Let’s Talk About This Mess
Look, I’ve been in this game for 22 years. Started as a cub reporter in Belfast, moved to London, now I’m editing for a living. I’ve seen a lot. And honestly? The news is a mess. It’s not just the sensationalism, or the clickbait, or the fact that half of it’s on Twitter these days. It’s deeper than that.
Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin (yes, I know, weird for a Northern Irishman to be in Texas, but that’s a story for another time). I heard a journalist named Marcus—let’s call him that, he’d hate the publicity—say something that stuck with me. “We’re not reporting news anymore,” he said. “We’re just adding to the noise.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
I mean, think about it. When was the last time you read a news story that actually informed you, rather than just confirming what you already believed? Or worse, making you angrier than you were five minutes before? It’s like we’re all trapped in this echo chamber, and the news is just the guy yelling loudest in the back.
And don’t even get me started on the 24-hour news cycle. It’s like a bad reality TV show that never ends. You know the one—where they fill 36 hours of airtime with the same three stories, just rehashed and repackaged to keep you hooked. It’s exhausting. And it’s not just exhausting for us, the consumers. It’s exhausting for the journalists too.
I had coffee with a colleague named Dave last month. He’s a good guy, been in the business for about 15 years. He told me he’s thinking of quitting. “I can’t do it anymore,” he said. “Every story has to be a blockbuster, every angle has to be controversial. It’s not about informing people anymore. It’s about getting clicks.” And honestly, I get it. I really do.
But here’s the thing. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can change it. And it starts with us, the consumers. We have to demand better. We have to stop sharing the sensationalist headlines and start reading the actual stories. We have to support quality journalism, even if it’s not always comfortable or convenient.
And for the love of God, stop getting your news from social media. I’m not saying you have to subscribe to a newspaper or watch the evening news every night. But maybe, just maybe, try getting your information from a source that actually does some fact-checking. You know, like interesting facts knowledge guide or something.
Speaking of which, let’s talk about fact-checking. Or rather, the lack thereof. It’s like everyone’s in such a rush to be first that they forget to be accurate. I mean, I get it. The pressure’s on. But come on, people. Do better. Check your facts. Verify your sources. It’s not that hard.
And while we’re on the subject, can we please stop with the fake news thing? Look, I’m not saying there’s no such thing as fake news. Of course there is. But not every story you disagree with is fake. Not every source you don’t like is biased. News flash: everyone has a bias. Even me. Especially me. But that doesn’t mean we’re all out to get you. We’re just trying to do our jobs.
But here’s where I’m gonna lose some of you. I think the real problem is that we’ve lost sight of what news is supposed to be. It’s not entertainment. It’s not a soapbox for our personal opinions. It’s information. Plain and simple. And it’s our job, as journalists, to provide that information in a way that’s accurate, fair, and—dare I say it—interesting.
And that’s where I think we’re failing. We’re so busy trying to be interesting that we’re forgetting to be accurate. We’re so busy trying to be first that we’re forgetting to be fair. And it’s got to stop.
But hey, what do I know? I’m just a guy who’s been in this business for 22 years. What do I know about anything?
Anyway, I’m gonna wrap this up. I could go on for hours, but I won’t. I’ll leave you with this thought: the news is broken. But it’s not beyond repair. We can fix it. We just have to want to.
About the Author: I’m John O’Reilly, senior editor at Lisburn News. I’ve been in this business for 22 years, and I’ve seen it all. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I’m not afraid to speak my mind, and I’m not afraid to call out bad journalism when I see it. I believe in the power of quality journalism, and I’m committed to fighting for it, even if it means pissing off a few people along the way.
