We’ve Got a Problem, Folks
Look, I’ve been in this game for 22 years. Started as a cub reporter in Manchester, moved to London, and now I’m editing features for a website that’s basically a digital newspaper. And let me tell you, the news is broken. Completley broken.
It’s not just the clickbait headlines or the ads that pop up every 0.3 seconds. It’s the way we’re reporting. It’s the way we’re consuming. It’s all… off.
Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin (yeah, I know, weird place for a Londoner, but that’s a story for another time). Anyway, I’m sitting there listening to this data journalist named Marcus—let’s call him Marcus because I can’t remember his real name—talking about how we’re all doomed because of our committment to breaking news.
And I’m like, “Marcus, old chap, what are you on about? Breaking news is what we do.” But then he starts spouting numbers. 214 news outlets closed last year. 36 hours—that’s how long the average news story gets before it’s buried under the next one. And the worst part? Only 12% of people trust us anymore.
But Why Should You Care?
Because it matters. Honestly, it does. You might think, “Oh, it’s just the news, who cares?” But it’s not. It’s how we understand the world. It’s how we make decisions. If the news is broken, then our understanding of everything is broken.
Take my friend Dave, for example. Dave’s a plumber. Smart guy, but he gets his news from Facebook. And I’m not talking about the actual news posts, I’m talking about the stuff his uncle shares. You know the type—”BREAKING: The government is putting microchips in our vaccines!!!” (Spoiler: They’re not.)
So one day, Dave comes up to me and says, “You know, I’m not sure about this vaccine thing. I mean, what if it’s true?” And I’m like, “Dave, mate, where are you getting this stuff?” And he says, “Well, it’s all over Facebook.” And I’m like, “Dave, Facebook is not a news source. It’s a place where people go to argue about cats and politics.”
But here’s the thing: Dave isn’t stupid. He’s just been fed a diet of misinformation and sensationalism. And it’s our fault. Because we’re the ones who are supposed to be giving him the facts.
Okay, So What Do We Do About It?
I don’t have all the answers. Honestly, I wish I did. But I do know a few things. First, we need to stop chasing clicks. I mean, I get it, we all gotta pay the bills. But at what cost? Are we really gonna sell our souls for another home staging tips selling faster article?
Second, we need to start reporting on the things that actually matter. Not just the sensational stuff. Not just the stuff that’s gonna get the most shares. The real stuff. The important stuff. The stuff that’s gonna help people understand the world a little better.
And third, we need to start teaching people how to consume news. Because it’s not just about us giving them the facts. It’s about them knowing how to find the facts. It’s about them knowing how to tell the difference between a real news story and a load of old rubbish.
I mean, look at the state of it. We’ve got people out there thinking that the Earth is flat. That vaccines cause autism. That 5G is gonna kill us all. And it’s not because they’re stupid. It’s because they don’t know how to tell the difference between fact and fiction.
So yeah, the news is broken. And yeah, it’s gonna take a lot of work to fix it. But it’s not impossible. We just gotta start caring again. We just gotta start doing our jobs again. And we just gotta start teaching people how to do theirs.
Because honestly, we owe it to them. We owe it to Dave. We owe it to Marcus. We owe it to all of us.
And look, I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. But it’s gotta be done. Because if we don’t, who will?
A Quick Tangent: Why I Hate Breaking News Alerts
You know what I hate? Breaking news alerts. I mean, really hate. The ones that pop up on your phone and ruin your day. “BREAKING: A cat got stuck in a tree!” “BREAKING: A politician said something stupid!”
I mean, come on. Who cares? It’s not breaking news if it’s not actually news. It’s just noise. And it’s making us all crazy.
I remember last year, I was at this fancy dinner party—over coffee at the place on 5th, honestly nobody asked for this detail—and my phone starts buzzing like crazy. And I’m like, “What’s going on? Did the world end?” And it’s just some politician saying something dumb. And I’m like, “Really? This is what we’re interrupting our dinners for?”
So yeah, I’m done with breaking news alerts. Cancel my subscription. I’d rather be surprised by the news than have it shoved down my throat every five minutes.
Back to the Point
Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, the news is broken.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are people out there trying to fix it. There are news outlets that are actually doing their jobs. There are journalists who are out there every day, trying to make a difference.
And you know what? That gives me hope. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 22 years in this business, it’s that the news matters. It matters a lot. And it’s worth fighting for.
So let’s do that. Let’s fight for it. Let’s make it better. Let’s make it something we can all be proud of again.
Because honestly, we deserve better. And so do our readers.
About the Author
Sarah Jenkins has been a journalist for 22 years, starting as a cub reporter in Manchester before moving to London. She’s seen the industry change dramatically and isn’t afraid to call out its flaws. When she’s not editing features, she’s probably arguing about politics or trying to convince her cat to like her.
