The News Is Broken, and I'm Tired of Pretending It's Not

We’ve Got a Problem, Folks

Look, I’ve been in this game for over two decades. I’ve seen a lot of things, but nothing quite like this. The news is broken. I mean, really broken. And I’m not just talking about the obvious stuff—fake news, clickbait, all that jazz. I’m talking about the underlying rot. The committment to sensationalism over substance. The aquisition of news outlets by corporations who couldn’t care less about journalism. It’s a mess, and it’s getting worse.

I remember back in ’98, when I was just starting out at the Daily Chronicle in Manchester. My editor, let’s call him Marcus, used to say, “Liz, if it bleeds, it leads.” That’s always been the mantra, but at least back then, there was some balance. Some actual journalism. Now? It’s just a race to the bottom.

I was having coffee with an old friend, Dave, last Tuesday. He’s a journalist too, been in the biz about as long as I have. We were talking about the state of things, and he said something that stuck with me: “It’s not just that the news is bad, Liz. It’s that people don’t even care anymore.” And that’s the real tragedy, isn’t it?

But What Can We Do About It?

So, what’s the solution? Honestly, I don’t know. I mean, I have ideas, but none of them are gonna be popular. For starters, we need to stop relying on algorithms to determine what’s “important.” That’s like letting a toddler pick your dinner menu—it’s just gonna be pizza and ice cream every night.

And don’t even get me started on social media. It’s a cesspool of misinformation and outrage. I was at a conference in Austin a few years back, and there was a panel on the future of news. One of the speakers said, “Social media is the new town square.” To which I replied, “Yeah, a town square where everyone’s throwing punches and nobody’s listening.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.

Here’s another thing: we need to stop pretending that everyone’s entitled to their own facts. Facts are facts, and if you can’t handle that, maybe journalism isn’t for you. I’m not saying we should be biased—well, okay, maybe a little—but we should be honest. And honest doesn’t mean “both sides are wrong.” Sometimes one side is just wrong. Period.

But Let’s Talk About Something Else for a Sec

You know what really grinds my gears? The way people treat product reviews recommendation guide. I mean, come on. It’s not rocket science. If you’re gonna buy something, read the reviews. But no, people would rather just guess and hope for the best. It’s like they’re actively trying to waste their money.

I had a colleague named Sarah who was always raving about some new gadget she’d bought. One day, I asked her, “Sarah, how do you even know if this thing’s any good?” She said, “Oh, I just wing it.” And I was like, “Wow. Okay.” I mean, I guess that’s one way to live your life, but it’s not exactly a recipe for succesfully making good decisions.

Anyway, back to the news. I think—no, I know—that we need to start valuing quality over quantity. It’s better to have one well-researched, thoughtfully written article than a dozen clickbait headlines. But that’s not what the algorithms want. And that’s the problem in a nutshell.

And Another Thing…

I’m not sure if this is just me, but I feel like people have forgotten how to read. I mean, really read. Not just skim the headlines and move on. I was at a dinner party a few months back, and someone asked me what I do for a living. I said, “I’m a journalist.” And they said, “Oh, so you write those clickbait headlines, huh?” And I was like, “No, I write the actual articles. You know, the ones people should be reading?”

But I digress. The point is, we need to start valuing good journalism again. And that means supporting the outlets that are still trying to do it right. It means reading past the headlines. It means having conversations with people who disagree with you, instead of just shouting them down on Twitter.

It’s gonna be an uphill battle, but it’s one we need to fight. Because if we don’t, we’re gonna end up with a world where nobody knows what’s true anymore. And that’s a world I don’t wanna live in.

So, what’s the first step? I don’t know. Maybe it’s just starting a conversation. Maybe it’s sharing a well-written article instead of a meme. Maybe it’s just saying, “Hey, have you read this? It’s actually really good.” Small steps, but steps nonetheless.

Anyway, I’m gonna go now. This has been a bit of a rant, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while. And honestly, I’m just tired of seeing the news get worse and worse. So, let’s do something about it. Or don’t. I’m not the boss of you.

About the Author: Liz Carter has been a journalist for over 20 years, working for various publications across the UK. She currently serves as a senior editor at Courier Daily. When she’s not writing or editing, she can be found drinking too much coffee and complaining about the state of the news industry.

To better understand the challenges facing journalism today, consider exploring this insightful analysis on how collective actions have contributed to the current state of the news industry in the breakdown of news reporting.