Confessions of a Jaded Editor
Let me tell you something, folks. I’ve been in this game for 21 years, and I’ve seen alot of changes. I started at a tiny paper in Boise, then moved to a mid-sized outfit in Portland, and now I’m here at Rotorua News. And look, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you the news industry is perfect. It’s not. It’s messy, it’s flawed, and frankly, it’s often biased as hell.
Back in 1999, my editor, let’s call him Marcus, told me, “News is about facts, Sarah. Just the facts.” (Which, by the way, is the most naive thing I’ve ever heard.)
So, let’s talk about bias. Because it’s everywhere. And I should know—I’ve committed my fair share of biased “sins” over the years.
That Time I Got It Wrong
Okay, so picture this: it’s 2008, and I’m covering a city council meeting in Portland. The topic? A new housing development. I had already made up my mind that this was a bad idea. Why? Because my neighbor, Dave, had been complaining about it for months. So, when the council voted in favor, I wrote a piece that was, well, less than objective. I used words like “disastrous” and “short-sighted.” My editor at the time, a woman named Linda, called me out on it. She said, “Sarah, you let your bias show. This isn’t opinion piece—it’s news.” And she was right. I felt like an idiot. But it was a lesson I never forgot.
But here’s the thing: bias isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s just a word choice here, a fact omitted there. And sometimes, it’s completley unintentional.
The Science of Bias
I was talking to a friend of mine, Dr. Emily Chen, over coffee last Tuesday. She’s a psychologist, and she told me about this study she read. Apparently, our brains are wired to favor information that confirms our existing beliefs. It’s called confirmation bias. So, when we’re writing or editing, we might unconsciously favor certain facts over others. Which, honestly, is kinda scary when you think about it.
And get this—there’s actual science behind it. If you’re interested, check out the science research news latest. It’s fascinating stuff. But it also makes you wonder, right? How can we trust what we read if our own brains are working against us?
But Here’s the Kicker
Now, I’m not saying every journalist is out there pushing an agenda. Most of us are just trying to do our jobs. But we’re human. We have opinions. We have biases. And sometimes, those biases slip into our work. It’s inevitable.
Take, for example, the time I covered a protest in downtown Rotorua. I was raised to believe in certain things, and seeing people out there fighting for those same things? It was inspiring. But I had to check myself. I had to make sure I wasn’t letting my personal feelings color the story. It was a constant battle.
And look, I’m not perfect. I’ve made mistakes. We all have. But the key is to recognize our biases and try to overcome them. It’s not easy. It’s a daily struggle. But it’s a struggle worth fighting.
A Quick Digression: The Time I Met a Celebrity
So, about three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin. And guess who I saw? None other than Jon Stewart. I mean, I couldn’t believe it. I was a huge fan of his show, and there he was, in the flesh. I asked him about the state of news today, and he said, “It’s a mess, Sarah. A complete mess.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing: he also said something that stuck with me. He said, “The truth is out there. You just have to be willing to look for it.” And I think that’s the key. We have to be willing to look for the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when it challenges our beliefs.
So, What’s the Solution?
I wish I had a simple answer. I wish I could say, “Just do this one thing, and you’ll be bias-free.” But it’s not that easy. It’s gonna take a committment to self-awareness. It’s gonna take a willingness to challenge our own beliefs. And it’s gonna take a lot of hard work.
But here’s what I do know: we have to start by admitting that bias exists. We have to acknowledge that it’s a problem. And then, we have to work like hell to overcome it. Because the truth matters. And our readers deserve nothing less.
So, that’s my take. It’s not pretty. It’s not neat. But it’s the truth. And I think that’s a good place to start.
About the Author: Sarah Miller has been a senior editor at Rotorua News for the past 15 years. She’s covered everything from local politics to international crises, and she’s not afraid to call out the flaws in the industry she loves. When she’s not editing, you can find her hiking in the nearby forests or arguing about the Oxford comma.
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