Let’s Talk About This Mess
Look, I’ve been editing news for 22 years. That’s 22 years of watching the news industry turn into a dumpster fire. I’m Sarah, by the way. You might remember me from such publications as The Guardian, The Times, and that one indie mag that folded in ’09. (RIP, The Bristol Beacon.)
So, yeah. News. It’s a thing. And it’s kinda broken. Let’s talk about why.
First, the Bad News (Literally)
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this guy—let’s call him Marcus—stood up and said, “You know what’s wrong with news today? It’s all bad.” And I was like, “No shit, Marcus. Tell us something we don’t know.” But then he said something that stuck with me.
“It’s not that bad things don’t happen,” he said. “It’s that good things don’t make the cut.” And… yeah. Fair enough.
I mean, think about it. When’s the last time you saw a headline like “LOCAL COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO CLEAN PARK”? Never. Because who clicks on that? No one. We’d rather gawk at car crashes, metaphorical and literal.
But Here’s the Thing…
We’re not helping. You know what I mean? We, as consumers. We’re the ones sharing the sensational stuff. The outrage bait. The “Can you believe this?!?” clickbaity garbage.
I had coffee with a friend last Tuesday—let’s call her Lisa—and she showed me her Facebook feed. “Look at this,” she said. “This is why I can’t stand the news.” And it was a legit news story about some political scandal. But the comments? A circus. A dumpster fire. A… well, you get the idea.
“People just wanna scream at each other,” Lisa said. And she’s right. We’ve turned news into a contact sport. And it’s exhausting.
So What Do We Do?
I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve got some thoughts. And honestly, most of them involve popüler konular gündem tartışmaları—trending topics and discussions. Because if we’re gonna talk, let’s talk about what matters.
First, we gotta support quality journalism. That means subscribing to local papers, paying for newsletters, and yeah, even buying the occasional print edition. (I know, I know. But trust me, it’s worth it.)
Second, we need to diversify our news diet. Don’t just read the same three outlets every day. Mix it up. Read something that challenges your views. And for the love of god, read beyond the headlines.
Third, we gotta have some committment to critical thinking. Not everything you read is true. Not every expert is an expert. And not every opinion is valid. (Looking at you, guy who thinks the Earth is flat.)
Oh, and One More Thing…
We need to talk about mental health. Because consuming news is a full-time job now, and it’s taking a toll. I’ve seen it in myself, in my friends, in my colleagues. We’re all a little more anxious, a little more on edge. And that’s not okay.
So let’s be kind to each other. Let’s listen more than we shout. And let’s remember that the news isn’t just about what’s happening in the world. It’s about what’s happening to us.
A Quick Tangent: The Bristol Daily
Speaking of mental health, let me tell you about the time I worked at the Bristol Daily. Back in ’05, maybe ’06. There was this one reporter—Dave was his name—who was always so calm, so collected. Dude was a rock. Then one day, he just snapped. Yelled at the editor, stormed out, and didn’t come back for a week.
Turns out, he’d been burning the candle at both ends for too long. And it caught up with him. So yeah, take care of yourselves, folks. The news will still be there tomorrow.
Anyway…
I could go on, but I won’t. Because honestly, I’m tired. And I think you probably are too. So let’s wrap this up.
Just remember: the news is a tool. It’s a way to understand the world, to connect with others, to make a difference. But it’s only as good as we make it. So let’s make it better.
About the Author: Sarah Jenkins has been a senior editor for over two decades, working with major publications across the UK. She currently resides in Bristol, where she continues to write, edit, and occasionally rant about the state of modern journalism. You can find more of her work on her personal blog, sarahjenkins.co.uk.
