Let’s Get One Thing Straight
I’m not saying we’re lying. Okay, maybe sometimes we are. But mostly we’re just guessing. I’ve been in this business for 22 years, and let me tell you, nobody knows what the hell they’re doing. Not really.
Back in ’99, when I was a wet-behind-the-ears reporter for the Austin Chronicle, my editor—let’s call him Marcus—told me, “Kid, news is just entertainment with footnotes.” I didn’t get it then. Now? Now I do.
Look, I’m not saying we don’t try. We do. But the truth is, we’re all just trying to make sense of a world that’s completley insane. And honestly? We’re not doing a very good job.
Breaking News: It’s Basically All Bullshit
You ever notice how every news outlet has the same breaking news story, but they all say different things? That’s because we’re all just making it up as we go. We get a tip, we run with it, and then we spend the next 36 hours trying to figure out what the hell actually happened.
Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin. A colleague named Dave pulled me aside and said, “You know that big story about the mayor? We got it wrong.” And I said, “Which part?” And he said, “All of it.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing: we’re not gonna stop. Because, frankly, that’s what people want. They want drama. They want scandal. They want to be outraged. And we’re gonna keep giving it to them, because that’s what sells.
Opinion Pieces: Where We Really Shine
Now, opinion pieces—those are where we really get to stretch our legs. No facts, no rules, just pure, unadulterated opinion. And let me tell you, it’s liberating.
I remember this one time, I wrote a piece about how the government is secretly controlling our thoughts through our smartphones. I mean, it was crazy, right? But did people care? No. They loved it. They shared it, they commented on it, they argued about it. And that’s what it’s all about.
But here’s the thing: we’re not gonna stop. Because, frankly, that’s what people want. They want drama. They want scandal. They want to be outraged. And we’re gonna keep giving it to them, because that’s what sells.
Sports Journalism: The Only Thing We’re Good At
Now, sports journalism—that’s a different story. That’s where we really shine. Because sports? Sports are simple. You win, you lose, you score points. There’s no gray area. There’s no “what does this mean for the future of our society?” It’s just a game.
And people love it. They love the stats, they love the analysis, they love the drama. And we love giving it to them. Because, let’s face it, sports journalism is the only thing we’re really good at.
But even in sports journalism, we’re not perfect. We make mistakes. We get things wrong. We let our biases show. But that’s okay, because at the end of the day, it’s just a game. And games are supposed to be fun.
Health Journalism: Where We Really Mess Up
But then there’s health journalism. Oh boy. Health journalism is where we really mess up. Because health is complicated. It’s nuanced. It’s not just about “do this, don’t do that.” It’s about a million different factors, and we’re just not equipped to handle that.
I remember this one time, I wrote a piece about how back pain relief exercises tips were the key to a long, healthy life. And then, a few months later, another study came out saying that those same exercises could actually cause back pain. And I was like, “What the hell?”
But that’s the thing about health journalism. It’s a minefield. And we’re just stumbling around, hoping we don’t step on a landmine.
A Tangent: Why We Love Celebrity Gossip
Speaking of things we’re not good at, let’s talk about celebrity gossip. Because, frankly, we love it. We love it so much. And why? Because it’s easy. It’s drama without the compliccated committment of actual journalism.
I mean, think about it. A celebrity says something stupid? Boom, instant headline. A celebrity gets caught cheating? Boom, instant clickbait. It’s the lowest hanging fruit in the journalism world, and we’re all just grabbing it with both hands.
But here’s the thing: we’re not gonna stop. Because, frankly, that’s what people want. They want drama. They want scandal. They want to be outraged. And we’re gonna keep giving it to them, because that’s what sells.
Conclusion: We’re All Just Winging It
So, there you have it. The news industry’s dirty little secret: we’re all just winging it. We’re making it up as we go. We’re guessing, we’re stumbling, we’re messing up. But we’re also doing our best. And at the end of the day, that’s all we can do.
And if you don’t like it? Well, that’s too bad. Because we’re not gonna change. We’re gonna keep doing what we’re doing, because that’s what we’re good at. And that’s what people want.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson has been a senior editor for over 22 years, working with major publications across the US. She’s won several awards, lost more than she’d like to admit, and still can’t figure out how to use a fax machine. She lives in Austin with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and spends her free time arguing with people on the internet.
