We’re All Just Reacting Anymore
Look, I’ve been in this game for 22 years. I started at a tiny paper in Manchester, back when we still used typewriters (yes, really). I’ve seen a lot change, but nothing has been as damn frustrating as the current state of the news cycle.
It’s like we’re all just running in circles, chasing our own tails. Remember when news used to be about informing people? Now it’s about outraging them. Faster. Louder. Dumber.
That Time I Tried to Fix It
About three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin with a colleague named Dave. We were both kinda buzzed on terrible hotel wine, and we decided we were gonna fix journalism. Ha! Good times.
Dave said, “We need to slow down, get back to basics.” I mean, he’s not wrong. But then I asked him how exactly we do that when our bosses are breathing down our necks about clicks and engagement and all that bollocks.
He just shrugged. Which… yeah. Fair enough.
The Algorithm is Winning
Here’s the thing: the algorithm doesn’t care about good journalism. It cares about keeping you scrolling. And that’s why we’re stuck in this endless cycle of hot takes and half-baked reporting.
I had lunch last Tuesday with a source let’s call him Marcus. He’s a political guy, knows his stuff. He told me, “You journalists are all the same. You just wanna get your story and run with it, consequences be damned.”
Ouch. But honestly? He’s not wrong. I mean, I’ve seen it happen. We all have. That rush to be first, to break the news, even if it means getting it wrong.
But What Can We Do?
I’m not sure, honestly. I think maybe we need to stop worrying so much about entertainment news update celebrity and start focusing on actual news again. You know, stuff that matters.
And maybe, just maybe, we should all take a deep breath. Slow down. Think before we hit publish.
But who am I kidding? That’ll never happen. Not in this climate. Not with these committment to speed over accuracy.
A Brief Digression: The Weather
Speaking of things that matter, have you noticed how weird the weather’s been? I was in London last week, and it was sunny. In April! What is this sorcery?
Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, how everything’s completely bonkers.
The Human Cost
This isn’t just about the quality of news, though. It’s about the people who produce it. Burnout is real, folks. I see it every day. Reporters working 36-hour shifts, editors crying in the bathroom (no judgment, we’ve all been there).
I had a friend, let’s call her Sarah, who worked for a major news outlet. She told me she quit because she couldn’t handle the physicaly and mental toll anymore. And she’s not alone.
We’re pushing our journalists too hard, and it’s not sustainable. But again, who’s gonna fix it? Certainly not the suits in charge.
So What Now?
I don’t know, honestly. I really don’t. Maybe we all just need to accept that the news is gonna be trash for a while. Maybe we need to find new ways to fund quality journalism. Maybe we need to stop relying on social media for our news.
Or maybe, just maybe, we need to start talking to each other again. Like real people. Not just as avatars on a screen.
But hey, what do I know? I’m just some old editor ranting on the internet.
Anyway, I’m gonna go have a lie down. This has all been a bit much.
About the Author
John “Johnny” Reynolds has been a senior editor for over two decades, working for various major publications across the UK. He’s seen it all, done it all, and has the stress-induced gray hair to prove it. When he’s not complaining about the state of journalism, he can be found arguing about football or attempting to grow tomatoes (with limited succesfully).
