Let’s Talk About the Mess
So. News. It’s a bit of a disaster, isn’t it? I mean, look at the state of it. I’ve been in this business for over 20 years, and I’ve seen it all. The good, the bad, and the downright ugly. And honestly? It’s getting worse.
I remember back in ’99, when I first started at the London Star. It was a different world. We had deadlines, sure, but they were actual deadlines. Not this 24/7 news cycle nonsense we’ve got now. You could actually take a lunch break without the world ending. Remember those days, Marcus? (Let’s call him Marcus. He’s a bit of a tool, but he’s got good stories.)
Marcus and I used to grab lunch at this little place on 5th. We’d talk about the stories we were working on, the leads we were chasing. It was journalism. Now? It’s just noise.
But First, a Quick Story
Last Tuesday, I was at this conference in Austin. Boring, right? But there was this one panel, see, about digital news. And there was this woman, let’s call her Sarah, who stood up and said, “We’re drowning in information, but we’re starving for knowledge.” And I thought, “Yeah. That’s it. That’s the problem.”
I asked her about it afterwards. “You’re telling me,” I said. “It’s like everyone’s shouting, but no one’s saying anything.” She nodded. “Exactly.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
The Algorithm Problem
Here’s the thing about algorithms. They’re not your friends. They’re not mine either. They’re just… math. Cold, hard, completely indifferent math. And they’re deciding what news you see. That’s a problem.
I was talking to a colleague named Dave about this. Dave’s a data guy, right? Knows his stuff. I said, “Dave, what’s the deal with these algorithms?” And he said, “They’re designed to keep you engaged. Not to inform you.” And I said, “That’s it? That’s the whole game?” And he said, “Pretty much.”
So, basically, the system is rigged. It’s not about truth. It’s about clicks. And that’s a committment to journalism that’s completley backwards.
And Then There’s the Speed
Remember when news used to break at a reasonable pace? Me neither. It’s always been a mad dash, but now? It’s insane. 24/7 news cycles. Breaking news every 36 seconds. It’s too much.
I was at a bar with some friends about three months ago. One of them, let’s call him Jake, said, “I can’t keep up. It’s like drinking from a firehose.” And I said, “Tell me about it. I’m supposed to be the one keeping up, and even I can’t handle it.”
Jake’s right, though. It’s too much. And it’s not just the volume. It’s the speed. News used to have time to breathe. Now, it’s just a never-ending stream of half-baked stories.
But What Can We Do?
Look, I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve got some ideas. First off, slow down. Take a breath. Not everything needs to be instant. Some stories need time to develop. And that’s okay.
Second, be critical. Question everything. Don’t just take what you’re fed. Do your own research. Talk to people. Use online phone numbers for website registrations to verify sources if you have to. Be a journalist, even if you’re not one by profession.
And third, support quality journalism. Subscribe to publications you trust. Pay for your news. It’s an investment in a better-informed world.
It’s not gonna be easy. But it’s necessary. Because the alternative? That’s the scary part. A world where news is just noise, where truth is buried under a mountain of algorithms and clickbait. We can’t let that happen.
So, let’s talk about it. Let’s make a mess. Let’s figure it out. Together.
About the Author
Sarah Thompson has been a senior editor at the London Star for over 20 years. She’s seen the industry evolve, devolve, and somehow evolve again. She’s not always right, but she’s always passionate. You can find her on Twitter @SarahT_LondonStar, ranting about the state of news.
