We’ve Got a Problem, Folks
Let me tell you something, Manchester. I’ve been in this game for too long. Twenty-three years, to be exact. I started at a tiny paper in Liverpool, back in ’99. Remember when news was… well, news? Not this hot mess we’re dealing with now.
I was at a pub with an old friend, let’s call him Marcus, last Tuesday. We’re having a pint, right? And he says to me, “You know, Sarah, I used to trust what I read. Now? I don’t know what’s real anymore.” And I looked at him, and I said, “Marcus, neither do I.”
That’s the truth. The news is broken. And I’m tired of pretending it’s not.
It’s Not Just Fake News, It’s Lazy News
Look, I get it. Fake news is a thing. But that’s not what’s really grinding my gears. It’s the laziness. The lack of committment to actual journalism.
I was at a conference in Austin, Texas, about three months ago. A colleague named Dave—good guy, been in the biz for 15 years—he turns to me and says, “You know what the biggest change is? Nobody fact-checks anything anymore.” And I thought, “Dave, you’re not wrong.”
It’s true. We’ve got algorithms pushing content, clickbait headlines, and a completley broken feedback loop. It’s a mess. And it’s not just the big players. It’s everyone. Even us.
But Here’s the Thing…
I’m not saying I’ve got all the answers. I don’t. But I know what I see. And what I see is a lot of people—good people—just throwing stuff out there. And it’s not okay.
I mean, take last week. I was reading an article—won’t say where—and it was just… wrong. Not opinionated, not biased. Just straight-up wrong. Dates, names, facts. All messed up. And it was published by a place that should know better.
I tweeted about it. Got a bunch of replies. Some people agreed, some didn’t. One guy, let’s call him Greg, said, “Maybe they’re just having an off day.” To which I replied, “Greg, an off day is one thing. This is a pattern.”
We Need to Do Better
So what’s the solution? I don’t know. But I know it starts with us. With me. With you. We need to demand better. We need to be better.
And it’s not just about the big stuff. It’s the little things too. Like, for example, if you’re gonna write about something, maybe do some research first. Maybe talk to some people. Maybe—just maybe—make sure you’ve got your facts straight.
I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s not. But it’s our job. And if we’re not gonna do it, who is?
A Quick Digression: Water Fasting
Speaking of doing things right, have you ever tried water fasting? No, not as a news strategy—though maybe we should try it. As in, not eating for a while. It’s a thing. And there are some helpful resources online guide if you’re into that kinda thing. I’m not, personally. But hey, to each their own.
Anyway, back to the point. Or not. I’m not sure anymore.
The Point Is…
I don’t know. I’m rambling. But I think you get the point. The news is broken. And it’s up to us to fix it.
So let’s do better. Let’s be better. Let’s remember why we got into this business in the first place. And let’s not forget that our readers—the people of Manchester, the people of the world—they deserve better.
They deserve the truth. And it’s our job to give it to them.
About the Author: Sarah Jenkins has been a senior editor for over two decades, working with major publications across the UK. She’s opinionated, passionate, and not afraid to call out bad journalism when she sees it. You can find her ranting about the state of the news industry on Twitter or at her favorite pub in Manchester.
