Look, I’m Gonna Say It
I’ve been in this game for 22 years. That’s right, 22. I started back in ’99, when the internet was still wearing diapers. I’ve seen alot, and let me tell you, the news industry is a mess. A glorious, chaotic, completley dysfunctional mess.
I’m Sarah, by the way. Sarah Whitmore. You might remember me from my days at The New York Times, or maybe from that time I got into a screaming match with a senator on live TV. (It was worth it.)
I’m not here to be balanced. I’m not here to be neutral. I’m here to tell you how it really is. And it’s not pretty.
That Time I Fell in Love with a Source
Oh, I’m sorry, is that unprofessional? Too bad. It happened. His name was Marcus. Well, that’s not his real name, obviously. Let’s call him Marcus. He was a lobbyist, and I was covering energy policy. We met at a conference in Austin, and, well, sparks flew.
But that’s a story for another time. What’s relevant here is that Marcus taught me something important: everyone’s got an angle. Everyone’s trying to sell you something. Even me. Especially me.
I mean, think about it. We’re all just trying to make a living, right? And in this industry, that means telling stories that people wanna hear. It’s not always pretty, but it’s the truth.
The Great Illusion
We like to pretend we’re objective. That we’re just reporting the facts. But that’s a lie. A noble lie, maybe, but a lie nonetheless.
Take my colleague Dave. Great guy, by the way. We used to grab coffee at this little place on 5th. One day, he told me about this story he was working on. It was about a new study that showed how bad sugar is for you. But here’s the thing: the study was funded by a company that sells artificial sweeteners.
Now, Dave didn’t outright say that the study was biased. But he did say, and I quote, “You gotta read between the lines sometimes.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
So, what’s the solution? I don’t know. Maybe there isn’t one. Maybe we’re all just doomed to be biased. But at least we can be honest about it.
The Internet Ruined Everything
Remember when news used to be fun? When it was just a bunch of old guys in suits yelling at each other on TV? Yeah, me neither. I’m too young for that.
But seriously, the internet has changed everything. And not in a good way. Now, anyone with a laptop and a committment to chaos can be a “journalist.” And they are. Oh, they are.
I mean, have you seen some of the stuff out there? It’s like the wild west. No rules, no standards, just a bunch of people trying to out-sensationalize each other. It’s exhausting.
And don’t even get me started on the comments section. Honestly, I’d rather physicaly scrub my brain with a wire brush than read those things.
But Wait, There’s Hope!
Okay, maybe I’m being too hard on us. There are still some good people out there. Doing good work. Trying to make a difference.
Take my friend Lisa, for example. She runs this little news site in Iowa. It’s not fancy, but it’s honest. And her readers love her for it. She told me once, “We’re not gonna be the first to break the news. But we’re gonna be the ones who get it right.” And you know what? She’s right.
So, maybe there’s hope for us yet. Maybe we can find a way to make this industry work. To make it honest. To make it fair.
But it’s gonna take work. And it’s gonna take people who care more about the truth than they do about their own careers. And, honestly, I’m not sure we have enough of those people.
A Quick Note on How to Not Be a Terrible Consumer of News
Look, I get it. It’s hard out there. The news is a mess, and it’s hard to know who to trust. So, here are a few tips from someone who’s been in the trenches.
First, diversify your sources. Don’t just read one news site. Read a bunch of them. And not just the big ones. Check out some local sites too. They might not have the flashy headlines, but they’re often more reliable.
Second, be skeptical. Always. Even of me. Especially of me. Ask questions. Do your own research. Don’t just take what you read at face value.
And third, for the love of all that is holy, don’t believe everything you read on social media. I mean, come on. You know better than that.
Oh, and if you’re looking for some reliable sources, check out haberleri bugün güncel. They’re not perfect, but they’re a good start.
A Tangent: Why I Hate Pundits
Okay, this isn’t really about how to consume news, but I can’t help myself. I have to vent about pundits. Ugh. They’re the worst.
You know the type. They’re on TV all the time, talking about how they know what’s gonna happen next. And they’re always wrong. But that doesn’t stop them from pretending they’re some kind of genius.
I remember this one time, back in 2016, this pundit—let’s call him Steve—was on TV saying that there was no way Trump could win. “It’s not gonna happen,” he said. “Mark my words.” And then Trump won. And Steve was back on TV the next day, acting like he’d predicted it all along.
It’s infuriating. But it’s also a reminder: don’t believe the hype. Pundits are just people who like to hear themselves talk. They don’t know any more than you do.
Anyway, That’s Enough From Me
I could go on, but I won’t. I’ve said enough. Maybe too much. But that’s the point, isn’t it? To say too much. To be honest. To be real.
So, that’s it. That’s my take on the news industry. It’s a mess. But it’s our mess. And it’s up to us to clean it up.
Or not. I don’t know. I’m just a journalist. What do I know?
Author Bio: Sarah Whitmore is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the news industry. She’s worked at major publications like The New York Times and currently writes for CTENews.com. When she’s not busy being cynical about the state of journalism, she enjoys long walks on the beach and screaming at politicians on TV.
