Journalists will accept that their critics are sometimes right

I sincerely hope this is the year journalists will stop being surprised and offended by the negative feelings people have about our work. That posture is short-sighted and not useful.

The wide world of journalism (never mind “the media”) includes so many goals, styles, audience segments, and ethical frameworks. Journalism is practiced through a huge range of perspectives and priorities. Of course some of what people say about journalists is sometimes true.

Let’s pull from a small selection of recent research about audience perceptions of journalism. As an industry, of course some of us sometimes:

• shortcut standards, like correcting errors and getting multiple sources
• don’t act in the best interests of the public
• behave as a powerful, elite player more than as a check on power

Be honest, journalists — how would you answer questions about the state of the news media? Your feelings about the industry aren’t all warm and fuzzy, are they?

Think about the things done in the name of journalism that make you the most frustrated or angry. Think about the various places so many people are turning for news and what they’re likely finding there. Think about how confusing and overwhelmed your non-journalism friends feel when they’re trying to figure out what’s true. Spend time leaning into empathy for how complicated it is to try to be informed.

Also, take a deep breath and consider that the accusations against us are sometimes accurate — even for responsible journalism.

Of course we sometimes prioritize speed at the expense of accuracy or crucial context. Of course we sometimes report on things without fully understanding them.

And of course we superserve people who see the world like we do — and underserve or misrepresent people who see the world in ways we can’t relate to. So many people look at the news and think it was not made for or by people like them, and they are not wrong. They see news created through an urban, liberal, white, educated, secular lens (as I wrote in my 2021 prediction). And they are not wrong.

So, let’s make 2026 the year we stop defending all of journalism or complaining from on high about how disrespected and misunderstood we are by the people we’re supposed to be serving.

Our time and energy would be better spent equipping people to navigate the chaotic information landscape and helping them understand how to separate responsible information from the rest of it.

Please, let this be the year we move from a spirit of defensiveness to one of actually earning the public’s respect.