What Has Gone Wrong with Journalism?
One of the reasons that I started Viewpoints, was that I was frustrated with the state of media in Canada. The biases, omissions and absences in coverage by journalists, and the cringeworthy and slavish adherence to groupthink narratives and talking points.
Before I gave much thought to politics, I could feel that something had gone seriously off the rails and rather quickly in the media. A whole bunch of contestable (and, in my opinion, bad) ideas gained ‘consensus’ status within the profession, without a proper debate or investigation. For a list of ideas that have formed as part of the Canadian Consensus, see this post: What You’re Allowed to Say in Canada (And What You’re Not). Worse, not only did they not interrogate these ideas properly for themselves, they decided to be activists and present these ideas as “settled”.
As a result I tuned-out of mainstream media. I’m not the only one who feels this way: The viewership of mainstream media and news outlets is down, while at the same time some famous long-form podcasts garner more audience numbers than networks. There is a thriving ecosystem of people writing on Substack, too along with all of the social media outlets.
I say this all the time, only half-jokingly, that if journalists were doing their jobs, there wouldn’t be a need for podcasts like Viewpoints. Mainstream media would be presenting a balanced view of issues, and would be asking questions of government and contestable ideas. I could go off and do other things with my time.
But, it is curious: Just what has gone wrong in journalism? How did we get to this point? At first glance, it doesn’t make sense that journalists would all ape the same talking points in unison and to shy away from holding the powerful to account. Wouldn’t it be beneficial to offer something different in the market? To compete and get the scoop?
Surely there would be a demand for that type of content (and indeed there is but it is being met by alternative sources at the moment). So, why the groupthink monoculture? Why aren’t they willing to challenge the status quo?
I’ve been thinking about this for a while and have my own ideas about some of the causes. But, it can be useful to listen to what insiders (journalists who’ve defected from mainstream media) have to say. They have a front-row seat on what happened over the last 15 years and offer some interesting insights. The rest of this piece is a list of some of the main observations from this cohort.
Dissident ex-mainstream journalists, and their take on the failure of the profession
There’s a growing chorus of journalists, former insiders, and independent thinkers raising alarm bells about the state of modern media. I find their perspective interesting and useful, because they have an insider knowledge of how these organizations work, and can explain some of the bewildering choices and cultures that arise in these institutions.
People like Matt Taibbi, Tara Henley, Glenn Greenwald, and Bari Weiss, some of whom spent decades in major newsrooms, are now on the outside, writing and speaking freely about the rot they saw from within. So, what are their main criticisms?
Here’s a breakdown of 11 important critiques—a sort of checklist for understanding how we got here, and why so many people no longer trust the news.
1. Groupthink Rules the Newsroom
Newsrooms used to thrive on debate. Now they enforce ideological conformity. Step outside the accepted orthodoxy—on race, gender, COVID, or foreign policy—and you’re risking your job or reputation. Divergent views aren’t just disagreed with—they’re branded dangerous. That doesn’t lead to better journalism; it leads to propaganda.
🔗 Further reading/listening:
- Interview with Bari Weiss on Triggernometry: Where Did the Media Go Wrong?
- Matt Taibbi on the HUB — Mainstream media ‘doesn’t deserve to be trusted’
2. Anonymous Sources, Everywhere
A troubling amount of political and national security reporting leans on unnamed officials, often promoting one side of a story with little scrutiny. Instead of holding power to account, media often acts as a conduit for it.
🔗 Further reading:
- The Russiagate Whitewash Era Begins – Matt Taibbi
- Useful Idiots podcast (frequently discusses anonymous-source narratives)
3. Clickbait Over Truth
Let’s be honest: the digital ad model broke journalism. Headlines are optimized for rage, not reflection. Complex stories get reduced to easy villains and hashtags. Accuracy and fairness take a backseat to what drives traffic.
🔗 Further reading:
4. The Working Class? Forgotten.
If you live in a big city, went to university, and work on a laptop—congrats, the news is for you. But if you’re in a small town, struggling with rent or addiction, your story rarely gets told—unless it can be reframed through elite cultural narratives.
🔗 Further reading:
5. Everything Is a Narrative Now
Journalists used to follow facts. Now, too often, they start with the “correct” storyline and then gather the evidence to fit. Whether it’s systemic injustice, climate apocalypse, or democracy in peril—the story is written before the reporting begins.
🔗 Further reading:
6. Objectivity Is Out—Activism Is In
Some journalists now openly reject objectivity, calling it outdated or even oppressive. But if journalism doesn’t aim to be fair, who is it for? When activism replaces reporting, journalism becomes a tool for moral instruction, not public service.
🔗 Further reading:
7. Censorship? Many Are Fine With It
Perhaps most disturbing: many journalists now advocate for censorship—calling it “content moderation” or “safety.” But who decides what counts as misinformation? Increasingly, it’s a handful of ideological actors with powerful friends.
🔗 Further reading:
8. No Debate, No Discovery
Challenging questions used to be the lifeblood of journalism. Now, simply asking the wrong question—or talking to the wrong guest—can get you labeled a threat. Instead of curiosity, we get conformity. Debate is seen as dangerous, not essential.
🔗 Further reading:
9. Everything Is Right vs. Left
Media has become tribal. Fox News and MSNBC aren’t opposites—they’re mirror images. Even prestige outlets increasingly cater to ideological bubbles. Journalism should challenge its audience, not just reassure them they’re right.
🔗 Further reading:
10. Fear and Careerism Shape the News
Most journalists know where the lines are. They know what topics are radioactive, what opinions must be whispered, and what language to use on social media. Especially for younger journalists, the incentive is clear: toe the line or risk your future.
11. The Class Problem: Elites Reporting on Everyone Else
Modern journalism is an elite profession. Most reporters now come from urban, upper-middle-class families and top universities. Working-class people aren’t just absent from the coverage—they’re absent from the newsroom itself. This fuels misrepresentation and mistrust.
🔗 Further reading:
Why This Matters
If journalism doesn’t serve the public—all of the public—it becomes something else: a content mill, a moral pulpit, or an elite feedback loop. That’s why more people are tuning out. Or turning to independent outlets. Or starting Substacks. If you feel like the media doesn’t speak for you anymore… you’re not crazy. You’re paying attention. I encourage you to visit the Episodes page of Viewpoints to hear voices you wouldn’t otherwise get in mainstream journalism.
