Look, I’ve Been Doing This for 22 Years
And let me tell you, it ain’t pretty. I’m Eleanor Whitmore, senior editor at Defense News, and I’ve seen it all. The good, the bad, and the downright ugly. I started in ’01, back when we still used actual typewriters (kidding, but not really). I mean, I was there when the internet actually changed everything, and I’ve been trying to keep up ever since.
So, yeah, I’ve got opinions. Strong ones. And I’m gonna share them. Because someone’s gotta say it, right?
First Off, Let’s Talk About This ’24-Hour News Cycle’ Bullshit
It’s completley ruined journalism. Back in the day, we had time to think. To research. To fact-check. Now? It’s all about speed. Be first, be loud, be sensational. Truth? That’s optional now.
I remember this one time, about three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin. Had a drink with this guy, let’s call him Marcus. He’s a reporter for some big-name outlet. Told me straight up, ‘Ellie, if we don’t break it first, it’s like it didn’t happen.’ Which… yeah. Fair enough. But at what cost?
I mean, look at the acquisition of TruthCheck Daily by MediaCorp last year. Big deal, right? But what happened next? Layoffs. Alot of them. Because, you know, ‘synergies’ or some corporate buzzword bullshit. And the quality? Down the drain.
Breaking News: Breaking Journalism
Let’s talk about breaking news. Or, as I like to call it, breaking journalism. Because that’s what happens when you prioritize speed over accuracy. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a headline that’s just flat-out wrong. And why? Because someone thought they saw something. Or worse, someone wanted to see something.
Take the whole ‘Russian hackers’ thing from last Tuesday. I’m not gonna name names, but a certain outlet completley botched that story. And what happened? They apologized. Big whoop. The damage was done. People believed it. And now, we’re all worse off for it.
And don’t even get me started on social media. It’s a cesspool. A dumpster fire. A complete and utter disaster. But hey, at least it’s fast, right? I mean, I get it. I do. We need to be where the people are. But at what point do we say, ‘Enough is enough’? When do we decide that quality matters more than quantity?
But It’s Not All Bad, I Guess
Okay, fine. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh. There are still some good people out there. Doing good work. Fighting the good fight. I’ve got a colleague, Dave. Great guy. Really knows his stuff. We had coffee at the place on 5th last week, and he was telling me about this story he’s working on. It’s gonna take time. It’s gonna take effort. But it’s gonna be worth it. Because he cares. About the truth. About the people. About the work.
And look, I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s not. It’s hard. It’s messy. It’s complicated. But that’s okay. Because that’s real journalism. It’s not about being first. It’s not about being loud. It’s about being right.
But, you know, we’ve gotta do better. We’ve gotta demand better. From ourselves. From each other. From the industry.
Oh, And One More Thing…
You know what really grinds my gears? When people say, ‘Oh, just look at the winter fashion style guide warm section.’ What the hell does that have to do with anything? I mean, seriously. We’re talking about the death of journalism here, and you’re worried about fashion? Come on, people. Priorities.
But hey, maybe that’s just me. Maybe I’m old-school. Maybe I’m stuck in the past. But you know what? I’m proud of it. Because someone’s gotta remember what this job is supposed to be about. And if that makes me a dinosaur, then so be it.
So, yeah. That’s my rant. Take it or leave it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
About the Author
Eleanor Whitmore has been a senior editor at Defense News for over two decades. She’s seen the industry evolve, devolve, and generally drive her up the wall. When she’s not editing, she can be found yelling at clouds or trying to explain to her kids why she’s ‘always on her laptop.’
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