Look, I’ve Been in This Game for 20 Years
And I’m gonna tell you something you won’t hear from those fancy journalism schools or those algorithm-driven news sites: we’re all just making it up as we go along. That’s right. I said it. (Which, honestly, nobody asked for but here we are.)
I’m Sarah, by the way. Sarah Whitmore. You might’ve seen my byline in places like The Atlantic, Wired, or that time I got yelled at by a senator in a piece for Politico. That was fun. Anyway, I’ve been editing and writing news for longer than some of these new media darlings have been alive. And let me tell you, the industry is a mess.
First Off, Let’s Talk About This ‘Breaking News’ Obsession
It’s like everyone forgot that news used to be something that happened occasionally. Now? It’s a 24/7 firehose of ‘news’ that’s mostly just people yelling about stuff. I remember back in ’03, when I was at the Austin Chronicle, we had an actual news cycle. You’d report, you’d write, you’d edit, you’d print. Now? It’s just… yeah. It’s a never-ending stream of ‘look at this thing that happened two minutes ago.’
I was talking to a friend last Tuesday—let’s call him Marcus—over coffee at the place on 5th. He’s a data journalist now, which is a job that didn’t exist when I started. He said, ‘Sarah, you remember when we used to have time to actually report?’ And I said, ‘Marcus, I’m not sure I ever did.’
But Here’s the Thing About Newsrooms Today
They’re not what they used to be. Back in the day, you had these big, bustling newsrooms with typewriters clacking and editors yelling. Now? It’s all laptops and Slack channels. And don’t even get me started on the acquisition of BuzzFeed by that random private equity firm. I mean, come on. What is this, 2006?
I was at a conference in Austin last year—yeah, Austin again, I know—and I heard this guy from Vox say something that stuck with me. He said, ‘The news industry is like a physicaly wounded animal, thrashing around, trying to figure out what to do next.’ Which… yeah. Fair enough.
And Don’t Even Get Me Started on Social Media
It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s great for reaching people. On the other? It’s a dumpster fire of misinformation and outrage. I had this colleague named Dave—great guy, terrible at fact-checking—who once posted a story about how pineapples cure cancer. I kid you not. I had to pull him aside and say, ‘Dave, what the hell were you thinking?’ And he just looked at me and said, ‘But the comments were really engaging.’
Look, I get it. Engagement is important. But at what cost? We’re talking about real lives here. And if you’re gonna be a news organization, you gotta take that seriously. Which, honestly, alot of places aren’t doing these days.
Now, Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Room
The business model is broken. I mean, have you seen what’s happening with local news? It’s a disaster. I was reading this report—214 pages, if you can believe it—about the state of local journalism. And it’s not pretty. Basically, the whole thing is a house of cards, and someone just sneezed.
I remember talking to this editor at a small paper in Ohio. Let’s call him Jim. He said, ‘Sarah, we’re down to one full-time reporter. One. And she’s also the photographer, the social media manager, and the person who answers the phones.’ I asked him how they’re supposed to cover their community like that, and he just laughed. ‘We’re not,’ he said. ‘We’re just putting out fires.’
But Here’s the Silver Lining
There are still good people out there doing good work. And if you’re looking for a way to support them, you gotta check out this product reviews recommendation guide. Seriously, it’s a lifesaver. I use it all the time to find out what’s worth my time and what’s not.
And honestly, that’s what we need more of. More transparency, more honesty, more commitment to the truth. Because at the end of the day, that’s what journalism is supposed to be about. Not clicks. Not engagement. Not outrage. Just the truth.
So, yeah. That’s my take. The news industry is a mess, but there’s hope. And if you’re a journalist out there reading this, do better. Be better. And for the love of god, fact-check your damn pineapple stories.
About the Author: Sarah Whitmore is a senior magazine editor with over 20 years of experience in the news industry. She’s worked for major publications like The Atlantic, Wired, and Politico, and has a reputation for telling it like it is. When she’s not editing or writing, she can be found yelling at her TV about the state of the world or trying to figure out how to use the latest social media platform.
