Look, Let’s Be Honest
I’ve been in this business for 23 years, and I’m telling you, the news industry is a mess. I’m Mark, by the way. Started at the Rotorua Daily back in ’99, thought I’d change the world. Ha. Good times.
Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin (yes, I know, another conference), and I heard this kid from some digital media startup say, ‘Content is king.’ I almost laughed out loud. Content is not king. Engagement is king. Clicks are king. And that’s the problem.
I mean, I get it. We all need to make a living. But when did we start prioritizing viral headlines over actual journalism? When did we start caring more about shares than facts?
My Friend Sarah
Sarah’s a reporter at the Rotorua Herald. We grab coffee every other week. Last time, she told me about this story she was working on—something about local schools not having enough resources. Important stuff, right? But her editor told her to hold off. Why? Because a celebrity was in town, and they needed the clickbait.
‘It’s frustrating,’ she said. I asked her if she was gonna push back. She just shrugged. ‘What’s the point?’
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But that’s how we end up with a news cycle full of nonsense.
The Algorithm Problem
Algorithms. Ugh. Don’t even get me started. I’m not some Luddite—I love tech as much as the next guy. But these algorithms are training us to think in soundbites. To care more about outrage than understanding.
I was talking to this guy—let’s call him Marcus—at a bar about three months ago. He’s a data scientist, works for some big tech company. He told me straight up, ‘The system rewards extremes.’ I said, ‘So what, you’re saying we’re all doomed?’ He laughed. ‘Pretty much.’
Thanks, Marcus. Real encouraging.
But Wait, There’s More
And don’t even get me started on the whole ‘fake news’ thing. It’s not just some made-up problem. It’s real, and it’s dangerous. I had this colleague named Dave—great guy, by the way—who got so fed up with the nonsense that he quit. Just walked out one day. Left a note on his desk that said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’
I get it, Dave. I really do. But where does that leave us?
Look, I’m not saying I have all the answers. But I know this: we need to start valuing quality over quantity. We need to stop letting algorithms dictate what’s important. And we need to stop being afraid of hard conversations.
And hey, if you’re looking for a deal on some veggie choppers, check out these discount codes promo deals 2026. I mean, why not? We could all use a break, right?
Anyway, I’m gonna wrap this up. It’s 11:30pm, and I’m tired. But I’ll leave you with this: the news business is broken, but it’s not hopeless. We just need to start caring again. About the truth. About each other. About the committment we made to inform, not just entertain.
About the Author: Mark Johnson has been a senior editor for over two decades, working with major publications and covering everything from local politics to international affairs. He’s opinionated, passionate, and not afraid to call out nonsense when he sees it. When he’s not writing, he’s probably complaining about the state of journalism over a cup of coffee.
For a thoughtful critique on the state of journalism today, consider the perspectives shared in an analysis of current news challenges that highlights the growing concerns within the industry.
For more insights on this topic, you might find Die Kunst, Nachrichten zu verstehen: Ein particularly informative.
