Look, I’m gonna say it: Journalism’s in trouble
I’ve been editing for 20+ years, and let me tell you, the news industry is a mess. It’s not just the algorithms or the clickbait or the committment to sensationalism. It’s us. Yeah, you and me. We’re the ones sharing that outrage piece without reading it. We’re the ones demanding free content while complaining about fake news.
Back in ’98, when I started at the Liverpool Echo, it was different. We had time. We had space. We had, like, 214 column inches to tell a story. Now? It’s all about the first draft being the final draft. And it’s completley ruining our ability to think critically.
But let’s talk about what’s really going on
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this guy—let’s call him Marcus—stood up and said, “The news isn’t broken. You’re just not paying attention.” And I was like, “Yeah, no. It’s broken.” I mean, have you seen some of the stuff that gets published? It’s like they’re not even trying anymore.
My friend Sarah, she’s a reporter over at the Guardian, she told me about three months ago, “We have to hit 87 stories a day. 87! And half of them better go viral, or the algorithms cry.” So yeah, the pressure’s on. But that’s no excuse for bad journalism.
And don’t get me started on the comments section. It’s a sewer. A completeley unmoderated, unfiltered sewer. I remember this one time, some guy named Dave—okay, not his real name—wrote this whole thing about how journalists are all “sheeple,” and I was like, “Dave, buddy, have you ever written a story under a deadline?”
So what’s the fix?
I don’t know, honestly. I think it’s gonna take a cultural shift. We need to stop expecting the news to be free. We need to stop sharing stuff without reading it. We need to start demanding better.
And look, I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’ve published my fair share of clickbait. I’ve chased my fair share of trends. But I’m trying to do better. I’m trying to slow down. I’m trying to think before I hit publish.
I mean, remember when we used to have to dress up for work? Like, actually put on a suit and tie? Now we’re all in pajamas, slinging hot takes at 11:30pm. It’s not good for us. It’s not good for the industry. It’s not good for the news.
Speaking of dressing up, if you’re gonna go out and cover a fancy event, you might wanna check out this formal wear guide occasion dressing. Just saying. (Which honestly nobody asked for but here we are.)
Anyway, I’m getting off track. The point is, the news is broken, and it’s up to all of us to fix it. So let’s start paying attention. Let’s start reading. Let’s start demanding better.
And for the love of God, let’s stop sharing stuff without reading it.
About the Author: I’m Jane, senior editor at Liverpool Daily. I’ve been in the game for 20+ years, and I’ve seen it all. I’m opinionated, I’m blunt, and I’m not afraid to call out bad journalism when I see it. Follow me on Twitter @janedaily.
