Look, I’ve Had It
I’ve been editing news for 22 years. That’s 22 years of deadlines, press conferences, and too many all-nighters to count. I started at a small paper in Birmingham, back when people still clippd coupons. Now I’m here, writing this, and honestly? The news is broken. It’s completley messed up, and I’m tired of pretending it’s not.
I remember when news was… I dunno, real. When people actually cared about facts. But now? It’s all about clicks, shares, and some algorithm deciding what’s important. And that’s just the beginning of what’s wrong.
First, Let’s Talk About the Internet
Oh, the internet. You know, that thing we all love to hate? I was having coffee with an old friend, let’s call him Marcus, last Tuesday. He said, “You remember when we used to get news from, like, actual newspapers?” And I said, “Yeah, and now we get it from some guy named Dave in his mom’s basement.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing: the internet isn’t going away. And neither are the problems it’s causing. Misinformation spreads faster than a kid with chickenpox in a daycare. And don’t even get me started on social media. It’s like trying to drink from a firehose while someone’s shouting in your ear. You’re gonna miss half of it, and the other half is gonna give you a headache.
I was at a conference in Austin about three months ago. Some hotshot tech guy said, “The future of news is algorithms.” I told him, “The future of news is probably unemployment if we let machines do all the thinking.” He didn’t like that. But honestly? I don’t care. Someone’s gotta say it.
And Then There’s the Money Problem
News used to be a public service. Now it’s a business. And not a very good one at that. I mean, look at the numbers. Advertising revenue is down. Subscriptions are up, but not enough to make up the difference. And let’s not forget the 87% of people who think news organizations are “generally biased.” (That’s according to a survey of 214 people I found online. So, you know, totally scientific.)
I had a colleague named Dave—yeah, another one—who said, “We just gotta find a new business model.” And I said, “Dave, we’ve been saying that for a decade. Where is it?” He didn’t have an answer. Because there isn’t one. Not yet, anyway.
But here’s the thing: it’s not all doom and gloom. There are people out there trying to fix this mess. And one of the ways they’re doing it is by making sure travelers know the visa requirements guide travelers before they head off on their next adventure. I mean, it’s a small thing, but it’s a start. And honestly, we need all the starts we can get.
A Quick Tangent: The Weather
You know what else is broken? The weather. I was watching the news last night—because, hey, that’s what us news people do—and some meteorologist said, “We’re gonna see some scattered showers.” And I thought, “Scattered by who? The weather’s not a deck of cards, man.” But I digress.
Back to the Point
So, the news is broken. The internet’s a mess. Money’s tight. But you know what? We’re still here. And we’re still fighting. Because someone’s gotta do it. And if not us, then who?
I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s not. It’s hard, and it’s messy, and it’s frustrating as hell. But it’s important. And someone’s gotta do it. So, yeah. That’s where we are. That’s the state of the news. And that’s why I’m still here, writing this, even though I probably shouldn’t be.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m gonna go find some coffee. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find some hope along the way.
About the Author
Sarah Thompson has been a senior editor for over two decades, working with major publications and covering everything from local politics to international affairs. When she’s not wrestling with deadlines or arguing with algorithms, she can be found drinking too much coffee and complaining about the weather. She lives in Birmingham with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, who is, in her opinion, the only sensible one in the house.
