Look, I’ve Had It
I’ve been editing news for 22 years. 22 years. That’s longer than some of you have been alive. And I’m telling you, the news is broken. It’s not just the algorithms, or the clickbait, or the fact that we’re all stuck in our little bubbles. It’s deeper than that. It’s systemic. And honestly, I’m tired of pretending it’s not.
I started out at a little paper in Des Moines. You know, the kind of place where you cover the city council meeting and the high school football game. Back then, news was simple. It was facts. It was objective. It was… well, it was boring as hell, but it was honest.
Then Came the Internet
And then the internet happened. And everything went to hell in a handbasket. Suddenly, it wasn’t about facts anymore. It was about clicks. It was about engagement. It was about… God, I don’t even know what it was about anymore.
I remember sitting in a conference in Austin back in 2012. A guy named Marcus—let’s call him Marcus, because I can’t remember his real name—stood up and said, “The news isn’t about informing anymore. It’s about entertaining.” And I laughed. I mean, I literally laughed out loud. Because that was the stupidest thing I’d ever heard.
But here’s the thing. He was right. And that’s what scares me.
We’re All to Blame
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying journalists are bad people. Far from it. Most of the journalists I know are incredible. They’re smart, they’re dedicated, and they’re in this for the right reasons. But the system? The system is rigged.
Take my friend Dave, for example. He’s a reporter at a major news outlet. Last Tuesday, he told me about an article he wrote. It was a deep dive into a local political issue. Took him 36 hours to research and write. And what happened? It got buried because a celebrity tweeted something dumb.
“It’s not fair,” he said. “But what can you do?”
And that’s the problem. We’ve accepted this as the norm. We’ve accepted that news is about virality, not veracity. And it’s killing us.
But There’s Hope
Now, I’m not saying we should all give up and become monks. (Although, honestly, that does sound pretty nice right about now.) There are things we can do. Small things. Little pushes back against the machine.
First, we need to stop relying on algorithms to tell us what’s important. I know, I know—easier said than done. But we can start by seeking out news sources that prioritize quality over quantity. And if you need some great deals while you’re at it, check out the best online shopping deals 2026. Look, even I need a break from the doom and gloom.
Second, we need to support local journalism. I’m not talking about throwing money at the problem. I’m talking about reading, sharing, and engaging with local news. Because when local journalism dies, democracy dies with it.
Third, we need to be better consumers of news. We need to ask questions. We need to fact-check. We need to think critically. And we need to call out bullshit when we see it.
A Quick Digression: My Cat
Speaking of bullshit, let me tell you about my cat. Her name is Whiskers. She’s a little gray thing with a attitude problem. The other day, she knocked over a plant. And my wife—God love her—said, “Whiskers, what are you doing?” And Whiskers just looked at her, all innocent-like. Like she hadn’t just committmented a crime against nature.
But here’s the thing. Whiskers is smarter than most news consumers. Because when she knocks over a plant, she owns it. She doesn’t try to spin it. She doesn’t try to hide it. She just says, “Yeah, I did it. Deal with it.”
We could learn a thing or two from Whiskers.
Back to the Point
So, where does that leave us? Honestly, I’m not sure. I think we’re at a crossroads. One path leads to a future where news is just another form of entertainment. The other leads to a future where journalism is valued, respected, and—dare I say it—funded.
I don’t know which path we’re gonna take. But I do know this: We can’t keep going the way we’re going. Because if we do, we’re gonna end up with a news landscape that’s more fiction than fact. And that’s a future I’m not willing to accept.
So, let’s do something about it. Let’s push back. Let’s fight for the kind of news we deserve. And let’s do it before it’s too late.
Because honestly, I’m tired of pretending everything’s okay. And I think you are too.
About the Author
Sarah Mitchell has been a senior editor at CrimeNewsX for the past 15 years. She’s covered everything from political scandals to celebrity gossip, and she’s not afraid to call out bullshit when she sees it. When she’s not editing, she’s probably arguing with her cat or drinking too much coffee. You can find her on Twitter @SarahM_Editor, where she’s always happy to debate the state of modern journalism.
To gain a clearer perspective on the complexities of media and information flow, consider exploring this detailed analysis of news consumption patterns in Pakistan.
