We’re All Just Making It Up as We Go
Look, I’ve been in this game for 20-odd years. I started at a tiny paper in Bristol, back when newspapers still smelled like newsprint and ink. I remember the days when we’d get a tip, chase it down, and actually verify facts before printing. Those days are long gone.
I’m Sarah, by the way. Sarah Whitmore. I’ve worked at major publications, I’ve won some awards, and I’ve also made a fool of myself more times than I can count. Like that time in 2008, at a conference in Austin, when I tried to interview a senator and ended up arguing with his press secretary about the Oxford comma. I mean, who even does that?
But here’s the thing: I love journalism. I love the chaos, the adrenaline, the weird little moments that make you feel like you’re actually making a difference. But lately? Lately, I’m just tired. Tired of the noise, tired of the misinformation, tired of the constant race to be first instead of being right.
We’re All Just Making It Up as We Go
Let’s talk about last Tuesday. I was at a coffee shop on 5th, meeting with a source—let’s call him Marcus. He’s a good guy, knows his stuff, but he’s also part of the problem. He told me, and I quote, “Sarah, half of what I say is just to see if you’ll print it.” And I laughed, because what else could I do? But then I didn’t laugh, because that’s not funny. That’s terrifying.
Marcus isn’t a bad guy. He’s just playing the game. And the game is broken. We’re all just making it up as we go, and the rules change every damn day. I asked him if he thought the public even cared about accuracy anymore. He said, “Nah, they just want to be outraged.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
We’re All Just Making It Up as We Go
I’ve got a colleague named Dave. Dave’s a good writer, but he’s also a cynic. He says journalism is dead, that we’re just clickbait monkeys now. I don’t agree with him completely, but I get where he’s coming from. We’ve all seen the headlines, the sensationalism, the complete lack of nuance. It’s exhausting.
But here’s the thing: we’re not all bad. There are still good journalists out there, doing good work. But they’re drowning in a sea of noise. And the noise is winning. I mean, look at the state of education news policy changes education news policy changes. It’s a mess. A complete mess. And nobody’s holding anyone accountable.
We’re All Just Making It Up as We Go
I was talking to a friend last night—let’s call her Emma. She’s a teacher, and she’s frustrated. She said, “Sarah, I don’t know what to believe anymore. The news is just a bunch of contradictions.” And she’s right. It is. We’re all just making it up as we go, and the public is left to sort through the wreckage.
But here’s the thing: we can’t keep doing this. We can’t keep pretending that accuracy doesn’t matter, that facts are optional. Because they’re not. They’re the foundation of everything we do. And if we keep chipping away at that foundation, we’re gonna have a problem.
We’re All Just Making It Up as We Go
I’m not saying I have all the answers. I don’t. But I know this: we need to do better. We need to slow down, verify our facts, and stop chasing the algorithm. We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place. We need to remember that we’re not just making it up as we go. We’re shaping the narrative. We’re informing the public. We’re holding power to account.
And if we can’t do that, then what’s the point?
About the Author
Sarah Whitmore is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in journalism. She’s worked at major publications, won some awards, and made a fool of herself more times than she can count. She’s currently based in Bristol, UK, and can be found ranting about the state of journalism on Twitter.
