I’ve Been Part of the Problem
Look, I’m gonna say something that’ll probably get me in trouble. I’ve spent 22 years in journalism, and I’ve been part of the problem. Yeah, news bias is real. And it’s not just Fox vs. CNN. It’s in every outlet, including the one you’re reading right now. I should know, I’ve worked at alot of them.
Back in ’99, I was a wet-behind-the-ears reporter at the Austin Chronicle. My editor, let’s call him Marcus, told me, “Kid, news is just someone else’s opinion with better facts.” I laughed it off then. Now? I get it.
That Time I Buried a Story
About three months ago, I was working on a piece about local council corruption. Real juicy stuff. But my editor said, “We can’t run that, it’ll upset the advertisers.” So, I buried it. Just a tiny mention on page 12. I mean, honestly, what was I supposed to do? Pay my rent or feed my family?
I told my mate Dave about it over coffee at that place on 5th. He said, “You’re a sellout, mate.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But it’s compliccated, isn’t it?
The Illusion of Objectivity
Here’s the thing about objectivity. It’s a myth. A beautiful, comforting myth. But a myth nonetheless. You wanna know why? ‘Cause humans are biased. We can’t help it. I can’t help it.
Take my piece on the new shopping mall. I interviewed 214 people. 187 were for it, 27 against. But I spent most of the article talking to the 27. Why? ‘Cause conflict sells, darling. And honestly, who wants to read about happy people?
Social Media: The Bias Amplifier
And don’t even get me started on social media. It’s like news bias on steroids. Algorithms feed us what we wanna hear. It’s a echo chamber, a feedback loop, a… a bias party, and everyone’s invited!
Last Tuesday, I was scrolling through my feed. All I saw was outrage. Outrage about this, outrage about that. I showed it to my colleague, Sarah. She said, “That’s not news, that’s entertainment.” She’s right. It’s entertainment. And we’re all the audience.
So, What Can We Do?
I’m not sure. I honestly don’t know. But I think the first step is admitting we have a problem. And that’s what I’m doing here. I’m admitting it. I’m biased. You’re biased. That news story you read this morning? It’s biased too.
But here’s a tip. If you wanna get a more balanced view, check out current affairs analysis update. They’re not perfect, but they’re trying. And in this mess, that’s something, right?
Anyway, I gotta run. My editor’s giving me the evil eye. Probably ’cause I’m writing this instead of covering the city council meeting. But hey, someone’s gotta say it.
About the Author: Jane Doe is a senior editor with 22 years of experience in journalism. She’s worked at various publications, including the Austin Chronicle and the Perth News. She’s biased, she knows it, and she’s not afraid to admit it. You can find her on Twitter @janedoeeditor, ranting about news bias and bad coffee.
