds, change laws, change lives. And I’m not ready to give up on that. Not by a long shot.
So let’s roll up our sleeves, put our big-girl pants on, and get back to work. The world needs us. And frankly, we owe it to ourselves to do better. To be better.
And if you need some inspiration, check out this self improvement daily habits guide. It’s not about journalism, but it’s got some solid tips on staying focused and motivated. (Which, let’s be real, we could all use right about now.)
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m gonna go find a quiet corner and read a book. Preferably one that’s not about clickbait or algorithms or the latest scandal. Because honestly, I’ve had enough of all that to last a lifetime.
About the Author
I’m Alex Mackenzie, senior editor at Dundee News. I’ve been in this business for way too long, and I’m not sure I’d recommend it to anyone. But someone’s gotta do it, right? When I’m not wrestling with word counts or arguing with designers about font sizes, you can find me at the pub, complaining about the state of the news industry. (Shocking, I know.)
To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing today’s media landscape, consider this insightful analysis on why news coverage is failing us.
Readers interested in this subject may also want to explore The News Cycle is Broken, and for additional perspectives.