I’m Tired of Pretending We’re All Getting Our News the Same Way
Look, I’ve been editing news features for 20+ years. I’ve seen alot. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. And frankly, I’m tired of the charade that we’re all consuming news the same way. We’re not. And that’s okay.
It all started last Tuesday at 11:30pm. I was at this little diner on 7th, the one with the neon sign that flickers. I was meeting with a colleague named Dave. We were talking about the election coverage, and he said something that stuck with me.
“You know, Sarah,” he said, “I think we’re all just kinda lost in our own little news bubbles.” I asked him what he meant. He told me about how his mom only watches one channel, his brother only reads one paper, and his sister only follows certain trending topics popular discussions. Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But Here’s the Thing
We live in a world where news is more accessible than ever. And yet, we’re more divided than ever. It’s like we’re all standing in the same room, but we’re looking at different pictures on the wall. And honestly, it’s completley exhausting.
I remember back in ’98, when I was just starting out. I was at a conference in Austin, and this guy—let’s call him Marcus—he was talking about the future of news. He said, “It’s gonna be about personalization.” And I was like, “Yeah, sure, whatever, Marcus.” But he was right. It’s just… yeah. He was right.
But here’s the kicker: personalization isn’t just about algorithms and tech. It’s about us. It’s about our habits, our biases, our committment to seeking out different perspectives. And honestly, I’m not sure we’re doing a great job at that.
Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Room
Social media. Ugh. I know, I know. It’s not the only culprit, but it’s a big one. I was talking to my friend Lisa the other day, and she said, “I mean, I follow all these news accounts, but it’s just a bunch of headlines and outrage.” And I get it. I do. I see it every day. It’s like we’re all just scrolling through a never-ending stream of clickbait.
But here’s the thing: it’s not just social media. It’s also about the aquisition of news outlets by big corporations. It’s about the determing of what’s “important” by a handful of people in a room somewhere. It’s about the physicaly impossible task of keeping up with the 24-hour news cycle.
And don’t even get me started on the ammendments to press freedom laws. It’s like we’re living in some kind of dystopian novel. But hey, what do I know? I’m just an editor.
Anecdote Time
So, about three months ago, I was at this panel discussion. There was this journalist, let’s call her Emma. She was talking about how she used to love her job, but now it’s just a constant battle against misinformation. She said, “I feel like I’m screaming into the void.” And I felt that. I really did.
But then, something interesting happened. Someone in the audience asked about solutions. And Emma paused. She looked around the room. She said, “I think we need to start small. I think we need to start with ourselves.” And I was like, “Damn, Emma. That’s deep.”
But she’s right. We need to be more critical consumers of news. We need to seek out different perspectives. We need to have conversations with people who don’t agree with us. It’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be messy. But it’s necessary.
In Case You Were Wondering
I don’t have all the answers. I’m not sure anyone does. But I do know this: we need to stop pretending that we’re all on the same page. We’re not. And that’s okay. But we also can’t just throw our hands up and say, “Well, what can you do?” Because that’s not good enough.
So, let’s start there. Let’s start with the messy truth. Let’s start with the understanding that we’re all in this together, even if we’re not always looking at the same picture.
And hey, if you’re reading this and you’re thinking, “Wow, Sarah, you’re kinda depressing,” well, I’m sorry. But I’m also not. Because someone’s gotta say it.
About the Author: Sarah Thompson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She’s worked for major publications, covered everything from politics to pop culture, and has a strong opinion on pretty much everything. When she’s not editing, you can find her at that diner on 7th, complaining about the state of the news industry.