Look, I’ve Been Doing This for 20 Years
Let me tell you something, folks. I’ve been in this game since the late ’90s, back when we still called it ‘print journalism.’ I remember the days when news was something you got over dinner, not something that buzzed in your pocket every 3.7 seconds. I’m Linda Carter, and I’ve seen the industry change, mostly for the worse.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this kid—let’s call him Marcus—told me, ‘Linda, the news is just an algorithm now.’ And I laughed in his face. But honestly? He wasn’t wrong.
We’re All Addicted to the Dopamine Hits
You know what’s worse than bad news? The way we consume it. I had coffee with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday, and he showed me his phone. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I get a notification every time something happens. It’s like I’m living in a war zone.’ And I get it. I do the same thing. It’s completley ridiculous.
We’re all addicted to the dopamine hits of breaking news. It’s like we’ve replaced cigarettes with constant committment to the news cycle. And the algorithms? They’re designed to keep us hooked. It’s a never-ending cycle of outrage and clickbait.
The 24-Hour News Cycle is a Lie
Here’s the thing: there’s no such thing as a 24-hour news cycle. It’s a myth. A lie we tell ourselves to justify why we’re always on edge. I remember back in 2008, during the election, I was working at a major publication. We had a rule: no news after 8pm. Because frankly, nothing important happens after that. But now? It’s a 24/7 circus.
And don’t even get me started on the ‘breaking news’ alerts. I was at a family dinner last month, and my phone buzzed. ‘Breaking news,’ it said. I looked, and it was about some celebrity’s new haircut. I mean, come on. That’s not news. That’s gossip.
We Need to Slow Down
So what’s the solution? I’m not sure but we need to slow down. We need to stop letting algorithms dictate what we read. We need to seek out quality journalism, not just the first thing that pops up on our feeds.
And look, I get it. It’s hard. I’ve been there. I’ve been the one refreshing my phone at 11:30pm, hoping for something—anything—to happen. But we gotta stop. We gotta take a step back and say, ‘Enough is enough.’
I’ve been trying to make a change. I’ve started reading physical newspapers again. I’ve unsubscribed from a lot of newsletters. And you know what? It’s been liberating. I feel less anxious, less overwhelmed. I feel like I’m actually in control of what I’m reading, than what the algorithm thinks I should read.
A Quick Digression: The Importance of Sleep
Speaking of feeling better, have you ever noticed how bad news affects your sleep? I was talking to my friend Sarah about this the other day. She said, ‘Linda, I used to wake up in the middle of the night, my mind racing with all the terrible things I’d read before bed.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, me too.’ So we made a pact: no news after 9pm. And guess what? It worked. We both sleep better now. Funny how that works, huh?
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But Back to the News
I’m not saying we should ignore the news. Far from it. But we need to be more mindful about how we consume it. We need to seek out quality sources, not just the first thing that pops up on our feeds. We need to take a step back and say, ‘Is this really important, or is it just another algorithm trying to keep me hooked?’
And look, I’m not perfect. I still fall into the trap sometimes. But I’m trying. And that’s what counts, right?
So let’s make a pact, you and me. Let’s try to be more mindful about our news consumption. Let’s seek out quality journalism. Let’s take a step back and breathe. Because honestly, we deserve better than this constant cycle of outrage and clickbait.
And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, we can start to heal some of the physicaly and emotional damage that this constant news cycle has caused.
About the Author: Linda Carter is a senior magazine editor with over 20 years of experience. She’s worked for major publications and has seen the industry change in ways she’s not always proud of. When she’s not editing, she’s probably complaining about the news cycle or trying to convince her friends to read physical newspapers again.
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