We’ve Got a Problem, Folks
Look, I’ve been in this game for 22 years. That’s 22 Christmases, 22 birthdays, 22 New Year’s Eve parties spent glued to a screen, chasing stories. I’ve seen a lot. But honestly? I’m tired. The news is broken.
It started small. Little things, like the time I was editing a piece about a local council meeting in Lisburn back in 2005. The reporter, let’s call him Marcus, had written a solid piece. But then the council’s press officer called, asked for some ‘ammendments’. Next thing I knew, we were burying the lede because some suit didn’t like the tone. That’s when I knew things were gonna get weird.
And it’s only gotten worse. Now we’ve got algorithms deciding what’s news, clickbait masquerading as journalism, and a public that can’t tell the difference between a report and an ad. It’s a mess. A completeley mess.
But Wait, There’s More
Last Tuesday, I was having coffee with a colleague named Dave. We were talking about the state of things. He said, ‘You know, I think we’ve lost our way.’ I asked, ‘What do you mean?’ He told me, ‘We used to report the news. Now we’re just part of the noise.’ Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Dave’s not wrong. I mean, look at the numbers. A study last year—okay, fine, it was 214 respondents, not exactly a massive sample—showed that 78% of people can’t tell the difference between hard news and sponsored content. That’s a problem. A big one.
And don’t even get me started on the 24-hour news cycle. It’s like we’re all trapped in a hamster wheel, running faster and faster, but never actually going anywhere. I remember back in the day, news was something you got once a day. Now? It’s a firehose of information, and most of it’s just… noise.
So What Do We Do About It?
First, we gotta admit there’s a problem. And not just the obvious ones, like fake news and misinformation. I’m talking about the bigger stuff. The stuff that keeps us up at night, wondering if we’re doing more harm than good.
Take, for example, the way we cover politics. It’s all gotcha moments and soundbites. But where’s the real analysis? The deep dive into policy? The stuff that actually matters to people’s lives? It’s like we’ve forgotten how to do that. Or maybe we just don’t have the time anymore, what with the constant need to feed the beast that is the 24-hour news cycle.
And speaking of analysis, if you’re looking for a solid current affairs analysis update, check out this site. They’re doing some good work, honestly.
But back to the point. We need to slow down. Take a breath. And remember why we got into this business in the first place. It’s not about the clicks. It’s not about the views. It’s about informing the public. Holding power to account. Being the watchdog. The fourth estate. All that stuff they taught us in journalism school.
And yeah, I know what you’re gonna say. ‘Easier said than done, mate.’ And you’re right. It is. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. We owe it to our readers. To ourselves. To the profession.
A Tangent: The Time I Almost Quit
Speaking of trying, let me tell you about the time I almost quit. It was back in 2012. I was working for a big national paper, and we were under so much pressure to hit our digital targets. It was insane. I remember one editor—let’s call him Greg—told me, ‘If it bleeds, it leads.’ I said, ‘But Greg, that’s not always what’s important.’ He looked at me like I had two heads. ‘Important’s got nothing to do with it,’ he said. ‘It’s about the numbers.’
That was the day I started looking for a new job. And that’s when I ended up here, at Lisburn News. A place where we still believe in doing things the right way. Even if it’s not always the easy way.
But Let’s Be Real
I’m not saying we’ve got all the answers. Far from it. But I do know this: we can’t keep doing things the way we’ve been doing them. We need to change. To adapt. To find a way to cut through the noise and deliver the news that people actually need.
And maybe, just maybe, we can start by admitting that the news is broken. And that it’s gonna take all of us—reporters, editors, publishers, and readers—to fix it.
So, what do you think? Am I off base here? Or am I onto something? Let’s hear it in the comments.
About the Author
Sarah McKenzie has been a journalist for over two decades, working for various publications across the UK. She currently serves as a senior editor at Lisburn News, where she oversees the news and features sections. When she’s not chasing stories, she can be found hiking in the countryside or curled up with a good book and a cup of tea.
