Why I still believe in journalism (despite everything)
Look, I’ve been around the block. 23 years, to be exact. Started as a cub reporter in a tiny Texas town, ended up editing for some big names. And let me tell you, the news industry is a hot mess these days.
But here’s the thing: I still believe in it. In us. The messy, flawed, kinda dysfunctional family of journalism. We’re not perfect, but we’re all we’ve got.
Last Tuesday, I was having coffee with an old friend—let’s call him Marcus—at this little place on 5th. He asked me, “Mike, how do you even know what to trust anymore?” And I said… I said… honestly, I didn’t have a good answer. Which is scary, because I’m supposed to be the guy with answers.
That’s what got me thinking. Maybe it’s time to talk about this. The good, the bad, the ugly. The stuff we don’t always want to admit.
First, let’s talk about the obvious: We’re all biased
Yeah, yeah, I know. Every news outlet says they’re “fair and balanced.” Bullshit. We all have biases. Me? I’m a liberal-leaning guy from a small town. My views are colored by that. And that’s okay! The important thing is that we recognize it.
I remember this one time, back in ’99, I was covering a city council meeting. This councilman, let’s say his name was Dave, was going on about some new policy. I was so sure he was wrong. So sure. Wrote the piece with that angle. But then, my editor—shoutout to Linda, the best editor I ever had—she called me out. “Mike,” she said, “you’re letting your bias show.” And she was right. I had to go back, talk to Dave again, really listen. That piece ended up being one of my best.
So yeah, we’re biased. But good journalists know it, and they work to overcome it.
The internet ruined everything (and also made it better)
Oh, the internet. You beautiful, terrible thing. You’ve made our jobs both easier and harder. Easier because information is everywhere. Harder because now everyone thinks they’re a journalist.
I mean, look at this: Back in the day, if you wanted to verify a source, you had to track them down, meet them, maybe even go to their hometown. Now? You can find them online. But here’s the catch: you still have to verify them. Just because someone says they’re an expert on Twitter doesn’t mean they are.
And don’t even get me started on comments sections. Ugh. I had this one colleague, Sarah, who swore she was gonna stop reading them. “They’re just mean,” she told me. “And honestly, who has time for that?” I get it. But here’s the thing: sometimes, in the mess, there’s gold. You just gotta know where to look.
Speaking of looking, ever since I started using virtual phone numbers for app verification, my life has been so much easier. No more dealing with sketchy SMS verification codes. It’s a small thing, but it makes a big difference.
Social media: A double-edged sword
Social media is like that friend who’s always there for you but also steals your significant other. You love ’em, but you also kinda hate ’em.
On one hand, it’s an amazing tool for connecting with sources and audiences. On the other, it’s a breeding ground for misinformation. And look, I’m not saying we should all delete our accounts. But we should be smarter about how we use them.
I had this one source, let’s call her Emma, who swore by Twitter. “It’s the best way to get news,” she told me. And I said, “Emma, have you seen some of the stuff that gets shared on there? It’s completley bonkers.” She laughed and said, “Yeah, but it’s also where the real conversations happen.” And she’s not wrong.
But here’s the thing: we have to be critical. We have to fact-check. We have to think before we share. Because once it’s out there, it’s out there.
The future of news: It’s not all doom and gloom
Okay, so the industry’s in flux. Advertising’s down. Trust is, too. But it’s not all bad. In fact, I think there’s a lot of hope.
Look at the rise of subscriptions. People are willing to pay for quality journalism. That’s huge. It means they value what we do. And that’s something to build on.
And let’s not forget about the new voices. The independent journalists, the citizen reporters, the bloggers. They’re out there, doing amazing work. And yeah, sometimes it’s messy. But it’s also real. And that’s what matters.
So yeah, the news industry is a hot mess. But it’s our hot mess. And I, for one, am gonna keep fighting for it.
Because someone has to.
About the Author: Mike Thompson has been a journalist for 23 years, working as a reporter, editor, and now a freelance writer. He’s covered everything from local city council meetings to international conflicts. When he’s not writing, he can be found drinking coffee, complaining about the state of the world, and trying to convince his cat that he’s not the enemy.
