Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Room
I’ve been in this business for 22 years. That’s right, 22. I started back when newspapers still had that god-awful smell of ink and paper that would stick to your fingers. I’ve seen a lot, and frankly, I’m tired. Tired of the spin, tired of the clickbait, tired of the nonsense that passes for news these days.
It’s not just me. Last Tuesday, I was at the diner on 3rd with my friend Marcus—let’s call him Marcus because his real name doesn’t matter here—and he said, “You know, Sarah, I used to trust the news. Now? I don’t know what to believe.” And that’s the problem, isn’t it? We’ve got this massive trust issue, and it’s not getting better.
I mean, look at the state of things. We’ve got outlets that used to be pillars of journalism now chasing clicks like some kinda desperate influencer. It’s completley maddening. And don’t even get me started on the algorithms. They’re basically training us to have the attention span of a goldfish.
But It’s Not All Bad, Right?
Okay, fine. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh. There are still some good folks out there doing real journalism. I was at a conference in Austin about three months ago, and I met this reporter, let’s call her Dave, who was digging into local corruption. She told me, “It’s hard, but someone’s gotta do it.” And she’s right. Someone’s gotta do it.
But here’s the thing: it’s not enough. We need more than just a handful of heroes. We need a systemic change. We need to stop rewarding outlets that prioritize sensationalism over substance. And we need to start holding them accountable.
And What About the Little Guys?
Let me tell you something about small-town journalism. It’s dying. And it’s dying fast. I remember when I started, there were these little papers all over Vermont, run by passionate people who cared about their communities. Now? A lot of them are gone. And with them, goes the heart of local news.
I was talking to a colleague named Dave—yeah, another Dave—about this just the other day. He said, “It’s not just about the news, Sarah. It’s about the community. When the local paper shuts down, it’s like losing a part of your town.” And he’s not wrong. It’s like losing a part of your identity.
The Role of Tech in All This
Now, I’m not gonna sit here and pretend I understand all the tech stuff. But I know enough to be dangerous. And what I know is that social media has played a huge role in the decline of quality journalism. It’s not just about the spread of misinformation—though that’s a big part of it. It’s about the way it’s changed how we consume news.
I mean, think about it. When was the last time you sat down and read a full article? Really read it? Or do you just scroll through headlines, looking for something that catches your eye? And even then, do you read the whole thing, or just the bits that confirm what you already believe?
It’s a problem. A big one. And it’s not gonna fix itself. We need to start thinking critically about the way we consume news. We need to demand better. And we need to support the outlets that are actually doing the work.
And What Can We Do?
So, what’s the solution? I wish I had a simple answer. But I don’t. What I do know is that we need to start somewhere. And that somewhere is with us. The consumers. The readers. The people who care about quality journalism.
We need to stop sharing that clickbait crap. We need to start supporting local journalism. And we need to hold the big outlets accountable. It’s not gonna be easy. But it’s necessary.
And look, I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. It’s gonna take time. It’s gonna take effort. But it’s worth it. Because at the end of the day, we need journalism that informs, not misleads. We need journalism that unites, not divides. And we need journalism that’s honest, even when it’s hard.
So, let’s start there. Let’s start with the basics. Let’s start with the truth. Because honestly, we owe it to ourselves. And we owe it to the future.
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A Personal Note
I’m not gonna lie. Writing this has been tough. It’s not easy to admit that the industry you love is broken. But it’s necessary. Because if we don’t talk about it, how can we fix it?
So, here’s to the future. Here’s to the journalists who are still out there, doing the hard work. And here’s to the readers who demand better. Because we deserve better. We really do.
And look, I’m not saying I have all the answers. But I know one thing: we can’t keep doing what we’re doing. We need to change. And we need to change now.
So, let’s get to work.
About the Author
Sarah Thompson has been a senior editor for over two decades, working with major publications across the country. She’s seen the industry evolve—sometimes for the better, sometimes not. When she’s not editing, she’s probably complaining about the state of journalism or arguing with her cat about who gets the comfy chair. You can find her on Twitter @SarahT_Editor, where she’s always happy to rant about the latest news debacle.
