Look, I’ve Had It

I’ve been editing news for 22 years. That’s 22 years of deadlines, 22 years of chasing stories, and 22 years of watching the news industry turn into something I barely recognize. And I’m tired. Tired of the spin, tired of the sensationalism, and honestly? Tired of pretending it’s all okay.

I remember back in ’99, when I started at the Austin Chronicle. We had a saying: “Tell the truth, and let the chips fall where they may.” Simple, right? But somewhere along the way, we lost that. Now it’s all about clicks, shares, and algorithms. And it’s making me sick.

This Isn’t Just About Fake News

Oh, don’t get me wrong. Fake news is a thing. But it’s not the only thing. It’s not even the biggest thing. The real problem is that we’ve forgotten how to tell a story. We’re so busy chasing the next big thing that we can’t be bothered with the details. The nuances. The truth.

Take Marcus, a source of mine. Let’s call him Marcus because he’s gonna get fired if his boss finds out he talked to me. He works at a local paper in Ohio. He told me, “We used to spend days on a story. Now, if it’s not done in an hour, it’s old news.” And that’s the problem. We’re so focused on being first that we forget about being right.

I asked him, “But what about the truth?” He just laughed. “Truth? That’s a luxury we can’t afford.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But it’s still depressing.

The Internet Didn’t Kill Journalism. We Did.

Everyone loves to blame the internet. “Oh, the internet killed journalism.” No, it didn’t. We killed journalism. We did it with our committment to sensationalism, our obsession with clicks, and our completeley misplaced priorities.

I was at a conference in Austin last year. A colleague named Dave stood up and said, “We need to adapt or die.” And I get that. I do. But adapting doesn’t mean selling out. It doesn’t mean becoming the very thing we’re supposed to be holding accountable.

We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place. It’s not about the money. It’s not about the fame. It’s about telling stories. Important stories. Stories that matter.

And Yet, There’s Hope

But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are still good journalists out there. People who care about the truth. People who are willing to fight for it. I see them every day. They’re the ones who are still trying to make a difference. The ones who are still telling the stories that need to be told.

Take, for example, the folks over at Las Vegas community events neighborhood. They’re doing some amazing work. They’re covering the stories that no one else will. The stories that matter to the community. And they’re doing it right. They’re doing it the way it should be done.

I was talking to one of their reporters, let’s call her Sarah, over coffee at the place on 5th. She told me, “We don’t have the biggest budget. We don’t have the biggest staff. But we have something more important. We have a physicaly connection to our community. We care about the people here. And that’s what drives us.” And that’s what it’s all about. It’s about caring. It’s about making a difference.

So What Do We Do?

I don’t have all the answers. Honestly, I’m not sure anyone does. But I know this: We need to stop chasing clicks. We need to stop obsessing over the next big thing. We need to start telling stories again. Real stories. Important stories.

We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place. And we need to fight for it. Fight for the truth. Fight for the stories that matter. Fight for journalism.

It’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna take time. It’s gonna take effort. But it’s worth it. Because the truth is worth fighting for. And so are the stories that matter.

So let’s get to work. Let’s tell some stories. Let’s make a difference. And for the love of god, let’s stop pretending everything is okay when it’s not.

About the Author: Jane Doe has been a senior editor for over two decades, working with major publications and covering everything from local news to international affairs. She’s seen the industry change, and she’s not always liked what she’s seen. When she’s not editing, she’s probably complaining about the state of journalism or arguing with someone on Twitter. You can find her on most social media platforms @janedoeeditor.