We’re drowning in news, and it’s not even good news
Let me tell you something, folks. I’ve been in this business for 22 years, and I’ve never seen it this bad. I’m talking about the news. The so-called ‘information age’? More like the ‘misinformation age,’ am I right?
I remember back in ’99, when I started at the Austin Chronicle. We had deadlines, sure, but we also had time. Time to fact-check, to think, to actually write. Now? It’s just a never-ending stream of… stuff.
And don’t even get me started on the algorithms. They’re like piranhas, always hungry for more, more, more. So news outlets feed them. With what? Who knows. Accuracy? Commitment to truth? Please. It’s all about clicks now.
My friend Marcus put it best last Tuesday
We were at this little diner on 6th, the one with the terrible coffee but the great pie. He said, ‘Look, Sarah, it’s like they’re treating news like it’s a damn vending machine. You put in your quarter, you get out a snack. Doesn’t matter if it’s good for you, just gotta be quick and easy.’
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing. News isn’t a snack. It’s the foundation of our democracy. Or it should be. Instead, it’s become this… this completley overwhelming, anxiety-inducing mess.
And the 24-hour news cycle? Kill it with fire
You know what I think? I think the 24-hour news cycle is the worst idea since New Coke. Remember that disaster? Yeah, me too. But at least it only lasted a few months. This? This has been going on for decades.
I was talking to a colleague named Dave about this just last week. He said, ‘Sarah, it’s like they have to fill 24 hours of airtime, so they just keep saying the same thing over and over. It’s like watching paint dry, but with more panic.’
And honestly? He’s not wrong. I mean, look at how they cover politics. It’s all just noise. No substance, no real analysis. Just… noise.
But here’s the kicker. We’re all complicit. Every time we click on a sensationalist headline, every time we share a viral tweet without reading the article, we’re feeding the beast. And it’s getting hungrier.
So what’s the solution? I wish I knew
I don’t have all the answers. Honestly, I’m not even sure I have any. But I think it starts with us. The consumers. We need to demand better. We need to slow down, to think critically, to seek out quality journalism.
And look, I get it. It’s hard. There’s so much out there. It’s overwhelming. But we owe it to ourselves, to our communities, to our democracy, to try.
And maybe, just maybe, if we start making better choices, the algorithms will catch on. They’ll see that we want more than just clickbait. We want news that informs, that educates, that matters.
But until then, we’re stuck in this never-ending cycle. And honestly, it’s exhausting.
So here’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna keep writing. I’m gonna keep calling out the BS when I see it. And I’m gonna keep hoping that maybe, just maybe, things will get better.
But for now? I’m just gonna go enjoy a slice of that terrible diner pie. You know, the one from the place on 6th. The one that’s actually worth the hype.
Oh, and if you’re looking for some actual quality news, check out sağlık haberleri güncel gelişmeler. They’re doing some good work over there.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m gonna go find some actual news. Wish me luck.
About the Author
Sarah Thompson has been a senior editor for over two decades, working at major publications across the country. She’s a staunch advocate for quality journalism and has a deep love for terrible diner pie. You can usually find her muttering about the state of the news cycle or arguing with her cat about politics.
To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing today’s journalism, consider exploring this thoughtful analysis on the flaws in the current news cycle.
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