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

I've Had It Up to Here

Let me tell you something, folks. I've been in this game for 22 years. 22 years of chasing stories, of late-night edits, of dealing with idiots who think they know better. And I'm telling you, the news is broken. Completley broken.

I remember back in '98, when I was just starting out at the Austin Chronicle. We had a newsroom that smelled like stale coffee and desperation. But we cared. We actually gave a damn about getting it right. Now? It's all algorithms and clickbait.

And don't even get me started on social media. It's a circus. A complete and utter circus. I was having coffee with my friend Marcus last Tuesday, and he said, 'You know, Linda, I used to trust the news. Now I don't know what to believe.' And I get it. I really do.

But Here's the Thing

We're not helping. We're part of the problem. I was editing a piece last week—some fluff about a local politician's new haircut—and I thought, 'What the hell am I doing with my life?' I mean, seriously. Who cares?

I talked to a colleague named Dave about it. He said, 'Linda, it's not all bad. We're still doing important stuff.' And I said, 'Name one thing we've done in the last year that actually mattered.' He couldn't. Couldn't name a single damn thing.

Which... yeah. Fair enough.

And the Audience? They're Not Helping Either

Look, I get it. People are busy. They've got jobs, kids, lives. They don't have time to read a 3,000-word investigative piece. But that doesn't mean we should dumb everything down to listicles and memes.

I was at a conference in Austin about three months ago, and some hotshot from a big-name publication was talking about 'engagement metrics' and 'user retention.' I raised my hand and said, 'What about the truth?' The room went silent. Crickets, folks. Crickets.

But here's the kicker. We're not even getting the basics right. I was editing a story about a local school board election, and the facts were all over the place. Dates were wrong, names were misspelled, and the quotes—oh, the quotes—were so out of context it was laughable. I mean, come on. This isn't rocket science.

So What's the Solution?

I don't know. Honestly, I don't. But I do know that we need to stop pretending everything is fine. We need to admit that we're part of the problem.

And maybe, just maybe, we should start paying attention to what's actually important. Like, I don't know, the fact that our physicaly planet is on fire? Or that people are dying because they can't afford healthcare? Or that our political system is a complete and utter joke?

But no, let's talk about the latest celebrity gossip instead. That's what's gonna save the world, right?

I'm being sarcastic, by the way. In case that wasn't clear.

Anyway, I digress. The point is, we need to do better. We need to start caring again. And we need to stop making excuses for why we can't.

Oh, and if you're looking for a way to support local journalism, check out this online store review customer rating. I mean, I know it's not exactly the same thing, but hey, every little bit helps, right?

Look, I'm not saying we're all bad. There are still some amazing journalists out there. But they're drowning in a sea of nonsense. And it's up to us—to me, to you, to everyone—to make sure they don't disappear completely.

So let's start paying attention. Let's start caring. And for the love of all that is holy, let's start getting the facts right.

Thanks for reading. I'm gonna go drink a beer now.

About the Author
Linda Thompson has been a senior editor for over 20 years. She's worked at various publications, including the Austin Chronicle and the Houston Press. She's a firm believer in the power of journalism to change the world, even if she's not always sure how. When she's not editing, she can be found drinking coffee, complaining about the state of the world, and trying to convince her cat to love her.