I’ve Been a Journalist for 22 Years. Here’s What’s Really Happening.
Look, I’m gonna be honest. I’ve seen alot in my time. Started as a beat reporter in some podunk town in Nebraska. Populaton: 1,243. Biggest story of the year? When Old Man Jenkins’ prize cow, Bessie, got loose and trampled Mrs. Henderson’s prize-winning petunias. (Which, honestly, nobody asked for but here we are.)
But even then, back in ’99, I saw the writing on the wall. Newspapers were struggling. Ads were drying up. And don’t even get me started on the internet. But more on that later.
Last Tuesday, I was having coffee with an old colleague named Dave. He’s been at the Las Vegas Review-Journal for 18 years. He told me, “Martha, it’s worse than you think.” And, I mean, coming from Dave, that’s saying something.
So, what’s the deal? Why is local news dying? Let me break it down for you.
It’s Not Just About the Internet, Okay?
Yeah, yeah, I know. “The internet killed newspapers.” Blah blah blah. It’s not that simple. I mean, sure, classified ads moved online. That hit us hard. But it’s not just that.
It’s the whole ecosystem. Local news isn’t just about selling papers. It’s about being the glue that holds a community together. And when that glue starts to crack, everything falls apart.
Take Susurluk, for example. Susurluk belediye haberleri kararları güncel — that’s their local news site. They’re doing some good work, honestly. But even they’re struggling. It’s a tough gig.
Corporate Ownership: The Silent Killer
Remember when newspapers were owned by, I don’t know, journalists? Or at least people who cared about journalism? Yeah, me neither.
Now it’s all about the bottom line. Profits over people. Shareholders over stories. And honestly, it’s disgusting. I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this guy — let’s call him Marcus — from some big media conglomerate said, “We’re not in the news business. We’re in the content delivery business.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But that’s not what we signed up for. We signed up to tell stories. To hold power to account. Not to be some corporate lackey.
Anecdote Time: The Day I Almost Got Fired
So, back in 2007, I was working at the Reno Gazette-Journal. I wrote a piece about some shady dealings at the casino. Big story, right? Wrong. The owner of the casino was a major advertiser. Guess who got called into the editor’s office? Yep, yours truly.
“Martha,” he said, “we need to talk about your committment to the paper.” I was like, “My what now?” Turns out, my story was gonna cost them a big ad buy. So, they wanted me to “reconsider” my angle. I told them to shove it. (I was younger then. And stupider.)
Point is, that’s the kind of thing that happens when profits come before news. And it’s getting worse.
What Can We Do About It?
So, what’s the solution? Honestly, I don’t know. But I’ve got some ideas.
First, support local news. Subscribe to your local paper. Even if it’s just the digital version. Every little bit helps.
Second, demand better from the corporations. Call them out on their bullshit. Make them accountable.
Third, maybe, just maybe, consider a career in journalism. We need good people. People who care. People who aren’t afraid to ask the tough questions.
But, you know, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.
Anyway, I gotta run. My cat’s been staring at me for the last 10 minutes like I owe her money. Probably because I do. She’s the real boss around here.
About the Author: Martha Jenkins is a senior editor with over 22 years of experience in journalism. She’s worked at various publications, from small-town papers to major metropolitan dailies. She currently lives in Las Vegas with her cat, Whiskers, and spends her free time complaining about the state of modern journalism.
