Look, I’ve Had It
It was about three months ago, over coffee at that little place on Park Street, when Marcus—let’s call him that—said something that stuck with me. We were talking about the state of news, and he said, “You know, Sarah, the problem isn’t fake news. It’s the boring news. The stuff that doesn’t take sides.” And honestly? He’s right.
I’ve been editing news features for 22 years. That’s right, 22. I started back in ’98 at a tiny paper in Bristol, and I’ve seen alot change. But one thing hasn’t: this stupid idea that journalists should be neutral. It’s completley bonkers.
Let me tell you about last Tuesday. I was at a conference in Austin (yes, I know, Bristol to Austin is a mouthful), and this young reporter asked me, “How do you stay impartial?” I laughed. Not because it’s funny, but because it’s such a silly question. You can’t stay impartial. And you shouldn’t want to.
News Is Supposed to Be Messy
Here’s the thing: news is messy. It’s emotional. It’s personal. And if you’re not taking sides, you’re not doing your job. I mean, look at the political news analysis today—political news analysis today—it’s all about who’s up, who’s down, who’s lying. And guess what? It’s not neutral.
A colleague named Dave once told me, “Sarah, you’re too opinionated.” And I said, “Dave, if I’m not opinionated, then I’m just a parrot. And I refuse to be a parrot.” See, Dave’s the kind of guy who thinks journalism is about regurgitating facts. But it’s not. It’s about making sense of those facts. And that takes a stance.
I’m not saying you should make stuff up. That’s not what I’m saying at all. But if you’re not leaning in, not taking a side, then you’re missing the point. Journalism is about truth, yeah, but it’s also about impact. And impact comes from caring.
The Problem with ‘Balanced’ Reporting
Let’s talk about ‘balanced’ reporting. It’s a joke. You know why? Because life isn’t balanced. It’s lopsided. It’s unfair. And if you’re trying to make it balanced in your reporting, you’re lying to your readers.
I remember this one time, back in 2004, I was covering a local election. The candidate I was interviewing, let’s call him Greg, was a complete tool. I mean, he was physically shaking he was so nervous. And his opponent, let’s call her Lisa, was cool as a cucumber. Now, if I had been ‘balanced,’ I would have said, “Well, Greg was nervous, but Lisa was calm.” But that’s not what happened. What happened was I wrote, “Greg was a mess, and Lisa was in control.” Because that was the truth.
And you know what? The readers loved it. They didn’t want a balanced report. They wanted the truth. And the truth is, Greg was a mess.
Taking a Stand
So here’s my take: take a stand. Be opinionated. Be messy. Be emotional. Because that’s what journalism is supposed to be. It’s not about being neutral. It’s about being real.
I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s not. It’s hard. It’s scary. But it’s worth it. Because at the end of the day, your readers deserve the truth. And the truth isn’t neutral. It’s passionate. It’s opinionated. It’s real.
So go ahead. Take a side. Be opinionated. Be messy. Be emotional. Because that’s what journalism is all about.
And if anyone gives you a hard time about it? Well, just tell them Sarah said it’s okay.
About the Author: Sarah Thompson has been a senior magazine editor for over 22 years. She’s worked at various publications, from tiny local papers to major national magazines. She’s opinionated, she’s passionate, and she’s not afraid to take a stand. When she’s not editing, she’s probably arguing about politics or drinking too much coffee.
