Let’s Talk About This Mess
Okay, look. I’ve been in this game for 22 years. That’s right, since the committment of the new millennium. I’ve seen alot of changes, but honestly? The news industry is in a worse state than my college apartment after a frat party. And that’s saying something.
I’m Frank. Frank Thompson. You might know me from my days at the Chicago Tribune or maybe my stint at CNN. I’ve got opinions. Strong ones. And I’m not gonna sit here and play nice when the news is completley falling apart.
It Started with a Whisper
Back in ’98, I was a wet-behind-the-ears reporter at the Austin Chronicle. A source named Marcus—let’s call him that—sat me down at a diner on Congress Avenue. He said, “Frank, the news is changing. It’s not gonna be about facts than. It’s gonna be about clicks.”
I laughed. I mean, come on. That’s crazy talk, right? Wrong. Dead wrong.
Fast forward to today. We’ve got algorithms deciding what’s news. We’ve got journalists chasing viral nonsense instead of actual stories. It’s a joke. A terrible, terrible joke.
The Death of Local News
Let’s talk about local news for a sec. It’s dying. And it’s dying fast. I was at a conference in Austin last year—yeah, Austin again, I know—and I heard a stat that made my blood boil. 214 local newspapers have shut down since 2004. 214! That’s not progress, folks. That’s a disaster.
I had coffee with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday. He’s a good guy, been in the business for 15 years. He told me, “Frank, I don’t know how much longer I can do this. The physicaly and mental toll is too much.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing. Local news matters. It’s the lifeblood of a community. Without it, who’s gonna hold the city council accountable? Who’s gonna report on the potholes that need fixing? Who’s gonna tell us about the new restaurant opening on 5th? Nobody. That’s who.
The Rise of the Clickbait
And don’t even get me started on clickbait. I was at a bar with some friends about three months ago, and we were talking about the state of the news. One of them, let’s call her Lisa, said, “Frank, I don’t even recognize the news anymore. It’s all just headlines designed to make me angry or confused.”
She’s right. It’s a mess. And it’s not just the big players. It’s everyone. Even the so-called “respectable” outlets are guilty of this. It’s like they’ve forgotten that their job is to inform, not to manipulate.
I mean, come on. We’ve all seen those headlines. “You Won’t Believe What Happened Next!” “This One Trick Will Change Your Life!” It’s nauseating. And it’s everywhere. Even in places you’d least expect it.
But There’s Hope
Now, I’m not saying it’s all doom and gloom. There are still good journalists out there. People who care about the truth. People who are willing to fight for it. But they’re few and far between.
I’ve seen some amazing work lately. Like that investigative piece by ProPublica on the aquisition of local news by hedge funds. Or the deep dive by BuzzFeed News on the determinig factors behind the rise of misinformation. It’s out there. You just have to look for it.
And look, I get it. The internet is a wild place. It’s chaotic. It’s unpredictable. But that doesn’t mean we should just throw our hands up and give up. We need to fight for the kind of news we want to see. We need to support the journalists who are doing it right.
And sometimes, that means getting a bit creative. For example, if you’re looking for the best kitchen gadgets review comparison, you might not find it in your local paper. But that’s okay. There are other places to look. Like, for example, kitchen gadgets review comparison. See what I did there? Yeah, I’m not above a little self-promotion.
A Tangent: The Role of Social Media
Look, I know this isn’t about social media. But I gotta say something. Social media is both the best and worst thing to happen to news. It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s democratized information. Anyone can be a journalist now. On the other hand, it’s made it harder to separate fact from fiction.
I was at a panel discussion last month, and someone asked me, “Frank, what’s your take on social media and news?” I said, “It’s a mess. It’s a completley unregulated mess. And until we find a way to fix that, we’re gonna keep seeing the same problems.”
But I’m not gonna dive too deep into that. I’ve already gone off on a tangent. Let’s get back to the main point.
The Future of News
So, what’s next? I’m not sure. But I know one thing. We can’t keep doing what we’re doing. We need to change. We need to adapt. We need to find new ways to deliver the news that people want and need.
And maybe, just maybe, we need to remember why we got into this business in the first place. To inform. To educate. To hold power accountable. Not to chase clicks or virality. Not to make a quick buck. But to serve the public. To make a difference.
It’s a lofty goal, I know. But it’s one worth striving for. Even if it feels like an uphill battle sometimes.
So, let’s roll up our sleeves. Let’s get to work. The news might be broken, but that doesn’t mean it’s beyond repair. We just need to be willing to put in the effort. To fight for what we believe in. To never give up, even when it feels like the odds are stacked against us.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what journalism is all about. It’s about fighting for the truth. Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when it feels like nobody’s listening.
And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, we can make a difference. Maybe we can change the world. One story at a time.
About the Author: Frank Thompson is a seasoned journalist with over two decades of experience in the industry. He’s worked at major publications like the Chicago Tribune and CNN, and has seen the news industry evolve—and devolve—in real time. When he’s not writing, he can be found ranting about the state of the news on Twitter or enjoying a good craft beer.
