I’ve Had It with Breaking News
Look, I’ve been in this game for over two decades. I’ve seen it all. Or so I thought. But this new news cycle? It’s completley out of hand.
I remember back in ’98, when I was just starting out at the Austin Chronicle. We had deadlines, sure, but they were reasonable. We had time to fact-check, to dig deep. Now? It’s just a never-ending stream of ‘breaking news’ alerts, most of which are barely even news.
And don’t even get me started on the aquisition of journalism by tech. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion. The committment to quality is gone. It’s all about clicks now, baby.
My Friend Marcus Says I’m Being Dramatic
I met up with Marcus—let’s call him that, he’d hate the publicity—for coffee last Tuesday. We went to that little place on 5th, you know the one. Anyway, he told me I was being too hard on the industry.
‘It’s always been about ratings,’ he said, stirring his latte like he was trying to mix the truth into it. ‘You’re just noticing now because you’re getting older.’
I rolled my eyes so hard I’m surprised they didn’t get stuck. ‘Marcus, when did you become such a cynic?’ I asked. He just shrugged and took a sip.
The Problem with 24/7 News
Here’s the thing. The 24-hour news cycle is a lie. It’s not about informing the public anymore. It’s about filling airtime. And online, it’s about filling space. So what do they do? They stretch stories out, sensationalize everything, and create drama where there is none.
I was talking to a colleague named Dave about this just last week. He’s been in the business even longer than I have. ‘It’s like they’re all trying to outdo each other,’ he said. ‘But at what cost?’
Exactly, Dave. At what cost?
We’re seeing the effects of this non-stop news cycle everywhere. People are anxious, stressed, and frankly, misinformed. It’s a mess. And it’s not just the big networks. It’s all of us. Even the so-called ‘alternative’ media outlets are guilty of this.
What Can We Do About It?
So, what’s the solution? Honestly, I’m not sure. But I do know that we need to start being more mindful of what we consume. And I don’t mean that in a woo-woo, mindfulness meditation beginners guide kind of way. I mean being more critical, more discerning.
We need to stop clicking on every sensational headline. We need to seek out quality journalism, even if it’s harder to find. We need to support the outlets that are still committmented to the truth.
And maybe, just maybe, we need to take a break from the news cycle altogether. Turn off the notifications, put down the phone, and go for a walk. It’s not running away; it’s self-preservation.
A Tangent: The Weather Channel
You know what really grinds my gears? The Weather Channel. They used to be about, you know, the weather. Now? It’s all hurricanes and tornadoes and ‘severe weather alerts’ 24/7. It’s like they’re trying to outdo the news networks in the doom and gloom department.
I mean, come on. Give me the forecast and leave it at that. I don’t need to see the same footage of a tornado in Kansas played on a loop for 36 hours straight.
But I digress. Back to the main point.
The Future of News
I’m not optimistic about the future of news. But I’m not completely pessimistic either. There are still good journalists out there, doing good work. We just need to support them and demand better from the rest.
And maybe, just maybe, we need to remember why we got into this business in the first place. It wasn’t for the glory or the ratings. It was to inform, to educate, to hold power accountable.
So, let’s get back to that. Before it’s too late.
About the Author: Jane Doe has been a senior editor at major publications for over 20 years. She’s seen the industry evolve, devolve, and is now on a mission to call out the nonsense and celebrate the good. When she’s not editing, she’s probably complaining about the news cycle or taking a much-needed walk.
