I’ve Had It Up to Here
Look, I’ve been in this game for 22 years. That’s right, 22. I started at a tiny paper in Manchester, moved to London, and now here I am, writing for London Star. And let me tell you, the news cycle is more broken than a vending machine that just swallowed your last quid.
It’s not just the algorithms, though they’re part of it. It’s not just the 24-hour news cycle, though that’s a big part. It’s us. All of us. We’re complicit in this mess. And I’m not gonna sit here and pretend I’m innocent. I’ve fed the beast more than my fair share.
Let me take you back to 2008. I was at a conference in Austin, Texas, of all places. There was this guy, let’s call him Marcus, who stood up and said, “The news isn’t about informing anymore. It’s about engaging.” I laughed. We all did. But he was right. And that’s when it all started to go downhill.
Engagement Over Truth
Engagement. That’s the dirty word. That’s what’s killing us. News outlets, they’re all chasing engagement now. It’s not about telling the truth, it’s about getting clicks. Getting shares. Getting comments. And the more outrageous the headline, the more engagement you get.
I remember talking to a colleague named Dave about this. We were over coffee at the place on 5th, you know the one with the kinda bad croissants. He said, “It’s not our fault. It’s what the algorithms want.” I said, “Dave, that’s bullshit. We’re the ones writing the stories. We’re the ones writing the headlines.”
And it’s not just the big outlets. It’s the small ones too. It’s everyone. We’re all chasing that dopamine hit of engagement. And it’s making us stupid.
The Speed of News
But it’s not just about engagement. It’s about speed. The news cycle is faster than a Formula 1 race, and it’s leaving us all in the dust. I mean, have you seen the state of Twitter lately? It’s a mess. A complete and utter mess.
I was talking to a source last Tuesday, let’s call her Sarah. She said, “By the time we get our statement out, the news has already moved on.” I get it. I really do. It’s frustrating. It’s like trying to cook a cooking recipes easy weeknight meal in 30 seconds. It’s not gonna happen.
And the worst part? The mistakes. The misinformation. The outright lies. It’s all spread faster than a cold in a primary school. And it’s our fault. We’re the ones putting it out there. We’re the ones not taking the time to check our facts. To verify our sources. To think before we hit publish.
A Tangent: The Weather
Speaking of mistakes, have you noticed how the weather forecasts are always wrong? I mean, it’s not exactly rocket science, is it? But no, they’re always off by a few degrees. Always. It’s like they’re using a Magic 8-Ball or something. “Ask again later.” “Outlook not so good.” Honestly, it’s completley ridiculous.
But I digress. Back to the news cycle. It’s a mess. And it’s not gonna get better anytime soon. Not until we all take a step back and say, “Enough is enough.”
The Solution? Who Knows.
So what’s the answer? I wish I knew. I really do. I’ve been thinking about it for years. And I’m not sure I’ve come up with anything. But I know one thing: it’s gonna take a committment from all of us. From the big outlets. From the small ones. From the bloggers. From the tweeters. From everyone.
We need to slow down. We need to think. We need to verify. We need to stop chasing engagement. We need to start chasing the truth. Even if it’s boring. Even if it’s not gonna get a million clicks. Even if it’s not gonna go viral.
And we need to hold ourselves accountable. We need to admit when we’re wrong. We need to ammend our mistakes. We need to be better. Because the world is watching. And they deserve better than what we’re giving them.
So that’s my rant. That’s my two cents. Take it or leave it. But please, for the love of all that’s holy, let’s start having a conversation about this. Let’s start making some changes. Before it’s too late.
About the Author
Sarah Johnson has been a senior editor for over two decades, working her way up from a small Manchester paper to her current role at London Star. She’s seen the industry evolve, devolve, and repeat. She’s not afraid to call out bullshit when she sees it, and she’s always up for a good cup of tea and a heated discussion about the state of journalism.
