We’ve Got a Problem, Folks
Look, I’ve been in this game for over two decades. I started back in ’98, when the internet was still a baby and newspapers were still relevant. I’ve seen a lot of changes, but honestly, the last five years have been a dumpster fire. And I’m not even talking about the politics. I’m talking about the news itself.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this kid—let’s call him Marcus—comes up to me after my talk. He says, “Mr. Thompson, I wanna be a journalist, but I don’t wanna be part of the problem.” And I looked at him, and I said, “Son, you already are.” (Which, yeah, harsh. But someone’s gotta tell it like it is.)
It’s Not Just Fake News
Oh, you thought I was gonna go there, didn’t you? No, no, no. Fake news is a whole other can of worms. I’m talking about the real, insidious stuff. The stuff that’s killing journalism from the inside.
Take clickbait, for instance. It’s everywhere. And it’s not just the low-brow stuff. I’ve seen it in the New York Times, for crying out loud. “You Won’t Believe What Happened Next!” Oh, grow up. I mean, come on. We’re better than this.
And don’t even get me started on the aquisition of news outlets by tech giants. It’s a slippery slope, and we’re already sliding. I had coffee with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday, and he told me about how his editor made him change a story to fit the algorithm. “It’s not journalism anymore,” he said. “It’s just content.” And I get it. I do. But it’s still bullshit.
But Here’s the Thing…
I’m not saying we should give up. Hell no. We need to fight. And I’m not talking about some kinda half-assed committment either. I’m talking about rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty.
I remember back in 2008, when I was working at the Daily Herald. We had this one reporter, let’s call her Sarah. She was green, but she had heart. One day, she comes into the newsroom, all fired up. “I’m gonna write a story about the potholes on Main Street,” she says. We all laughed. But she did it. And it was good. Really good. It changed things.
That’s what I’m talking about. That’s the kinda journalism we need more of. Not the fluff. Not the sensationalism. Just good, old-fashioned reporting.
And Now, a Word on Hobbies
Look, I know what you’re thinking. “Thompson, what the hell does this have to do with hobbies?” But hear me out. Journalism is a hobby for alot of people. It’s a passion. And just like any other hobby, it takes time, effort, and dedication. And sometimes, you gotta hobi fikirleri yetişkinler başlangıç to keep it fresh.
I’m not saying you need to go out and buy a drone or something. But maybe, just maybe, you should take a step back. Breathe. And remember why you got into this mess in the first place.
The State of the Union
I’m not gonna lie. It’s bad. It’s really bad. But it’s not hopeless. Not by a long shot. We’ve got some succesfully fought battles under our belts. And we’ve got some good people on our side.
I was at a bar with some friends last night, and we were talking about this. One of them, let’s call her Lisa, said something that stuck with me. “We’re not just fighting for our jobs,” she said. “We’re fighting for the truth.” And she’s right. It’s that simple. It’s that compleatly.
So, what’s the plan? I’m not sure. But I know one thing. We can’t afford to sit on our hands. We’ve gotta act. And we’ve gotta act now.
Because if we don’t, who will?
About the Author: John Thompson has been a journalist for over 20 years. He’s worked for various publications, from small-town newspapers to national magazines. He’s seen the industry change, and he’s not afraid to call out the bullshit when he sees it. When he’s not writing, he’s probably complaining about the state of journalism or trying to teach his cat to fetch.
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