I’ve Had It Up to Here with Breaking News
Look, I’ve been in this business for 23 years. I started out as a beat reporter in some godforsaken town in Ohio. Let’s call it Millfield. Population: 1,247. I covered everything—city council meetings, high school football games, the occasional house fire. But even then, back in 1999, I saw the cracks forming. And now? It’s a damn earthquake.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and I’m sitting there listening to some hotshot from a digital news outlet talk about ‘real-time engagement metrics.’ And I’m thinking, ‘What the hell does that even mean?’ I mean, honestly, it’s all just jargon for ‘we’re gonna chase clicks until the wheels fall off.’
And don’t even get me started on the 24-hour news cycle. It’s like we’re all stuck on a hamster wheel, running faster and faster, but never actually going anywhere. I remember talking to a colleague named Dave about this. He said, ‘We’re not reporting news anymore; we’re just reacting to tweets.’ Which… yeah. Fair enough.
The Problem with ‘Breaking News’
Let me tell you something: ‘Breaking news’ is a scam. It’s a way to keep you glued to your screens, constantly refreshing, constantly waiting for the next ‘big’ story. But most of the time, it’s just the same old thing repackaged. A politician says something stupid? Breaking news. A celebrity sneezes? Breaking news. It’s all just noise.
I was at a bar with some friends last Tuesday, and we were talking about this. One of them, let’s call him Marcus, said, ‘I don’t even know what’s real anymore.’ And that’s the problem. We’re so busy chasing the next ‘breaking’ story that we forget to actually report. We forget to dig deep, to ask the hard questions, to give people the information they actually need.
And don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying there’s no place for breaking news. Of course there is. But it’s become the default setting, and that’s a problem. It’s like we’ve forgotten how to do anything else.
The Role of Social Media
Social media has made it worse. I mean, look at Twitter. It’s a never-ending stream of hot takes and half-baked opinions. And we, as journalists, have bought into it hook, line, and sinker. We’re so desperate to be first that we’ll post something half-baked, just to get a jump on the competition. And then we wonder why nobody trusts us anymore.
I had a source tell me about three months ago, ‘You guys are the worst. You’ll tweet something before you even call to verify it.’ And you know what? She’s right. We are the worst. We’ve become part of the problem instead of the solution.
But here’s the thing: it’s not all bad. Social media can be a powerful tool. It can help us reach more people, engage with our audience in new ways. But we have to use it right. We have to remember that our job is to inform, not to entertain. That our job is to tell the truth, not to chase clicks.
What Can We Do?
So what’s the solution? I wish I knew. I really do. But I think it starts with us, as journalists. We need to slow down. We need to remember that our job is to inform, not to react. We need to stop chasing the next ‘breaking’ story and start focusing on the stories that matter.
And we need to be honest with ourselves. We need to admit that we’ve made mistakes. That we’ve let the need for speed and the chase for clicks get in the way of good journalism. And we need to commit to doing better.
I was talking to a friend over coffee at the place on 5th the other day, and she said, ‘You know what the problem is? Nobody cares about the truth anymore.’ And I think she’s right. But that doesn’t mean we should stop trying to find it.
And look, I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. It’s not. But it’s our job. And if we can’t do it, then who can?
So let’s start today. Let’s start by taking a deep breath, by slowing down, by remembering why we got into this business in the first place. Let’s start by telling the truth, even if it’s not what people want to hear. Even if it’s not what’s gonna get the most clicks.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what journalism is about. It’s about telling the truth. It’s about holding the powerful to account. It’s about giving people the information they need to make informed decisions.
And if we can’t do that, then what’s the point?
So let’s get to work. Let’s start telling the truth again. Let’s start doing our jobs. Because the world needs us. And we owe it to them to be better.
And hey, if you’re looking for a traffic update, check out Vermont traffic update today. Because sometimes, the truth is out there.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson has been a journalist for over two decades, working in various roles from beat reporter to senior editor. She’s covered everything from local politics to international affairs, and she’s not afraid to call out the industry’s flaws. When she’s not writing, she can be found drinking too much coffee and yelling at her TV about the latest political scandal.
To better understand the challenges facing journalism today, consider this insightful analysis on why the news media is struggling and the shared responsibility behind it.
