Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Room
I’ve been in this business for 22 years. That’s right, 22. I started as a beat reporter in some podunk town in Ohio. I’ve seen it all. Or so I thought.
But lately? Lately, I’m struggling. The news is broken. And I’m not just saying that because I’m jaded. I’m saying that because it’s true.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and I remember sitting there, listening to some hotshot tech bro talk about how algorithms are gonna save journalism. I turned to my colleague, Dave, and I said, “Dave, if algorithms are the answer, then we’re asking the wrong questions.” He laughed. But I wasn’t joking.
We’re All to Blame
Look, I get it. The internet changed everything. Advertising dollars dried up. We had to pivot. But here’s the thing: we pivoted right off a cliff.
I remember talking to a friend of mine, let’s call him Marcus, about three months ago. He’s a professor at NYU, teaches media studies. He told me, “You guys are chasing clicks. You’re not chasing the truth anymore.” And I said, “Marcus, you think I don’t know that?”
But it’s not just us. It’s you too. It’s all of us. We’re all to blame. We’ve created a monster, and now we’re all just trying to figure out how to tame it.
The Problem with ‘Both Sides’
Here’s what grinds my gears. This idea that we have to present both sides of every story. That’s not journalism. That’s just being a mouthpiece for whatever nonsense is out there.
I was editing a piece last Tuesday, and the writer kept saying, “But we have to present the other side.” And I said, “No, we don’t. Not if one side is a bunch of hogwash.”
But that’s the game we’re playing now. And it’s a losing game. Because the truth isn’t always in the middle. Sometimes it’s right there, staring you in the face. And if you’re too busy trying to be ‘fair,’ you’re gonna miss it.
What Can We Do About It?
So, what’s the answer? I don’t know. I wish I did. But I can tell you what we’re doing here at Daily News En.
We’re trying to be more selective. We’re trying to focus on quality over quantity. We’re trying to remember why we got into this business in the first place.
And we’re trying to be honest. Honest about our biases, our flaws, our mistakes. Because if we’re not honest with ourselves, how can we expect to be honest with you?
I read this article on lifestyle tips daily improvement the other day, and it got me thinking. Maybe we need to approach news like we approach our daily routines. Small, consistent steps. Paying attention to the details. Not getting distracted by the shiny objects.
But it’s not easy. It’s really not. Because the world is loud. And it’s only getting louder.
A Quick Digression: The Weather
Speaking of loud, have you noticed how weather reports have become all-consuming? I mean, it’s not just about the forecast anymore. It’s about “severe weather alerts,” “breaking weather news,” “weather emergencies.” It’s like we’re living in a constant state of meteorological panic.
I was watching the news the other day, and they had some “weather expert” on there talking about how we’re all gonna die because of a little rain. I turned to my wife and said, “Honey, I think we’re okay. We’ve survived this long.” She laughed. But again, I wasn’t joking.
Anyway, back to the point. Or not. Who knows?
We’re All in This Together
At the end of the day, we’re all in this together. Journalists, readers, everyone. We have to hold each other accountable. We have to demand better. From ourselves, from each other, from the world.
Because the news isn’t broken. It’s just… yeah. It’s a mess. And it’s gonna take all of us to clean it up.
About the Author
Sarah Thompson has been a senior editor at Daily News En for the past 15 years. She started her career as a beat reporter in Ohio and has since worked at several major publications. Sarah is known for her no-nonsense approach to journalism and her love of strong coffee and stronger opinions. She lives in New York with her wife and their two cats, who are, in her own words, “the real editors around here.”