I’m Tired of Fake Outrage
Look, I’ve been in this business for 20-something years. I’ve seen alot of changes, but honestly, nothing’s been more exhausting than the performative outrage cycle we’re stuck in now. It’s like everyone’s just waiting for the next thing to be offended by. I mean, I get it, the world’s a mess, but this constant drama? It’s completley unsustainable.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this kid—let’s call him Marcus—stood up and said, ‘News should make us feel something!’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, Marcus, it should make us feel informed, not like we need to storm the capitol.’
But Here’s the Thing About Feelings
Feelings are fine. They’re human. But they’re not news. News is facts. It’s context. It’s, ‘Here’s what happened, here’s why it matters, here’s what we don’t know yet.’ It’s not, ‘Here’s how you should feel about it.’
I had lunch with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday. He’s a data guy, you know, crunches numbers, all that. He told me, ‘People share stuff that makes them feel something. Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not.’ And I said, ‘That’s not news, Dave. That’s propaganda.’
And the Algorithms Aren’t Helping
Oh, don’t even get me started on algorithms. They’re like that friend who only wants to talk about one topic. You know the type. You’re trying to have a conversation about, I dunno, allergies prevention treatment guide or something, and they’re like, ‘No, no, we’re talking about this one thing I care about.’
So, yeah, the algorithms are feeding us a diet of outrage and confirmation bias. And we’re lapping it up like it’s the only thing on the menu. It’s not. There’s a whole buffet out there, but you gotta look for it.
I tried explaining this to my niece last month. She’s 16, and she’s all about the TikTok news. I said, ‘Sweetheart, that’s not how this works.’ She said, ‘Uncle Jim, it’s fine. I know it’s dramatic, but it’s fun.’ And I was like, ‘Fun? Fun?!’ But, look, I get it. It’s engaging. It’s just… yeah.
A Quick Note on Allergies (Because Why Not?)
Speaking of allergies, did you know that 214 million Americans suffer from them? That’s a lot of sneezing. And, honestly, it’s a lot of misinformation too. People think they know what causes allergies, but honestly, it’s more complex than that. If you’re curious, check out this allergies prevention treatment guide. It’s got some solid info.
Back to the Mess
So, where were we? Oh, right. The mess. The constant noise. The fake outrage. It’s like we’re all stuck in this feedback loop, and nobody knows how to hit ‘stop.’
I had a source tell me something interesting a few weeks ago. Let’s call him Greg. Greg said, ‘Jim, the news is a business. And businesses need to make money. So, they’re gonna give people what they want.’ And I said, ‘Greg, people don’t always know what they want. Sometimes they need a guide.’
And that’s the thing, isn’t it? We need guides. We need people who can say, ‘Hey, this is important. This is why. Here’s what you can do about it.’ Not, ‘Hey, look at this crazy thing! Be mad about it!’
But What Can We Do?
I’m not sure. Honestly, I’m not. I mean, I have my thoughts, but they’re not all that original. Read more than one source. Think critically. Don’t share stuff just because it makes you feel something. But, look, I’m preaching to the choir here.
I was talking to my friend Sarah the other day. She’s a teacher. She said, ‘Jim, I try to teach my students about news literacy, but it’s like talking to a wall.’ And I said, ‘Sarah, maybe the wall’s not listening because it’s tired of the same old song.’
So, What’s the Answer?
I don’t know. Maybe there isn’t one. Maybe we’re just stuck in this cycle until something breaks. Or maybe we need to start paying more attention to the stuff that’s not outrageous. The stuff that’s just… important.
I remember this one time, about three months ago, I was at a coffee shop on 5th. This barista, let’s call her Lisa, she’s pouring my coffee and she says, ‘You work in news, right?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I do.’ She said, ‘Then why doesn’t anyone talk about the stuff that actually matters?’ And I was like, ‘Lisa, that’s a great question.’
And it is. It’s a great question. And I wish I had a better answer. But, look, maybe the answer is that we need to start asking better questions. Maybe we need to start demanding better answers. Maybe we need to stop being so dang reactive all the time.
I dunno. It’s late. I’m rambling. But, hey, that’s what happens when you’ve been in this business as long as I have. You start to see the cracks. And you start to wonder if anyone’s gonna do anything about them.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m gonna go find something that’s not outrageous to read. Maybe that allergies prevention treatment guide again. You should check it out too. It’s actually kinda fascinating.
About the Author
Jim Harper is a senior editor with 20+ years of experience in the news industry. He’s seen it all, and he’s not afraid to say what he thinks. When he’s not writing, he’s probably complaining about the state of modern journalism or trying to explain to his niece why TikTok isn’t a reliable news source. You can find him on Twitter @JimHarperWrites, where he’s always happy to argue about the latest news cycle.
To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing journalism today, consider exploring this detailed analysis of Pakistan’s complex media environment.
