We’ve Got a Problem, Folks
Let me tell you something, London. I’ve been in this game for 22 years, and I’ve never seen it this bad. The news is a mess. And I’m not talking about the obvious stuff—the partisan bickering, the outrage clickbait. I’m talking about the fundamentals. The committment to truth. The physicaly ability to report without bias. It’s all gone to hell in a handbasket.
I remember back in ’99, when I was a wet-behind-the-ears reporter at the East London Gazette. My editor, let’s call him Marcus, drilled into us the importance of getting it right. ‘If you’re not sure, don’t write it,’ he’d say. ‘Better to be late than wrong.’
Now? It’s all about speed. Volume. Engagement. And honestly, it’s completley ruined the news.
Speed Over Accuracy
Look, I get it. The internet changed everything. We’re all gonna die if we don’t get the story up first. But at what cost? I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this data journalist—let’s call her Sarah—told me about a study they did. They tracked 214 news stories across 15 outlets over three months. Guess how many had factual errors? 87. That’s right, nearly half. And most of them were because reporters were rushing to be first.
I asked Sarah, ‘So what’s the solution?’ She said, ‘Honestly, I’m not sure. But it’s gotta start with editors saying no. No, we’re not publishing that until we verify it.’ Which… yeah. Fair enough.
The Algorithm Trap
Here’s another thing that’s driving me nuts. The algorithms. The damn algorithms! They’re turning us all into tabloid rags. I had coffee with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday, and he was telling me about how his outlet’s traffic has dropped by 30% because they refused to chase the outrage du jour. ‘But our editor stands by it,’ he said. ‘He’d rather have a smaller, more engaged audience than a bigger, angrier one.’
Bravo, Dave’s editor. Someone’s finally getting it. But it’s an uphill battle. The algorithms reward sensationalism. And until we figure out how to break that cycle, we’re stuck.
And don’t even get me started on the comments section. I mean, honestly, who even reads those things? It’s just a cesspool of trolls and bots. But here’s the kicker—editors are starting to care about them. ‘We need to engage with our audience,’ they say. No, you don’t. Your audience is readers. Not trolls.
Local News Is Dying, and We’re All Worse Off
But here’s the real kicker. The thing that keeps me up at night. Local news is dying. And when local news dies, democracy dies with it. I’ve seen it happen. I’ve watched as papers like the Hackney Gazette get gutted, their staff laid off, their coverage reduced to press releases and wire stories. Who’s gonna hold the council accountable now? Who’s gonna cover the school board meetings? Who’s gonna tell us about community events local activities?
I was at a town hall meeting about three months ago, and this elderly woman stood up and said, ‘I don’t know who to trust anymore. The paper doesn’t cover our community like it used to. The TV news is all crime and scandal. How am I supposed to know what’s really going on?’ And honestly, I had no answer for her. Because I don’t know either.
A Tangent: The Rise of the Influencer
Speaking of not knowing what’s going on, let’s talk about influencers. Yes, I know this is supposed to be about news, but hear me out. Influencers are now our primary source of information. And that’s terrifying. I was at a dinner party last month, and this guy—let’s call him Marcus—said, ‘I get my news from my TikTok feed.’ I nearly choked on my wine. ‘You’re basing your worldview on 60-second videos with auto-generated captions?’ I asked. He just shrugged. ‘It’s easier than reading,’ he said. And that, folks, is the problem right there.
It’s easier. It’s faster. It’s more engaging. But it’s also dumbed down, biased, and often completely wrong. And yet, here we are.
What Can We Do?
So what’s the answer? I wish I knew. I really do. I think it starts with us—yes, you and me—demanding better. Supporting local journalism. Subscribing to news outlets that prioritize accuracy over speed. Calling out misinformation when we see it. But honestly, I’m not sure if it’s enough.
I was talking to my friend Lisa the other day, and she said something that stuck with me. ‘The news isn’t broken,’ she said. ‘It’s just different. And it’s our job to adapt.’ Maybe she’s right. Maybe the news isn’t broken. Maybe it’s just evolving. But if that’s the case, I’m not sure I like the direction it’s heading.
Anyway, I’m gonna stop ranting now. I could go on for hours, but frankly, you probably have better things to do. Like maybe reading a news story that’s actually worth your time.
About the Author
Sarah Thompson has been a senior editor at London Weekly for over two decades. She’s seen it all—from the rise of the 24-hour news cycle to the fall of local journalism. When she’s not editing, she’s probably complaining about the state of the news industry or trying to convince her cat, Mr. Whiskers, that napping is a waste of time.
