Look, I’ve Had It

It’s 2023, and the news is a mess. I’ve spent the last 22 years in this industry, and I’m telling you, it’s worse than ever. I’m not talking about the usual suspects—Fox, MSNBC, whatever. I’m talking about all of us. The media, the politicians, the algorithms, and yes, even you, dear reader.

I remember back in ’01, when I was a wet-behind-the-ears reporter at the Dundee Courier, my editor, let’s call him Marcus, told me, “Linda, the news is like a good steak. You gotta let it breathe, let it marinate. You can’t rush it.” And he was right. But now? Now it’s all about speed. Who cares if it’s raw? Who cares if it’s bloody? Just get it out there.

And don’t even get me started on social media. I was having coffee with my friend Sarah last Tuesday, and she showed me this tweet—no, this thread—about some politician’s latest scandal. It was all screenshots of screenshots, no sources, no context. Just pure, unadulterated chaos. And the comments? Oh, the comments were a treasure trove of ignorance. But you know what? It got 214 retweets. So, mission accomplished, I guess.

Honestly, I’m not sure how we got here. I mean, I am sure, but it’s complicated. It’s the 24-hour news cycle. It’s the aquisition of media outlets by billionaires with agendas. It’s the fact that we’d rather share a sensational headline than read the actual article. It’s all of it. It’s everything.

But Here’s the Thing

We can’t just point fingers. We’re all complicit. I’m complicit. I’ve written headlines that were a bit too clickbaity. I’ve prioritized speed over accuracy. I’ve shared stuff on Facebook without reading it first. (Okay, maybe not the last one. I’m not that bad.)

But look, I’m not here to shame you. I’m here to say, enough is enough. We need to demand better. From the media, from our politicians, from ourselves. We need to slow down. We need to think. We need to read. We need to care.

And yeah, I know what you’re thinking. “Linda, that’s all well and good, but how? How do we fix this mess?” I don’t have all the answers. But I do have some ideas. For starters, we can stop sharing that garbage on social media. We can support quality journalism. We can take the time to read beyond the headline. We can have real conversations with real people about real issues.

And if you’re looking for a place to start, check out this budget fashion shopping guide. Wait, what? Oh, sorry, wrong tangent. (See? Even I get distracted.)

But seriously, folks, we need to do better. We need to be better. Because the news isn’t just some entertainment product. It’s the lifeblood of our democracy. And if we let it die, well, then we’re all in trouble.

So, let’s start today. Let’s start now. Let’s start by reading this article all the way through. And then, maybe, just maybe, we can start to fix this broken mess we call the news.

Oh, and one more thing. If you see a headline that’s too good to be true, it probably is. So, do yourself a favor, and don’t click on it. You’ll thank me later.

About the Author
Linda McKenzie is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the news industry. She’s worked at various publications, including the Dundee Courier, the Edinburgh Gazette, and currently, Dundee News. She’s a staunch advocate for quality journalism and has a deep love for steak, coffee, and her rescue dog, Biscuit.

To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing today’s media landscape, consider exploring this insightful piece on the crisis in the news cycle and its broader implications.