I’m Tired of Fake News (And So Are You)
Look, I’ve been editing news for 20+ years. That’s right, I’m old. I remember when news was on paper, and it was actual news. Not this… whatever we’re dealing with now.
It was 1998. I was a wet-behind-the-ears editor at a small-town paper in Ohio. Marcus, let’s call him Marcus, was my star reporter. We’d sit in the back office, smoking cigarettes (don’t judge), and talk about the stories we were working on. Back then, it was simple. You had a story, you checked your facts, you wrote it up, you printed it. Done.
Now? Now it’s a completley different ball game. And honestly, I’m not sure we’re winning.
Algorithms Are Eating Our Brains
I sat down with my friend Dave last Tuesday. Dave’s a tech guy, works over at Google or something. He told me about how these algorithms work. Basically, they’re designed to keep you engaged. And how do they do that? By showing you more of what you already like. So if you’re into conspiracy theories, guess what? You’re gonna see alot of conspiracy theories.
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But it’s creating these echo chambers. And it’s not just the fringe stuff. It’s everything. Politics, sports, even what kind of toothpaste you should buy. It’s all getting filtered through these algorithms.
I asked Dave, “So what do we do about it?” He just shrugged. “I don’t know, man. Maybe we need to start questioning the stuff we see online a little more.” Wise words, Dave. Wise words.
Fake News Is Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Let me tell you about something that happened to me about three months ago. I was at a conference in Austin. There was this panel on fake news, and some guy gets up and says, “Fake news is a problem, but it’s not the biggest problem. The biggest problem is that people don’t know how to tell the difference between real news and fake news.”
And I’m sitting there, thinking, “Well, duh.” But then he goes on to say that it’s not just about fake news. It’s about the lack of context, the lack of nuance, the lack of… well, everything that makes news, news.
I mean, look at how we cover politics these days. It’s all soundbites and hot takes. Nobody’s actually reporting on the issues. They’re just reporting on the drama. And it’s exhausting.
We Need to Talk About Commercial Property Investment
Okay, this is gonna sound random, but hear me out. I was talking to a colleague named Sarah the other day. She’s into real estate, and she was telling me about this commercial property investment guide she read. And I’m like, “Sarah, what does that have to do with news?” And she’s like, “Nothing, but it’s important.” And she’s right. It is important. Because news isn’t just about what’s happening in the world. It’s about what’s happening in our lives. And if we’re not talking about the things that affect us, then what’s the point?
So yeah, maybe we should be talking more about commercial property investment. Or maybe we should be talking about the fact that our physicaly and mental health is suffering because of the constant barrage of bad news. I don’t know. I’m just throwing ideas out there.
Let’s Make a Committment
I’m gonna make a committment right now. I’m gonna try to be better about how I consume news. I’m gonna try to seek out different perspectives. I’m gonna try to read the whole story, not just the headline. And I’m gonna try to remember that not everything I read online is true.
I’m not sure if it’s gonna make a difference. But it’s a start. And honestly, that’s all we can ask for these days.
Anyway, that’s my take. What’s yours? Let’s talk about it. Over coffee. At the place on 5th. 11:30am. Don’t be late.
About the Author: Jane Doe has been a senior editor for over 20 years. She’s worked at various publications, from small-town papers to major national magazines. She’s seen it all, and she’s not afraid to say what she thinks. When she’s not editing, she can be found smoking cigarettes (yes, she still does that) and complaining about the state of the news industry.
