I’ve Been a Journalist for 22 Years. Here’s What’s Wrong.
Let me tell you something, folks. I’ve been in this game since the Clinton administration. That’s right, I’m old. But I’ve seen alot, and I’m gonna tell you what I think is wrong with the news today.
It’s not just the algorithms, though they’re a big part of it. It’s not just the 24-hour news cycle, though that’s a problem too. It’s us. We’re the problem. We click on the garbage, we share the garbage, and then we complain about the garbage.
I remember back in ’98, when I was a wet-behind-the-ears reporter at the Austin Chronicle. My editor, let’s call him Marcus, he used to say, “Liz, if it bleeds, it leads.” And honestly, I thought that was just some old-school journalism thing. But now? Now it’s like the whole industry runs on that motto. And it’s completley out of hand.
We’re All Addicted to the Chaos
Look, I get it. I do. I’ve been there. You’re scrolling through your feed, and you see a headline that’s just too juicy to pass up. “Local Man Eats 214 Hot Dogs in One Sitting!” or “Celebrity You Sorta Know Gets a New Boob Job!” And you click. Because it’s entertaining. Because it’s easy. Because it’s there.
But here’s the thing: we’re not just hurting ourselves when we do this. We’re hurting journalism. We’re telling the algorithms what we want, and they’re delivering. And what we want, apparently, is garbage.
I was having coffee with a friend last Tuesday, let’s call him Dave. He’s a teacher, right? And he’s telling me about how his students are getting their news from TikTok. TikTok! I mean, come on. That’s like getting your weather report from a fortune cookie.
“Dave,” I said, “that’s not how this is supposed to work.” And he just shrugged. “Liz,” he said, “it’s where the news is.” And that’s the problem, isn’t it? We’ve let the news become a sideshow.
And Don’t Even Get Me Started on the Outlets
I could go on and on about the outlets. About how they’ve sold their souls to the highest bidder. About how they’ll sensationalize anything to get a click. About how they’ll bury a story if it’s not “sexy” enough. But I won’t. Because you already know this. You see it every day.
What I will say is this: it’s not all bad. There are still good journalists out there. There are still outlets that care about the truth. But they’re drowning in a sea of clickbait, and it’s getting harder and harder to find them.
I remember when I worked at the Houston Post. We had a motto: “We print the truth, and nothing but the truth.” And we meant it. We weren’t perfect, but we tried. And that’s what journalism is supposed to be about.
So What Can We Do?
I’m not sure. Honestly, I’m not. I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I don’t have any easy answers. But I do have some thoughts.
First, we need to stop clicking on the garbage. I know, I know. Easier said than done. But if we don’t feed the beast, it will starve. And maybe, just maybe, the algorithms will start to change.
Second, we need to support the good outlets. Subscribe to them. Share their stories. Tell your friends about them. Because they can’t survive on ad revenue alone. They need our support.
And third, we need to be smarter consumers of news. We need to ask questions. We need to verify facts. We need to think critically. Because if we don’t, who will?
I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. It’s not. But it’s necessary. Because the news cycle is broken, and it’s up to us to fix it.
Oh, and one more thing. If you’re gonna shop, at least do it smart. Check out smart shopping tips money saving. Because, you know, every little bit helps.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m gonna go have a drink. It’s been a long day.
About the Author
Liz Carter has been a journalist for over 22 years. She’s worked at the Austin Chronicle, the Houston Post, and now writes freelance pieces for various outlets. She’s a staunch advocate for ethical journalism and believes that the news cycle is broken. When she’s not writing, she’s probably drinking whiskey or yelling at her cat.
