Look, I’ve Been Around The Block
Let me tell you something, folks. I’ve been in this game for 22 years. Started as a cub reporter in Glasgow, worked my way up to senior editor at Stirling News. I’ve seen it all, or so I thought. But lately, I’m starting to think the news is broken. Completley broken.
It’s not just the algorithms, or the clickbait, or the 24-hour news cycle. It’s us. We’re broken too. We can’t agree on what’s true, what’s fake, what’s important. We’re like a bunch of kids in a candy store, grabbing at everything, stuffing our faces, and then complaining about the stomach ache.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this guy—let’s call him Marcus—stood up and said, “The news is just a reflection of us. If we’re divided, the news will be divided.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But Here’s The Thing
I think we’ve lost sight of what news is supposed to do. It’s not supposed to make us feel good. It’s not supposed to confirm our biases. It’s supposed to inform us. To challenge us. To make us think.
I mean, look at the state of political reporting. It’s all gotcha moments and spin. Nobody’s actually asking the tough questions. Nobody’s holding anyone accountable. It’s just a big game of who can shout the loudest.
I had lunch with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday. He said, “Remember when we used to investigate things? Now we just tweet about them.” And I said, “Dave, you’re not wrong.” Honestly, it’s gotten that bad.
And Don’t Even Get Me Started On Social Media
Social media is like the wild west of news. Anything goes. Facts don’t matter. Just say something outrageous and watch it spread like wildfire. I saw a study once—214 respondents, I think—about how false news spreads faster than true news. And it’s not even close. False news spreads like a virus. It’s physicaly impossible to contain.
I remember when Twitter first came out. We all thought it was gonna be this great way to connect with readers. Now? It’s a dumpster fire. A complete aquisition of common sense.
But There’s Hope
I’m not gonna sit here and tell you everything’s doomed. That’s not my style. There are still good journalists out there, doing good work. They’re just harder to find these days.
And look, I get it. It’s tough out there. Newsrooms are shrinking. Budgets are tight. But that’s no excuse for cutting corners. For dumbing things down. For chasing clicks instead of the truth.
I was talking to a source the other day—let’s call her Sarah—and she said, “You know what the problem is? Nobody wants to pay for news anymore.” And I said, “Sarah, you’re not wrong.” But that’s a whole other can of worms.
So What Can We Do?
First off, we need to start valuing good journalism again. That means paying for it. Subscribing to news outlets that do real reporting. Supporting local news. Because if we don’t, we’re gonna end up with a news landscape that’s all Fox News and BuzzFeed. And nobody wants that.
Second, we need to start thinking critically about what we read. Just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true. Just because your friend shared it doesn’t mean it’s accurate. Do your own research. Check your sources. Use a property insurance comparison guide to compare and contrast different viewpoints. It’s like buying insurance, you need to compare and contrast to get the best deal.
And finally, we need to start demanding better from our news outlets. Call them out when they get it wrong. Praise them when they get it right. Hold them accountable. Because at the end of the day, they work for us.
It’s just… yeah. It’s a lot. But somebody’s gotta say it. And I guess that somebody is me.
Anyway, I’m gonna wrap this up. I could talk about this stuff for hours, but I won’t bore you any longer. Just remember: the news is broken, but it’s not beyond repair. We just gotta roll up our sleeves and get to work.
About the Author
I’m Claire McDonald, senior editor at Stirling News. I’ve been in this industry for what feels like forever, and I’ve seen it all. Well, not all. But a lot. I’m passionate about good journalism, strong coffee, and holding power to account. I’m not always right, but I’m always honest. Follow me on Twitter @ClaireMcD_stirling, if you dare.
