For many, the news doesn’t wait for you to pick up a paper anymore – it finds you. On your phone, in your feed, jammed between a viral cat video and a debate about pineapple on pizza.
And the biggest problem? We don’t choose what we see. The algorithm does, and that means we’re in clickbait country. Where the loudest, angriest and most divisive headlines win. Where controversy drives engagement. Where keeping you scrolling is more important than keeping you informed.
We’re trapped in filter bubbles
It used to be that people read the same front-page headlines, watched the same 6.00 pm bulletin, and then argued about it at the pub. Now?
We’re all seeing completely different stories. Social media feeds people’s opinions back to them, over and over again. People do not see balanced perspectives. We’re not exposed to different viewpoints. We’re not even getting the full story. And when an algorithm decides what you see, are you really informed – or just influenced?
The nationalisation of local elections
This isn’t just a news problem – it’s a democracy problem. Because the decline of local news has also led to the nationalisation of local elections. When people don’t have access to real coverage of local politics, they turn to national news sources, and suddenly: local elections become federal battlegrounds. Candidates campaign on big, national debates instead of local issues. Voters choose the person who represents their ‘side’ instead of the person who might actually fix their town.
If local journalism disappears, so does local accountability. And when that happens? Bad decisions get made in silence.
Break out of the bubble?
We can’t force people to engage with different perspectives. If you only read news from one source, one side or one perspective, you’re not getting the full picture. Make a habit of reading beyond the headline, fact-checking, look at multiple sources.
Call out what’s missing
If the news isn’t covering issues that actually matter, say something. Email journalists. Comment on stories. Share independent reporting that’s actually doing the work and offering balanced information. The way we consume news isn’t an accident – it’s designed to keep us engaged, not informed. But that doesn’t mean we have to accept it.
Choose to engage differently. Seek out balance. Because when people stop paying attention, bad decisions get made. Start choosing your news again. Because if you don’t? Someone else will choose it for you.
Nat Harker
