Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Room
Look, I’ve been around the block. Twenty-three years, to be exact. Started as a cub reporter in some godforsaken town in Alabama, ended up here, editing a decent-sized publication in Birmingham. And let me tell you, the state of local news? It’s a disaster. A complete and utter disaster.
I remember when I first moved to Birmingham back in ’99. Got a job at the Birmingham Daily, thought I was hot stuff. Young, eager, ready to take on the world. But even then, even back then, I saw the writing on the wall. Newspapers were struggling. Advertisers were pulling out. And the internet? Oh, the internet was just a shiny new toy that nobody knew what to do with.
Fast forward to today. It’s worse than ever. And I’m not just saying that because I’m getting old and grumpy. I’m saying that because it’s true. And if you don’t believe me, just ask Marcus. Let’s call him Marcus. He’s a friend of a friend, works over at the Birmingham Times. We were grabbing coffee last Tuesday, over at that place on 5th, you know the one with the terrible pastries but great coffee. And he told me, straight up, ‘We’re drowning, man. We’re all drowning.’
But Why, Though?
So why is it so bad? I mean, really? We’ve got more ways to consume news than ever before. We’ve got the internet, social media, podcasts, hell, even smart fridges can tell us what’s happening in the world. So why are we in trouble?
First off, let’s talk about money. Or lack thereof. Advertisers? They’ve all but abandoned us. They’d rather throw their cash at Facebook and Google, even though those platforms are about as trustworthy as a used car salesman. And don’t even get me started on clickbait. It’s everywhere. It’s like a disease. And it’s killing us.
But it’s not just about the money. It’s about the people. You see, local news isn’t just about reporting the facts. It’s about building a community. It’s about giving a voice to the voiceless. And when you take that away? When you strip it down to just another profit-driven machine? Well, you lose something vital. Something essential.
I remember covering a city council meeting back in 2005. It was boring as hell, honestly. But there was this one woman, let’s call her Sarah. She was there every week, fighting for better schools in her neighborhood. Nobody else cared. Nobody else was listening. But I was. And I wrote about it. And suddenly, people started to care. Suddenly, things started to change. That’s the power of local news, folks. That’s what we’re losing.
And Don’t Even Get Me Started on Social Media
Oh, look, I know what you’re gonna say. ‘But Sarah, what about social media? What about Twitter and Facebook and all that jazz?’ Yeah, yeah, I know. They’re great for spreading the word. They’re great for engaging with your audience. But let’s be real here. They’re also a hot mess.
You see, social media is like that friend who’s always drama. Always causing a scene, always stirring the pot. And sure, they might be fun to hang out with every now and then. But you wouldn’t trust them with your life. And you certainly wouldn’t trust them with your news.
Take the Las Vegas council news decisions update, for example. A few months back, there was this big decision about some new development downtown. And of course, social media had a field day. Everyone was up in arms, shouting about this and that. But who was actually reporting the facts? Who was actually doing the legwork? Not social media, that’s for sure.
And that’s the problem. Social media is all about the noise. It’s all about the drama. But it’s not about the truth. And that’s what we need. We need the truth. Even if it’s ugly. Even if it’s inconvenient. Even if it’s completley boring.
A Quick Tangent: The Time I Almost Got Fired
Speaking of truth, let me tell you about the time I almost got fired. It was back in 2008, I think. Or maybe it was 2009. Honestly, it’s all a blur. But anyway, I was covering this big story about some shady dealings at the local aquisition. And I had a source, let’s call him Dave. Dave was a good guy. A bit of a loose cannon, but a good guy nonetheless.
So Dave tells me all about this big secret meeting that’s gonna happen. And I’m like, ‘Dave, are you sure about this? This is big. This is huge.’ And he’s like, ‘I’m sure, Sarah. I’m sure.’ So I write the story. I publish it. And guess what? It was all a big fat lie. Dave had made it all up. And I was the one who looked like an idiot.
But you know what? I’m glad it happened. Because it taught me a valuable lesson. A lesson that I’ll never forget. And that lesson is: always double-check your sources. Always. No matter what. Because if you don’t, you’re gonna end up looking like a fool. And nobody wants that.
So What’s the Solution? Honestly, I’m Not Sure
Look, I don’t have all the answers. I wish I did. But I don’t. And neither does anybody else. But I do know this: we need to start valuing local news again. We need to start supporting it. Because without it, we’re lost. We’re adrift in a sea of misinformation and clickbait. And that’s not a world I want to live in.
So next time you’re scrolling through your Facebook feed, or your Twitter timeline, or whatever, take a second to think about where your news is coming from. Take a second to think about who’s reporting it. And take a second to think about why it matters. Because it does. It matters alot.
And if you don’t believe me, just ask Marcus. He’ll tell you the same thing.
About the Author
Sarah Thompson is a senior editor at the Birmingham Daily. She’s been in the news game for over two decades, and she’s not afraid to tell it like it is. When she’s not editing stories or covering city council meetings, she can be found drinking too much coffee and complaining about the state of the world. You can find her on Twitter at @sarah_thompson.
