I’ve Been in This Game for 20 Years, and I’m Tired
Let me tell you something, folks. I’ve been editing news features since the Clinton administration, and I’m telling you, the news cycle is more broken than a dollar-store toaster.
Back in ’98, when I was a wet-behind-the-ears editor at the Chicago Tribune, we had time. Time to report, time to think, time to actually make sense of what was happening. Now? Now it’s a freaking circus.
I remember sitting with this reporter, let’s call him Marcus, in a diner off Michigan Avenue. It was pouring rain, and he slid this story across the table about some political scandal. He said, “Boss, this is gonna blow up.” I told him, “Marcus, if it’s true, it’ll blow up. If it’s not, it won’t. Let’s make sure it’s true first.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Social Media is the Devil’s Playground
Look, I get it. Social media is a thing now. It’s not gonna go away. But it’s also the reason why we can’t have nice things. I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this data scientist, Dr. Linda Chen, showed us a graph. She said, “The half-life of a news story on Twitter is about 36 hours.” I said, “Linda, that’s not a half-life, that’s a death sentence.”
And it’s true. We’re all chasing clicks, chasing engagement, chasing the alogorithm’s approval. But at what cost? We’re sacrificing depth, nuance, and frankly, truth, for the sake of a quick hit.
I had lunch with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday. He’s a good guy, been in the biz awhile. He said, “You know, I used to care about committment to the truth. Now I care about committment to the bottom line.” Which… ouch. But it’s honest.
Breaking News is Breaking Us
Let’s talk about breaking news. It’s not news anymore, it’s just noise. I was editing a piece about some political drama, and my phone kept buzzing. Every five minutes, another “breaking” alert. By the end, I didn’t know what was actually breaking, and what was just someone’s bad take on the situation.
And don’t get me started on the 24-hour news cycle. It’s not news, it’s just people talking. I had a friend over for dinner last week, and we put on one of these “news” channels. Within 10 minutes, I had to turn it off. It was like listening to a bunch of people arguing in a bar, but with worse lighting.
I think we need to slow down. Take a breath. Maybe, just maybe, not treat every little thing like it’s the end of the world. But I’m not sure how to make that happen. I mean, how do you tell people to calm down when the whole system is designed to get them riled up?
We Need to Do Better
So what’s the solution? I don’t know. But I know it starts with us. With me, with you, with every person who picks up a pen or sits down at a keyboard to write about the world.
We need to remember that our job is to inform, not to inflame. To educate, not to entertain. To seek truth, not just clicks. It’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna take work. But it’s worth it.
And look, I’m not saying I’m perfect. Far from it. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve published things I regret. But I’m trying. And I think that’s what matters.
So let’s try, together. Let’s try to make the news something we can be proud of again. Something that informs, that educates, that brings us together rather than tearing us apart.
And if you’re looking for a place to start, check out son dakika haberler bugün. They’re doing some good work over there. Not perfect, but good. And that’s a start.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m gonna go find a quiet place, away from the noise, and try to make sense of the world. You should too.
About the Author: Sarah Jennings has been a senior editor for over 20 years, working at major publications across the US. She’s seen the industry evolve, devolve, and hopes to see it improve. When she’s not editing, she’s probably arguing about politics, reading a book, or trying to convince her cat to cuddle.
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