Let’s Be Honest Here

I’ve been editing news for 22 years. Yeah, I know, I look like I’m 32. Good genes, I guess. Anyway, I’ve seen alot in that time. But honestly, the state of news today? It’s completley messed up.

I was at a conference in Austin last year, right? Some guy stands up, says, “The news is just a bunch of lies.” I mean, come on. It’s not that simple. But it’s also not that simple to fix, you know?

Back in My Day

When I started, we had these things called “editors.” You know, people who actually edited stuff? We’d get tips from readers, dig into stories, and make sure we got it right. Now? It’s all about clicks. And don’t even get me started on the aquisition of news outlets by tech billionaires. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion.

I remember this one time, back in ’05, I think. There was this story about a local politician. We had a source, let’s call him Marcus, who said this guy was embezzling funds. But we couldn’t just run with it. We had to verify, cross-check, make sure we weren’t just publishing hearsay. Took us 36 hours, but we got it right. That’s journalism.

The Algorithm Isn’t Your Friend

Nowadays, it’s all about the algorithm. “Give the people what they want,” they say. But what if what they want is garbage? I was talking to a colleague named Dave the other day. He said, “People are gonna read what’s in front of them.” I said, “Yeah, but what if what’s in front of them is just a bunch of sensationalist trash?” He just shrugged. I mean, come on, Dave.

And look, I get it. News outlets need to make money. But at what cost? I saw a study once, 214 respondents or something, that said people are more informed than ever but also more misinformed. It’s like we’re drowning in information but starving for knowledge. It’s just… yeah.

Social Media: The Wild West

Don’t even get me started on social media. It’s like the Wild West out there. Anyone can say anything, and suddenly it’s news. I had this friend, Sarah, she posted something on Facebook last Tuesday. By the next day, it was all over the place. “Fact-checked,” my foot. It was just her opinion, but somehow it became “news.” I mean, come on, people. Use your brains.

And the comments! Oh, the comments. I saw one the other day, some guy saying “The news is fake.” I asked him, “What part?” He said, “All of it.” I said, “That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.” He didn’t respond. Probably because he knew he was full of it.

A Tangent: Physicaly Impossible

Speaking of full of it, remember that time the news said the Earth was flat? No? That’s because it’s physicaly impossible. But still, people believed it. It’s like we’ve lost our ability to think critically. It’s all just noise now.

I was at this place on 5th, over coffee, and this guy says to me, “The news is just a bunch of lies.” I said, “Look, it’s not that black and white. There are good journalists out there, trying to do the right thing.” He said, “Yeah, but you can’t trust any of them.” I said, “That’s not true. You can trust some of them. Not all, but some.” He didn’t seem convinced. I mean, what do you do with that?

What Can We Do?

So, what’s the solution? I’m not sure. But I think it starts with us. We gotta demand better. We gotta read more, think more, question more. And we gotta support good journalism. It’s not just about reading the news; it’s about understanding it. And sometimes, that means looking into web development frameworks 2026 or whatever else is relevant. It’s about being informed, not just entertained.

And look, I’m not saying I have all the answers. I’m just saying we gotta try. We gotta do better. For ourselves, for our kids, for the future. Because if we don’t, who will?

Anyway, that’s my take. It’s not perfect, it’s not complete, but it’s honest. And honestly, that’s all I can ask for.

About the Author
Sarah Johnson has been a senior editor for over two decades, working with major publications and covering everything from local politics to global events. She’s opinionated, passionate, and not afraid to call out nonsense when she sees it. When she’s not editing, she’s probably arguing about the news with strangers on the internet or drinking too much coffee.

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