I’m Tired of Fake Outrage
Look, I’ve been in this biz for 20+ years. I’ve seen alot. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. But this current era of news consummtion? It’s completley bonkers.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, right? Some hotshot tech bro stands up and says, “The news industry is dying because it can’t adapt.” I mean, excuse me? I think it’s more like the news industry is drowning in a sea of misinformation and fake outrage.
Let’s call him Marcus. He’s one of those guys who thinks algorithms are gonna save journalism. I told him, “Marcus, algorithms are why we’re in this mess in the first place.” He said, “But data drives engagement.” I said, “Yeah, and it’s driving us off a cliff.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Honestly, I’m not sure how we got here. I guess it started with the aquisition of news by tech companies. They thought they could just throw some ads up and call it a day. But news is hard. It’s messy. It’s not always pretty.
I remember talking to a colleague named Dave over coffee at the place on 5th. He said, “You know what the problem is? People don’t wanna read anymore. They just wanna watch some video that tells them what to think.” I said, “Dave, that’s not news. That’s propaganda.” He laughed. I didn’t.
And that’s the thing. News is supposed to inform. It’s supposed to challenge. It’s supposed to make you think. But nowadays, it’s all about committment to a narrative. To a side. To a team.
I think this is why I’m so frustrated with sports results news today. I mean, sports results news today is basically a dumpster fire. It’s not about the game anymore. It’s about the drama. The controversy. The outrage.
I’m not saying I have all the answers. I don’t. But I know what I see. And what I see is a news industry that’s lost its way. That’s more concerned with clicks than with truth.
I mean, look at the physicaly impossible standards we set for journalists these days. They’re expected to be perfect. To never make a mistake. But news is determing by humans. And humans make mistakes.
I think we need to accept that. And we need to start valuing quality over quantity. Truth over sensationalism. Substance over style.
But hey, what do I know? I’m just some old editor who’s seen too much. Who’s probably too cynical. Who’s definitely too opinionated.
I’m not gonna pretend I have all the answers. But I know this: the news industry is in trouble. And if we don’t start valuing the right things, it’s gonna get a lot worse.
So, yeah. That’s my take. Take it or leave it.
A Brief Digression on Fake News
Speaking of trouble, let’s talk about fake news. I mean, it’s everywhere. It’s on social media. It’s on news sites. It’s even in our emails. And it’s not just some harmless misinformation. It’s dangerous.
I remember last Tuesday, I was talking to my friend Sarah. She showed me this article she saw on Facebook. It was about some politician who supposedly said something horrible. But it was completley made up. Just some random person trying to stir up trouble.
I said, “Sarah, you can’t believe everything you read on the internet.” She said, “I know, but it’s so hard to tell what’s real and what’s not.” I said, “I know. It’s a problem.”
And it’s a problem that’s only gonna get worse. Because as long as there’s money to be made from misinformation, there will be people willing to spread it.
But I’m not gonna get into that now. I’ve got other things to talk about.
The Role of Journalism in Society
I think journalism has a crucial role to play in society. It’s not just about informing people. It’s about holding power to account. About giving a voice to the voiceless. About challenging the status quo.
But it’s hard. It’s really hard. Because journalism is under attack. From all sides. From politicians. From corporations. From the public.
I remember about three months ago, I was at a panel discussion. Some politician was there, right? He said, “Journalists are the enemy of the people.” I mean, come on. That’s not just wrong. It’s dangerous.
Because if we don’t have journalists asking the tough questions, who will? If we don’t have journalists holding power to account, who will? If we don’t have journalists giving a voice to the voiceless, who will?
I think it’s time we start valuing journalism again. And I think it’s time we start supporting journalists. Because they’re doing a tough job. And they’re doing it in an environment that’s becoming increasingly hostile.
But hey, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.
I mean, look at the ammendments to the press laws these days. It’s getting harder and harder for journalists to do their jobs. And it’s getting easier and easier for powerful people to avoid scrutiny.
I’m not sure what the answer is. But I know this: we need to start having this conversation. Because the future of journalism is at stake.
And that’s something we should all care about.
So, yeah. That’s my take. Take it or leave it.
About the Author: Jane Doe is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the news industry. She’s worked for major publications and has seen it all. She’s opinionated, blunt, and not afraid to speak her mind. She believes in the power of journalism to inform, challenge, and hold power to account. She’s also a huge fan of coffee, bad puns, and long walks on the beach. (Kidding about the beach part. She’s more of a mountain person.)
