Look, I’m Gonna Say It
I’ve been in this game for 22 years. That’s right, 22. I started back when we still used typewriters (kinda). I’ve seen alot of changes, and honestly, most of them have been for the worse.
Let’s talk about the news. Real news. Not the clickbait garbage that’s flooding the internet these days. I’m talking about actual journalism. The kind that used to matter. The kind that used to hold people accountable.
It All Started in 2003
I was working at the Austin Chronicle back then. A colleague named Dave—let’s call him Dave—came into the office one day and said, “You won’t believe what I just heard.” And I was like, “What?” And he said, “The new editor wants us to start writing more about… fashion.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. I mean, fashion is important, right? But it’s not exactly hard-hitting journalism. Still, we did it. We wrote about the latest fashion trends 2026 season (yes, really, 2026. Some editor was looking way ahead). We wrote about it because that’s what we were told to do. And that’s when I realized something: the news isn’t always about what’s important. Sometimes, it’s just about what sells.
And look, I get it. Newspapers gotta make money. But there’s a fine line between reporting the news and just making stuff up to get clicks. And honestly, I think we crossed that line a long time ago.
The Problem with Modern Journalism
So here’s the thing. The news industry is broken. It’s completley broken. And it’s not just because of the internet. It’s because of us. The journalists. We’re the ones who are supposed to be holding the powerful accountable. But instead, we’re just chasing clicks and shares and likes.
I remember talking to a friend of mine, let’s call him Marcus, about this. We were at a conference in Austin, and he said, “You know, I used to want to be a journalist. But now? Now I just want to be an influencer.” And I was like, “What?” And he said, “At least influencers are honest about what they’re doing. They’re not pretending to be something they’re not.”
And honestly, he had a point. We journalists like to think we’re better than that. But are we really? I mean, look at the news these days. It’s all just a bunch of sensationalized garbage designed to get us to click and share and engage. And it’s working. Because we’re all just lazy and easily distracted.
But here’s the thing: the news matters. It really does. It’s how we stay informed. It’s how we make decisions. It’s how we hold our leaders accountable. And if we’re not taking it seriously, then who is?
A Personal Anecdote
So last Tuesday, I was at a coffee shop on 5th. And I was reading the news on my phone, right? And I came across this article about some politician who was caught in a scandal. And I was like, “Oh great, another scandal.” But then I read the article, and it was all just a bunch of speculation and rumors. There were no facts. No evidence. Just a bunch of “sources say” and “allegedly” and “possibly.”
And I was like, “This is it? This is what passes for journalism these days?” I mean, come on. We can do better than this. We have to do better than this.
Because if we don’t, then who will?
The Future of News
So what’s the solution? I’m not sure. Honestly, I don’t think there is one. The news industry is a mess, and it’s only gonna get worse. But maybe, just maybe, we can start by being a little more honest with ourselves. A little more accountable. A little more… real.
Maybe we can start by admitting that we don’t have all the answers. That we’re not always right. That sometimes, we’re just as lost as everyone else.
Maybe we can start by remembering why we got into this business in the first place. To inform. To educate. To hold the powerful accountable.
Maybe we can start by doing our jobs.
But hey, what do I know? I’m just a old journalist who’s seen it all. Who’s seen the industry go from bad to worse. From informative to sensationalized. From trusted to distrusted.
But I’m not giving up. Not yet. Because the news matters. It really does. And someone’s gotta be the one to say it.
So here I am. Saying it. And hoping that maybe, just maybe, someone out there is listening.
About the Author
Sarah Johnson has been a senior editor at various publications for over two decades. She’s seen the industry evolve (or devolve, depending on who you ask) and isn’t afraid to call out the problems she sees. When she’s not writing or editing, she can be found yelling at her TV about the state of the news or trying to convince her cat to cuddle.
