Let’s Talk About the Mess We’re In
Look, I’ve been in this business for over 20 years. I started as a beat reporter in some backwater town in Ohio, and now I’m editing features for major publications. And let me tell you, the news is a hot mess.
It’s not just the clickbait headlines or the ads that pop up every 0.3 seconds. It’s the way we consume news. It’s the way we treat journalists. It’s the way we treat each other when we disagree on trending topics popular discussions.
I remember sitting in a conference in Austin, Texas, back in 2015. A colleague named Dave leaned over during a panel discussion and said, “You know, Martha, we’re not just reporting the news anymore. We’re part of the news.” And he was right. We are.
But here’s the thing: we’re not just part of the news. We’re part of the problem. And I’m not gonna sit here and pretend I’m not part of it too. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve published things I shouldn’t have. I’ve let my biases show. I’m human, okay?
We’re All to Blame
Let’s talk about social media for a second. I mean, it’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s democratized information. On the other, it’s turned us all into armchair journalists. And honestly, it’s completley ruined some people’s ability to discern fact from fiction.
I was at a dinner party last Tuesday, and this guy—let’s call him Marcus—starts going off about how “the media is all lies.” I asked him what he meant, and he said, “Well, I saw this thing on Facebook…” And I’m like, “Marcus, Facebook is not a news source.” But he wouldn’t listen. He was convinced that because he saw it on the internet, it must be true.
And that’s the problem. We’ve created a culture where people think they can get their news from memes and tweets. And it’s not just the regular folks. It’s the politicians, the pundits, the so-called experts. They all do it. They all contribute to the noise.
The Death of Local News
But here’s what really gets me: the death of local news. I mean, I get it. Advertising revenue is down. People would rather read about celebrity gossip than their city council meetings. But come on, people! Local news matters!
I remember covering a city council meeting back in the day. It was boring as hell, but it was important. People needed to know what was happening in their community. Now? Nobody cares. Nobody’s there to report on it. And the few who do are underpaid and overworked.
And don’t even get me started on the acquisition of local papers by these big conglomerates. They gut the staff, cut corners, and expect the same quality. It’s not gonna happen. You can’t expect a reporter to cover three counties in a day. It’s physicaly impossible.
I was talking to a friend of mine, Sarah, the other day. She’s a reporter at a small paper in Iowa. She told me, “Martha, I love my job. But I can’t keep doing it like this. I’m burnt out. I’m overworked. And I’m not sure how much longer I can go on.” And that’s a shame. That’s a real shame.
A Tangent: The Weather
You know what else is broken? The weather. I mean, it’s not news, but it’s related, right? I was watching the news the other day, and they were talking about how it was gonna be sunny and warm. And then it started pouring. I mean, come on! How hard is it to get the weather right?
But I digress. The point is, accuracy matters. Whether it’s the weather or the news, we need to get it right. And right now, we’re not.
What Can We Do?
So, what’s the solution? I don’t know. I wish I did. But I can tell you this: we need to start valuing good journalism again. We need to support local news. We need to hold our leaders accountable. And we need to stop getting our news from Facebook.
I was at a panel discussion about three months ago, and someone asked me, “Martha, what can we do to fix the news?” And I said, “I don’t know. But I know it starts with us. It starts with demanding better. It starts with being better.”
And look, I’m not saying I have all the answers. I’m just saying we need to start somewhere. We need to start having these conversations. We need to start caring again.
Because right now, the news is broken. And if we don’t fix it, who will?
So, let’s start talking. Let’s start caring. Let’s start demanding better. Because we deserve better. And the news deserves better too.
And honestly, I think we all deserve a break from the noise. From the constant barrage of information. From the never-ending cycle of outrage. We deserve a break. And the news deserves a break too.
So, let’s give it one. Let’s take a step back. Let’s breathe. And let’s come back ready to fight for better journalism. For better news. For a better world.
About the Author: Martha Jenkins is a senior magazine editor with over 20 years of experience in the news industry. She’s worked as a beat reporter, a foreign correspondent, and now an editor. She’s seen it all, and she’s not afraid to call out the industry’s flaws. When she’s not editing, she’s probably complaining about the weather or eating tacos.
As the 24-hour news cycle continues to dominate our lives, the impact on our mental health is becoming increasingly apparent.
