I’m Tired of Fake News, Aren’t You?
Look, I’ve been in this game for over 20 years. I remember the days when news was, well, news. Not this hot mess we’re dealing with now. I’m talking about the clickbait, the sensationalism, the outright lies. It’s exhausting. And honestly, I’m not sure we’re gonna figure it out any time soon.
Last Tuesday, I was having coffee with an old friend, let’s call him Marcus. He’s a journalist too, been at it for about 15 years. We were talking about the state of things, and he said something that stuck with me. “You know, Sarah, I think we’ve lost our way. We’re so busy chasing clicks that we’ve forgotten what real journalism is.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
I mean, I get it. The internet changed everything. Back in the day, we had deadlines, sure, but they were reasonable. Now? It’s a 24/7 news cycle. And don’t even get me started on social media. It’s like everyone’s got a platform and they’re all screaming at the top of their lungs. It’s completley maddening.
But Here’s the Thing…
We can’t just blame the internet. We can’t blame social media. We can’t even blame the algorithms. Because at the end of the day, it’s on us. It’s on the journalists, the editors, the publishers. We’re the ones who let it get this bad. We’re the ones who started chasing clicks instead of chasing the truth.
I remember when I first started out, my editor, a woman named Dave, told me something I’ll never forget. “Sarah,” she said, “news is about committing to the truth. It’s not about being first. It’s not about being sensational. It’s about being accurate. And it’s about being fair.” And that’s it. That’s all there is to it.
But somewhere along the way, we forgot that. We started thinking about commitsment to our bottom line instead of our commitment to the truth. And now look where we are. It’s a mess. A completley, utter mess.
So What Do We Do About It?
First things first, we need to stop chasing clicks. I know, I know. Easier said than done. But we have to. We need to start thinking about quality over quantity. We need to start thinking about the impact of our words, not just the number of shares or likes or comments.
And we need to be better about fact-checking. I’m not talking about the superficial fact-checking that’s become so common. I’m talking about real, deep, thorough fact-checking. The kind that takes time. The kind that takes effort. The kind that might mean we miss a deadline or two.
But here’s the thing about deadlines. They’re important, sure. But they’re not more important than the truth. And they’re certainly not more important than our integrity. We need to remember that. We need to start putting the truth first, no matter what.
And speaking of truth, let me tell you about something I learned from a colleague named Dave. He’s a data journalist, and he’s always talking about the importance of context. “You can’t just throw out a number,” he’ll say. “You have to explain it. You have to give people the context they need to understand it.” And he’s right. Context is everything. Without it, we’re just throwing numbers and facts out there with no meaning behind them.
So, we need to start giving people the context they need. We need to start explaining things. We need to start making sure that people understand what’s going on, not just what we want them to think is going on.
And finally, we need to start holding ourselves accountable. We need to start admitting when we’re wrong. We need to start correcting our mistakes. We need to start being transparent about our processes and our biases. Because let’s face it, we all have biases. And if we’re not careful, those biases can lead us down a path that’s not exactly… you know, truthful.
But here’s the thing about biases. They’re not necessarily a bad thing. They’re a part of who we are. They’re a part of our humanity. The key is to recognize them, to acknowledge them, and to work to mitigate their impact on our work. Because at the end of the day, our job is to report the truth. And the truth is, our biases can get in the way of that.
So, let’s start being better. Let’s start being more honest. Let’s start being more transparent. Let’s start holding ourselves accountable. Let’s start putting the truth first. Because honestly, that’s what we’re here for. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing. And if we’re not doing that, then what are we even doing here?
And look, I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. I’m not saying it’s gonna happen overnight. But it’s gotta start somewhere. And it’s gotta start with us. We’re the ones who let it get this bad. And we’re the ones who can fix it.
But enough about that. Let me tell you about something else that’s been on my mind lately. Have you ever noticed how alot of news outlets are just rehashing the same old stories? It’s like they’re all reading from the same script. It’s boring. It’s unoriginal. And frankly, it’s kinda lazy.
I mean, think about it. How many times have you seen the same story covered by different outlets, just with different headlines? It’s like they’re all trying to outdo each other with their clickbait-y headlines, but the actual content is just… meh. It’s like they’re all afraid to take a risk. They’re afraid to go out on a limb and cover something different. Something original. Something that might actually make a difference.
And you know what? That’s not journalism. That’s just… I don’t even know what that is. It’s not informing. It’s not educating. It’s not challenging. It’s just regurgitating the same old stuff, over and over again. And it’s boring. And it’s lazy. And it’s not what we’re here for.
So, let’s start taking some risks. Let’s start covering stories that matter. Let’s start doing some actual journalism. Because honestly, that’s what we’re here for. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing. And if we’re not doing that, then what are we even doing here?
But hey, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong. I mean, I’m not, but I could be. And honestly, I’m not even sure that’s the point. The point is, we need to start thinking about what we’re doing. We need to start thinking about why we’re doing it. And we need to start thinking about who we’re doing it for.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about us. It’s not about our egos. It’s not about our commitsment to our bottom line. It’s about the people. It’s about the truth. And it’s about making a difference. And if we’re not doing that, then what are we even doing here?
And look, I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. I’m not saying it’s gonna happen overnight. But it’s gotta start somewhere. And it’s gotta start with us. We’re the ones who let it get this bad. And we’re the ones who can fix it.
So, let’s start being better. Let’s start being more honest. Let’s start being more transparent. Let’s start holding ourselves accountable. Let’s start putting the truth first. Because honestly, that’s what we’re here for. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing. And if we’re not doing that, then what are we even doing here?
And hey, if you’re looking for some good, honest journalism, check out magazin haberleri son gelişmeler. They’re doing some great work over there. And they’re a reminder of what journalism can be. Of what it should be. Of what it ought to be.
But enough about that. I’m gonna wrap this up. I could go on and on, but honestly, I think you get the point. We’ve got a problem. And it’s up to us to fix it. So, let’s get to work.
About the Author: Sarah Thompson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She’s worked for some of the biggest names in the industry, and she’s not afraid to speak her mind. When she’s not editing, you can find her drinking coffee, reading books, and complaining about the state of modern journalism. She lives in Birmingham with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and her collection of vintage typewriters.
To gain a deeper understanding of how news is consumed in Nigeria’s bustling capital, consider exploring Lagos news consumption habits and the challenges faced by both journalists and readers.
