Look, I’ve Been Around the Block
Let’s be real here. I’ve been editing news magazines for longer than most people have been alive. 22 years, to be exact. I started at a tiny weekly in Ohio, moved to a mid-sized daily in Texas, and now I’m here, writing for a website about crime news. (Yes, I know the irony.)
But something’s been bugging me. Honestly, it’s been bugging me for years. It’s this alottment of attention we give to breaking news. It’s completley out of hand.
Breaking News: The Crack Cocaine of Journalism
You know what breaking news is like? It’s like crack cocaine for journalists. It’s addictive, it’s cheap, and it’s destroying our industry. I mean, think about it. What’s the first thing you see when you open any news website? ‘BREAKING: Local Man Eats Sandwich.’
I was having lunch with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday. He’s a good guy, been in the business about 15 years. He said, ‘Marcus, we gotta chase these stories. It’s what the audience wants.’ I said, ‘Dave, no. It’s what the algorithm wants. And frankly, the algorithm can go jump off a cliff.’
And look, I get it. We need to cover news. But there’s a difference between news and this constant stream of ‘breaking’ nonsense. It’s like we’ve forgotten how to tell a story that’s actually important.
The Problem with Speed
Remember when journalists had time to investigate? To dig deep? To, I dunno, fact-check? Yeah, me neither. It’s all about speed now. Be first, be loud, be sensational. Truth be damned.
I remember this one time, back in 2008, I was editing a story about a local politician. We had a source, let’s call him Marcus, who said this guy was involved in some shady business. But we couldn’t find any solid evidence. So, we didn’t run the story. Can you believe that? We actually waited for facts.
Now? Now we’d just throw it out there and let the comments section sort it out. Which, honestly, is terrifying.
And don’t even get me started on social media. It’s like we’re all just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. ‘Look at this tweet! It’s gonna go viral!’ Yeah, maybe. But is it journalism? I’m not sure but probably not.
But What About the Audience?
Okay, okay. I hear you. ‘But Marcus, people love breaking news. It’s what they want.’
First of all, it’s Dave. Second of all, no. People love drama. They love gossip. They love to feel like they’re in the know. But that doesn’t mean we should feed that addiction.
I was at a conference in Austin a few months back. There was this panel of digital media execs talking about audience engagement. One of them said, ‘We need to give the people what they want.’ And I stood up and said, ‘No. Our job is to give them what they need.’
The room went silent. It was awesome.
Look, I’m not saying we should ignore breaking news completely. But we need to balance it with actual journalism. With stories that matter. With stories that take time and effort and, you know, actual reporting.
And Now, a Tangent About Las Vegas
Speaking of stories that matter, have you seen what’s happening with Las Vegas jobs vacancies openings? It’s crazy. I mean, I get it, Vegas is always hiring. But the numbers are just… wow.
Anyway, back to the point. We need to stop chasing clicks and start chasing truth. We need to remember that our job is to inform, not to entertain. And we need to stop letting algorithms dictate what news is.
It’s just… yeah. It’s hard to explain. Maybe I’m old-school. Maybe I’m out of touch. But I miss when journalism was about more than just being first.
I miss when it was about being right.
But hey, what do I know? I’m just some old editor ranting on the internet.
About the Author: Dave Johnson has been a senior editor for over 20 years. He’s worked at various publications, from small weeklies to major dailies. He’s seen the industry change, and frankly, he’s not always happy with what he’s seen. When he’s not editing, he’s probably complaining about something or eating sandwiches. You can find him on Twitter @davejohnsonedit, where he tweets about journalism, food, and the occasional crime drama.
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