Why I’m So Over ‘Breaking News’
Look, I’ve been in this game for 22 years. Started as a beat reporter in Boston, moved to D.C., thought I’d change the world. Ha. (Which, honestly, nobody asked for that level of drama.)
But lately? I’m tired. Tired of the noise, the sensationalism, the alot of nothing that passes as news these days. And I’m not even talking about the obvious stuff—Fox, MSNBC, the usual suspects. I’m talking about all of us. The media. The audience. The whole damn committment to being informed.
Let me tell you about last Tuesday. I was at a conference in Austin, sitting in the back, nodding off during some tech CEO’s speech about ‘disrupting the news paradigm.’ (Ugh.) Then he said something that woke me up: ‘News isn’t about telling people what happened. It’s about telling them what to think.’
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But here’s the thing: that’s not news. That’s propaganda. And we’re all buying it. Hook, line, and sinker.
When Did We Stop Caring About Facts?
I remember when I was a kid, my mom—let’s call her Linda—would read the newspaper cover to cover. Every morning, same routine. The Boston Globe, a cup of coffee, and total silence. No TV, no radio, just the crinkle of newsprint and the occasional sigh when she read something that pissed her off.
Now? We get our news in fragments. Tweets, headlines, soundbites. We don’t read; we skim. We don’t think; we react. And God forbid we actually talk to someone with a different opinion. (I mean, have you tried arguing with someone on Facebook? It’s like herding cats who are all on fire.)
I get it. Life is busy. We’ve got jobs, families, lives. But at what cost? When did we decide that being informed was less important than being entertained?
The Algorithm Is Winning
Here’s the dirty little secret: the news industry is broken because we let it be. We prioritize clicks over quality, views over substance, and outrage over honesty. And the algorithms? They’re not helping.
I had coffee with a colleague named Dave last week. He works for one of those big digital news outlets. You know the ones—I won’t name names, but let’s just say their logo is a big, blue ‘B.’ Anyway, Dave told me something that made my skin crawl. He said, ‘We don’t even try to be balanced anymore. The algorithm rewards outrage, so that’s what we give it.’
Which, honestly, is terrifying. We’re not just letting the algorithm decide what news we see; we’re letting it decide what news gets made. And that’s a problem.
But here’s the thing: we can fix it. We can demand better. We can stop clicking on the garbage and start supporting the good stuff. It’s not easy, and it’s not gonna happen overnight. But it’s possible.
So What Do We Do?
First, we gotta stop being lazy. I know, I know—it’s easier said than done. But if you want to be informed, you gotta put in the work. Read full articles. Watch the news. Talk to people who disagree with you. (I know, I know—it’s painful. But trust me, it’s worth it.)
Second, we gotta support quality journalism. Subscribe to newspapers. Donate to nonprofits. Share good work on social media. And for the love of God, stop sharing that garbage from your cousin’s friend’s sister’s Facebook page. (Seriously, we’ve all seen it. It’s not news. It’s noise.)
And finally, we gotta hold the media accountable. Call out the bullshit when you see it. Demand better. And if they don’t give it to you, find someone who will.
Look, I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. But it’s necessary. Because the news is broken, and we’re all to Blame. And if we don’t fix it, who will?
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Anyway, that’s my rant for the day. I’m gonna go drink some coffee and try to forget about the state of the news industry. You should too. Or at least think about it. Maybe over a cup of coffee. Or a beer. Whatever floats your boat.
About the Author
Sarah Mitchell has been a journalist for over 20 years, working as a beat reporter, editor, and now a freelance writer. She’s covered everything from local politics to international affairs, and she’s not afraid to call out bullshit when she sees it. When she’s not writing, she’s probably drinking coffee, reading a book, or arguing with someone on Twitter. You can find her on Twitter @sarahmitchellwrites.
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