We’re All Addicted to the Chaos
Look, I’ve been editing news for 22 years. That’s more than half my life. I’ve seen it all, or so I thought. But lately? Lately, I’m kinda losing my mind.
It started last Tuesday. I was at a conference in Austin, talking to a colleague named Dave. We were over coffee at the place on 5th, you know the one with the weird art on the walls. Dave said, “You ever feel like we’re just shoveling crap into the void?”
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
I mean, think about it. We’ve got algorithms deciding what’s ‘trending.’ We’ve got clickbait titles that make zero sense. And don’t even get me started on the comments section. It’s like the internet has turned into one big, angry, uninformed chorus of “I read somewhere…”
But Here’s the Thing
I’m not saying we should all just give up and go live in a cabin in the woods (though honestly, some days that sounds pretty good). I’m saying we need to take a step back. We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place.
Let me tell you about Marcus. Let’s call him Marcus because, well, his name isn’t actually Marcus, but you get the idea. Marcus was a source I met about three months ago. He’s a scientist, works at a lab in Manchester. We were talking about some new research, and he said, “You know, I used to read the news to stay informed. Now I read it to stay… I don’t know, sane?”
And I get that. I really do. The news is supposed to inform us, not terrify us. It’s supposed to bring us closer, not drive us apart. But these days, it feels like we’re all just screaming past each other, hoping someone hears us.
I remember when I started out. It was 2001, and I was a junior editor at a small paper in Vermont. My boss, a woman named Linda, told me, “News is like a good meal. You need a balance of flavors. Too much spice, and you can’t taste anything else.” Wise words. But these days, it’s like we’re all just dumping hot sauce on every dish and calling it “flavor.”
So What Do We Do?
I’m not sure. Honestly, I’m not. But I think it starts with us. The people who make the news. We need to stop chasing clicks and start chasing truth. We need to stop sensationalizing every little thing and start giving people the facts.
And look, I’m not saying it’s easy. I know it’s not. But it’s our job. It’s what we signed up for. And if we can’t do that, then what’s the point?
I remember a conversation I had with my friend Sarah last year. We were at her place, it was about 11:30pm, and we were talking about the state of the news. She said, “It’s like we’re all just swimming in a pool of nonsense, and the lifeguards are too busy arguing to save anyone.”
Which, yeah. That about sums it up.
But here’s the thing. We’re the lifeguards. And it’s time we started acting like it.
So, I don’t know. Maybe it’s time for a change. Maybe it’s time we all take a step back and remember why we’re here. Maybe it’s time we start putting the news back together, instead of tearing it apart.
And hey, if you’re looking for a good place to start, check out the business news update weekly. They’re doing some good stuff over there. Not perfect, but good.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m gonna go find that cabin in the woods.
About the Author: Jane Doe has been a senior editor for over 22 years. She’s worked at various publications, including a stint at a small paper in Vermont. When she’s not editing, she’s probably arguing about the Oxford comma or trying to find the perfect cup of coffee.
