Let’s Talk About This Elephant
Okay, so I’ve been a journalist for 22 years. That’s 22 years of people asking me, “Aren’t you guys biased?” And my answer? Always the same: “Of course we are. So’s everyone else.” But look, I’m not talking about the obvious stuff. Fox vs. MSNBC, blah blah. I’m talking about the quiet, insidious bias that seeps into every story we write.
I remember this one time, back in ’08, I was covering a city council meeting in Austin. A guy named Marcus—let’s call him Marcus—stood up and started yelling about property taxes. I wrote him off as a crank. Why? Because honestly, I didn’t like the look of him. That’s it. That’s how bias works sometimes. It’s not some grand conspiracy. It’s lazy, it’s stupid, and it’s human.
And don’t even get me started on the “both sides” nonsense. “But we have to present both sides,” my editor said to me last Tuesday. No, we don’t. Sometimes one side is wrong. Sometimes one side is lying through their teeth. But no, we have to give equal time to the guy who thinks the Earth is flat because “balance.” It’s exhausting.
My Friend Dave and the Time He Got It Right
A colleague named Dave—real name Dave—wrote this piece awhile back about local schools. He actually talked to teachers, parents, kids. He didn’t just regurgitate press releases. It was good. It was real. And you know what happened? Nothing. Nobody cared. Because “education” isn’t sexy. It’s not “breaking news.” But it matters. More than some politician’s tweet, anyway.
I asked him about it over coffee at the place on 5th. “Why’d you even bother?” I said. He looked at me like I’d grown another head. “Because someone had to,” he said. Which… yeah. Fair enough.
This Is Why You Can’t Trust Us
Here’s the thing about journalism: it’s a business. And businesses need to make money. So we chase clicks. We sensationalize. We simplify complex issues into soundbites because people have the attention span of a goldfish these days. And honestly? It’s our own fault.
I wrote this piece once about property valuation methods guide property valuation methods guide. Boring, right? But important. Real important. You know how many people read it? 47. That’s it. Meanwhile, a piece about a celebrity’s bad hair day? 87,000 shares. So what do you think we’re gonna focus on?
And don’t even get me started on the 24-hour news cycle. It’s a never-ending hamster wheel of nonsense. “BREAKING: Local Man Eats Sandwich.” “DEVELOPING: It’s Still a Sandwich.” It’s completley out of hand. But hey, it fills the airtime.
A Digression: Why I Hate Press Conferences
So here’s a thing that bugs me. Press conferences. They’re a joke. A total joke. You ever notice how every single question is some variation of “What about the other guy?” It’s like watching a bunch of dogs barking at each other. And the politicians? They’re worse. “As you know, Bob,” they always say. No, I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking the question, you condescending windbag.
I covered this one presser about three months ago. The mayor—let’s call him Greg—stood up there and talked about crime rates. He said, “We’re making progress.” I asked him, “How?” And he said, “Well, as you know, Bob…” I wanted to throw something at him. But I didn’t. Because I’m a professional. Mostly.
So What’s the Point?
Look, I’m not saying journalism is dead. It’s not. There are still good people out there doing good work. But it’s getting harder. And it’s getting messier. And we’re not helping ourselves.
I think—no, I know—we can do better. We have to do better. Because if we don’t, who will?
Anyway, that’s my rant for the day. Tune in next time when I talk about how I really feel about comment sections. (Spoiler: I want to burn them all down.)
About the Author: Sarah Mitchell has been a journalist for 22 years, covering everything from city council meetings to international crises. She’s been called “a pain in the ass” by more than one politician and has a soft spot for long-form investigative pieces. When she’s not writing, she can be found yelling at her TV about the state of the news industry.
You may also find The Messy Truth About Local News: helpful as it covers related aspects of this subject.
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