Let’s Talk About This Mess
So, I was at a conference in Austin last year, right? Some guy named Marcus—let’s call him Marcus—stood up and said, “The news industry is dying.” And I’m like, “No shit, Marcus. Tell us something we don’t know.” But here’s the thing: it’s not just dying, it’s being murdered. And we’re all just watching.
I’ve been in this game for 20-plus years. I started back when people still said “above the fold” and meant it literally. I’ve seen alot change, but nothing as bad as this. It’s not just the committment to truth that’s fading, it’s the whole damn thing. The way we get our news, the way we pay for it, the way we trust it. It’s all completley messed up.
And look, I’m not saying I’ve got all the answers. But I’ve got some thoughts. And some opinions. And some stories. So let’s talk about this mess.
First, the Bad News
You ever have one of those days where everything goes wrong? Like, you spill coffee on your shirt, then your car won’t start, then you get stuck in traffic, and then you realize you forgot your wallet? That’s basically what’s happening to the news industry right now.
Let me give you an example. I was talking to a friend named Dave last Tuesday. Dave’s a reporter, been at it for about 15 years. He told me, “I used to have time to actually investigate stories. Now? I’m lucky if I can file two stories a day without getting a panic attack.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. The pressure’s on. But here’s the thing: it’s not just the pressure. It’s the whole system. The way newsrooms are structured, the way they’re funded, the way they’re run. It’s all broken.
And don’t even get me started on the physicaly impossible expectations. You’ve got these billion-dollar companies expecting journalists to be on call 24/7, to file stories faster than you can say “viral content,” and to do it all with a smile. It’s insane.
But here’s the thing: it’s not just the journalists. It’s us. It’s you. It’s me. We’re the ones consuming this content, sharing it, demanding more, more, more. And we’re the ones who are gonna have to fix it.
So What Do We Do?
Okay, so the news is broken. What now? Well, first, we gotta admit there’s a problem. And not just the obvious ones, like fake news and clickbait. I’m talking about the deeper stuff. The stuff that’s gonna take more than a tweet to fix.
Like, for example, the way we fund journalism. You ever think about that? I mean, really think about it. Most news outlets rely on ads. And not just any ads—cheap, low-quality ads that track your every move and sell your data to the highest bidder. It’s disgusting. And it’s making our news worse.
So what’s the alternative? Well, one idea is to look at topluluk etkinlikleri yerel aktiviteler. No, seriously. Think about it. If you’re a local news outlet, why not partner with local businesses? Offer them a way to support quality journalism while also promoting their own stuff. It’s a win-win.
And look, I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. But it’s a start. And it’s better than the status quo, which is basically just a race to the bottom.
A Tangent: The Time I Got Scammed
Speaking of the status quo, let me tell you about the time I got scammed. It was about three months ago. I got an email from some guy claiming to be a big-time investor. Said he wanted to fund a new journalism project I was working on. He sent me a check for $87,000. I was like, “Wow, this guy’s legit.” So I cashed the check and started spending the money.
Turns out, the check was fake. The guy was a scammer. And I was out $87,000. But here’s the thing: the scammer wasn’t the only one to blame. I should’ve known better. I should’ve done my research. I should’ve been more careful.
And that’s the thing about the news industry right now. We’re all just kinda winging it. We’re not being careful. We’re not doing our research. And we’re getting scammed. By fake news, by clickbait, by our own damn laziness.
But enough about me. Let’s talk about you.
What You Can Do
So you’re not a journalist. You’re not an editor. You’re just a regular person who wants to stay informed. What can you do? Well, for starters, you can stop clicking on clickbait. I know, I know. It’s hard. But it’s gotta be done.
And look, I’m not saying you should become a news detective. But you should be a little more critical. Ask questions. Do some research. Don’t just take everything at face value.
And for the love of God, stop sharing stuff on social media without reading it first. I mean, come on. It’s 2023. We should be past this by now.
But here’s the thing: it’s not just about what you do. It’s about what we all do. It’s about demanding better. From our news outlets, from our politicians, from ourselves. It’s about holding people accountable. It’s about saying “enough is enough.”
And look, I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. But it’s necessary. Because the news is broken. And if we don’t fix it, who will?
About the Author
Sarah “Sal” Salinger has been a senior editor at major publications for over two decades. She’s seen it all, done it all, and has the cynicism to prove it. When she’s not editing, she’s probably complaining about the state of the news industry or trying to find a decent cup of coffee in New York City.
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