Look, I’m gonna say it: journalism is in crisis
I’ve been editing magazines for 23 years, and I’ve seen alot of changes. But the current state of news? It’s completley bonkers. I’m not just talking about the obvious stuff, like fake news and clickbait. It’s deeper than that.
Back in ’99, I was at a conference in Austin with a colleague named Dave. We were talking about the future of news. Dave said, “Marcus”—let’s call him Marcus—”Marcus, the internet is gonna change everything.” I laughed. I mean, who didn’t? But I didn’t think it’d be this bad.
Now, every time I open Twitter, it’s a dumpster fire. And honestly, I’m tired of it. I’m tired of the sensationalism, the polarization, the constant noise. It’s exhausting.
Why can’t we just agree on facts anymore?
I was having coffee with a friend last Tuesday. She’s not in the industry, but she’s smart, you know? She said, “I don’t know what to believe anymore.” And that’s the problem. We’ve reached a point where people don’t trust institutions, don’t trust experts, don’t trust each other. It’s a mess.
And it’s not just the big, obvious lies. It’s the little things, too. The misinformation, the half-truths, the context-free headlines. It’s all contributing to this culture of distrust. And it’s physicaly draining.
I remember when I first started out, we had a saying: “If your mother says she loves you, check it out.” That was our mantra. Verify, verify, verify. But now? It’s like everyone’s in such a hurry to be first, to be loudest, to be most outrageous, that they forget to check their facts.
I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’ve made mistakes. We all have. But there’s a difference between making a mistake and not caring enough to get it right.
Social media is making it worse
Social media was supposed to be this great democratizing force. It was gonna give a voice to the voiceless, hold the powerful accountable. And, look, it’s done some of that. But it’s also made things worse. So much worse.
I was talking to a source the other day—let’s call him Marcus, again. He’s a political reporter, been at it for years. He said, “The algorithm rewards outrage. It rewards engagement. And that’s what we’re seeing. It’s not about informing anymore. It’s about inflaming.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. I see it every day. The more outrageous the headline, the more extreme the take, the more engagement it gets. And that’s what’s driving the news cycle now. It’s a race to the bottom.
And don’t even get me started on the comments section. It’s like the internet’s sewer. It’s full of trolls and bots and people who just want to tear everything down. It’s no wonder journalists are burning out. I mean, I’ve been there. About three months ago, I had to take a break. I was spending too much time in the trenches, and it was taking a toll.
What can we do about it?
I don’t have all the answers. But I know this: we need to start valuing quality over quantity. We need to slow down, verify our facts, and stop chasing the algorithm.
And we need to support journalism that’s doing it right. There are still good journalists out there, doing important work. We need to amplify their voices, not the trolls and the outrage merchants.
I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. It’s not. But it’s necessary. Because if we don’t, we’re gonna keep spiraling down this rabbit hole of misinformation and distrust.
I’m gonna leave you with this thought: I was at a panel discussion last month, and someone asked, “What’s the future of journalism?” And I said, “I don’t know. But I know this: if we don’t start valuing truth over engagement, there might not be a future.”
So, let’s start there. Let’s start valuing truth. It’s gonna be a long, hard road. But it’s a road worth traveling.
Oh, and if you’re looking for some good news, check out the Las Vegas restaurant opening news. It’s a nice break from all the doom and gloom.
About the Author
Sarah Johnson has been a senior magazine editor for over two decades. She’s worked for major publications, covered everything from politics to pop culture, and has a strong opinion on pretty much everything. She lives in New York with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and spends too much time on Twitter.
