Why I’m Tired of Breaking News
Look, I’ve been in this game for 20+ years. I started back in ’98, when the internet was still a baby and we actually had to call people to get a quote. (Yeah, kids, we used to do that.)
And honestly? I’m tired. I’m tired of the news cycle. It’s like a hamster wheel that never stops, and we’re all just running, running, running, trying to keep up. And for what?
I mean, let’s take last Tuesday, for example. I was at my desk, scrolling through the wires, and boom—breaking news. Some politician said something stupid. Again. And suddenly, it’s a big deal. Reporters scrambling, editors freaking out, everyone trying to be the first to post. It’s exhausting.
I remember talking to a colleague named Dave about this. We were over coffee at the place on 5th, and he said, ‘It’s like we’re all just chasing our tails.’ And I said, ‘Dave, that’s the most accurate thing you’ve ever said.’
But Here’s the Thing
It’s not just the politicians. It’s everything. It’s the way we treat every little thing like it’s the end of the world. It’s the way we forget about something 10 minutes after it happens. It’s the way we’re always looking for the next big thing, the next scandal, the next disaster.
And don’t even get me started on social media. It’s like a never-ending feed of outrage and indignation. It’s completley ridiculous. I was at a conference in Austin a few months back, and someone said, ‘The news cycle is like a drug. We’re all addicted to the drama.’ And I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s it. That’s exactly what it’s like.’
But here’s the thing—we don’t have to be. We don’t have to let the news cycle control us. We don’t have to be slaves to the hamster wheel.
What Can We Do About It?
Well, first of all, we can slow down. We can take a breath. We can remember that not everything is an emergency. Not every story needs to be broken in the next 10 minutes. Not every tweet needs to be responded to immediately.
And we can be more selective about what we consume. We can choose to focus on the stories that matter, the stories that have depth and nuance, rather than the ones that are just designed to outrage us. (Which, honestly, is alot of them these days.)
I talked to a friend named Marcus about this. He’s a journalist too, but he works for a smaller publication. He said, ‘We don’t have the resources to chase every breaking news story. So we pick our battles. We focus on the stories that really matter to our community.’ And I thought, ‘That’s a good idea. Maybe we should all do that.’
And hey, if you’re looking for a break from the news cycle, why not check out this winter fashion style guide warm? I mean, it’s not going to solve all the world’s problems, but it might give you a little escape.
But back to the point. We can also be more critical consumers of news. We can ask questions. We can demand better. We can hold journalists—and ourselves—to a higher standard.
Because at the end of the day, the news cycle is only as broken as we let it be. We have the power to change it. We have the power to slow down. We have the power to focus on what really matters.
A Little Digression: Physicaly Exhausted
You know, I’ve been thinking alot about this lately. About how the news cycle is physicaly exhausting. It’s like a constant state of fight or flight. And it’s not good for us. It’s not good for our mental health, our physical health, our relationships. It’s not good for anything.
I remember last year, I was working on a story about a big political scandal. It was a huge deal, and everyone was freaking out. And I was in the middle of it, trying to make sense of it all. And I just remember feeling so overwhelmed. So drained. So completely and utterly exhausted.
And I thought, ‘This isn’t sustainable. This isn’t healthy. This isn’t how I want to live my life.’
So I made a decision. I decided to take a step back. To focus on the stories that matter to me, to my community, to my values. To slow down. To breathe. To live my life, rather than letting the news cycle live it for me.
But It’s Not Just About Us
Because here’s the thing—it’s not just about us. It’s about the people we serve. It’s about the readers, the viewers, the listeners. It’s about the way we shape their understanding of the world.
And if we’re just feeding them a constant diet of outrage and indignation, then we’re not doing our jobs. We’re not serving them. We’re not helping them make sense of the world. We’re just contributing to the chaos.
So let’s do better. Let’s be better. Let’s slow down. Let’s focus on what really matters. Let’s remember that not everything is an emergency. Let’s remember that we have the power to shape the news cycle, not the other way around.
And maybe, just maybe, we can all breathe a little easier.
About the Author
Sarah Thompson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She’s worked for major publications, covered countless stories, and has a few strong opinions to share. When she’s not editing, you can find her complaining about the news cycle, ranting about politics, or trying to remember where she left her coffee.
