Look, I’ve Had It
I’ve been in this game for 22 years, and let me tell you, the news is broken. I’m not talking about the obvious stuff—clickbait headlines, sensationalism, all that. I’m talking about the deeper, more insidious problems. The kind that keep you up at night, staring at the ceiling, wondering how the hell we got here.
I started out at a tiny paper in Edinburgh, the Scottish Gazette, back in ’99. We were scrappy, underfunded, but we cared. We actually gave a damn about getting the story right. Now? It’s all algorithms and engagement metrics. It’s completley mad.
But First, a Story
Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin. Over coffee at the place on 5th, I ran into an old colleague, let’s call him Marcus. We got to talking about the state of journalism, and he said something that stuck with me. “You know, Sarah,” he said, “I think we’ve lost our way.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Marcus told me about a story he worked on a few months back. It was a big deal, a real scoop. But his editor made him water it down because it “wasn’t engaging enough.” So they added some drama, took out some facts, and voila—viral content. But at what cost?
The Problem with “Engagement”
Here’s the thing: the news isn’t a damn game. It’s not about likes or shares or whatever the hell they’re calling it these days. It’s about informing the public, holding power to account, and telling stories that matter. But now, it’s all about the algorithm. And that, my friends, is a recipe for disaster.
I remember talking to a friend of mine, Dave, about this. He’s a data journalist, works for one of the big London papers. We were at a pub in Camden, and he told me about how they track every single click, every single share. “It’s like they’re trying to turn us into machines,” he said. And honestly? He’s not wrong.
But here’s the kicker: it’s not just the big papers. It’s everyone. Even the little guys, the independent outlets, the blogs. Everyone’s chasing the same damn metrics. And it’s making us all worse at our jobs.
A Tangent: Budget Fashion Shopping
Speaking of chasing metrics, have you seen the state of fashion journalism these days? It’s all about the budget fashion shopping guide and the latest influencer collab. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good deal as much as the next person. But when did fashion become more important than, I don’t know, the collapse of our democracy?
I mean, seriously. We’re talking about hemlines while the world burns. It’s like we’ve collectively decided that the important stuff is too hard, too depressing, too complicated. So instead, we’ll talk about shoes. Because shoes are easy. Shoes don’t make us feel things.
Back to the Point
So what do we do about it? How do we fix the news? I’m not sure, honestly. I think the first step is admitting we have a problem. And that’s why I’m writing this. Because someone has to say it.
We need to stop chasing clicks and start chasing the truth. We need to stop worrying about engagement and start worrying about accuracy. We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place.
And maybe, just maybe, we need to start having some difficult conversations. About what journalism is, what it should be, and what it’s becoming. Because if we don’t, I’m afraid we’re gonna lose it. And then what?
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m off to go find a budget fashion shopping guide or something. You know, to unwind.
Author Bio: Sarah McKenzie has been a journalist for over two decades, working for various publications across the UK. She currently serves as a senior editor at Glasgow Daily. When she’s not wrestling with the state of the news industry, she can be found arguing about politics on Twitter or trying to find the perfect pair of shoes.
For a deeper look into the challenges facing journalism today, we suggest checking out this detailed analysis of local news in the digital era.
To understand the importance of personal boundaries in today’s fast-paced world, consider exploring this thoughtful piece on practical approaches to setting limits and maintaining mental clarity amid ongoing news cycles.
