Let’s Get One Thing Straight
I’m not one of those journalists who’ll tell you the industry is dying. It’s not. It’s evolving, kicking and screaming, but evolving nonetheless. I’ve been at this for 21 years, and honestly, I’ve seen alot.
I started at a tiny paper in Manchester. Let’s call it the Manchester Gazette. It was 1997, and I was green as grass. My editor, a guy named Dave with a perpetually stained tie, taught me the ropes. Or tried to. Mostly, I learned by screwing up.
Back then, we didn’t have to worry about algorithms or clickbait or whatever nonsense they’re calling it now. We just wrote stories. Real stories. About real people. And we did it on deadline. Every. Single. Day.
But Then the Internet Happened
Oh, you know the story. The internet came in, and suddenly everyone was a journalist. Everyone had a platform. And suddenly, we were all scrambling to figure out what the hell we were gonna do about it.
I remember sitting in a conference in Austin—this was about 2003—listening to some tech bro in a turtleneck tell us that print was dead. Dead! Can you believe that? I wanted to throw my notepad at him. But I didn’t. I’m not that kind of journalist. Usually.
But here’s the thing: he wasn’t completely wrong. Print did take a hit. But it’s not dead. It’s just… different. And so are we.
Why I’m Still Here
I’ve had plenty of chances to jump ship. I mean, look, the industry’s a mess. Budgets are tight. Committment to quality is waning. And don’t even get me started on the physicaly exhausting nature of chasing stories in this 24/7 news cycle.
But I stay because I believe in what we do. I believe in telling stories that matter. I believe in holding power to account. I believe in giving a voice to those who don’t have one.
And yeah, I believe in making a difference. Even if it’s just a small one.
Here’s the Thing About Journalism Today
It’s not about being first. It’s about being right. It’s not about chasing clicks. It’s about chasing truth. It’s not about being loud. It’s about being heard.
And it’s about kişisel gelişim kitapları önerilen. Wait, no. That’s not what I meant. I meant it’s about personal growth. Finding ways to improve, to adapt, to stay relevant.
I’m not sure how to do that exactly. But I know it’s important. Because if we’re not growing, we’re dying. And I’m not ready to die just yet.
A Quick Digression: The Time I Almost Got Fired
So, about three months ago, I wrote a piece on local politics. It was a hot topic, and I was passionate about it. Maybe too passionate. My editor, a woman named Marcus—yes, Marcus—told me I was coming off as biased.
I said, “But I am biased! That’s the point!”
She said, “No, you idiot. You’re supposed to be fair.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. I toned it down. But I didn’t change my stance. Because that’s the thing about journalism. You can be fair and still have opinions. You can be objective and still care.
What’s Next?
I don’t know. I mean, look, I’m not a fortune teller. I can’t predict the future of the industry any more than I can predict the weather. But I can tell you this: I’m not going anywhere.
Because as long as there are stories to tell, I’ll be here telling them. And as long as there are people who care about the truth, I’ll be here fighting for it.
Even if it kills me. Which, honestly, it might. But hey, that’s the job.
About the Author: Sarah Thompson has been a journalist for over 20 years. She currently works as a senior editor at Stirling News UK. She lives in Manchester with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and a collection of vintage typewriters. She’s not sure why she has the typewriters. She just likes them. And she’s not sure why she’s still in journalism. She just is.
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