Is Real Journalism Dead?

Okay, let’s talk about journalism. I mean, real journalism. We’re all familiar with those trashy celebrity gossip headlines, the ones where they’ll happily smear someone's name for the sake of a few clicks, right? But what about the stories that actually matter? The ones that could change lives, shake up systems, or expose deep-rooted corruption? Well, those seem to be getting buried faster than an Instagram influencer’s secret affair. So, is real journalism dead?

Let’s start with what journalists are actually supposed to be doing. The whole point of journalism is to inform the public. It's meant to hold the powerful accountable, to share stories that matter, and to give a voice to the voiceless. In theory, journalism is supposed to be the fourth pillar of democracy, a check on the government, corporations, and society's abuses. So why are we getting more headlines about what’s going on with the Kardashians than about, say, the latest government scandal, corporate corruption, or real-life issues like domestic violence? And when we do get a story about something that actually matters, it's often watered down, biased, or buried in the back pages.

It seems like the bar for what's considered news has drastically lowered. These days, it feels like journalists would rather get a juicy scoop about a celebrity’s breakup or the latest TikTok drama than report on actual events that impact people’s lives. If it's not a clickbait headline that’ll get them thousands of shares, forget it. I mean, where’s the accountability in that? How are we supposed to trust a media industry that’s obsessed with generating controversy over things that don’t matter, while ignoring the corruption, abuse, and injustice happening right under their noses?

Now, let’s talk about a very personal example that ties into all of this: feminism and the representation of women in the media. Real feminism—women’s rights, gender equality, and empowering women—is barely being portrayed in the mainstream media, and when it is, it's often misrepresented. Sexist language is still being used by journalists and presenters on national platforms. How is this even possible in 2025? We’ve seen high-profile women being belittled, mocked, or talked over, but when a man says something inappropriate, he often gets a pass or—worse—gets rewarded for it. This is the reality we’re living in.

And don’t get me started on the so-called “Red Pill” content that’s getting shoved down our throats by all these media outlets. You know, the stuff that’s basically a glorified manual on misogyny disguised as “men’s rights” content. It’s disgusting that such content is being marketed for clicks, turning genuine concerns into toxic rhetoric and pushing it out like it's just another viral moment. The real damage? It fuels division and makes people question the very nature of feminism, turning it into something it's not, all in the name of getting attention.

But what about the things that really should be reported on—the corruption, the abuse of power, the systemic injustice? Where is the investigative journalism that is supposed to expose these wrongs? Instead of the hard-hitting, eye-opening stories, we get fluff pieces that don’t move the needle. When journalists do attempt to report on something controversial, it’s often dismissed or silenced, and the “official charge” becomes the ultimate gatekeeper. Have you noticed? These days, even a police report doesn't seem enough to get a real story into print. If there’s no charge filed or if it hasn’t reached the right political people, it's not going to see the light of day. And, honestly, it’s beginning to feel like that's the get out of jail free card for journalists. They can hide behind the legalities of “I can’t report on it because there’s no official charge” when really, they’re just avoiding the hard work of exposing uncomfortable truths.

At some point, you have to ask: Why? Why are we letting this happen? Why is the truth not being told? Could it be that certain people in power are being protected? That the system is stacked in such a way that only a select few have a voice, and the rest of us are left to fend for ourselves? Could it be that some journalists are just too scared to rock the boat? Maybe they’re too tied to sponsors, advertisers, or networks that don’t want to lose face.

So, what’s left for us? As consumers of news, what are we supposed to trust? With so much fake news, watered-down reporting, and media manipulation, it’s hard to figure out what’s real anymore. Sure, we can follow independent journalists, maybe get our news from smaller outlets or social media, but let’s face it, even social media is a battlefield. You’ve got fake accounts, misinformation, and agendas being pushed on every platform. If journalists aren’t willing to stand up and do their job properly—if they’re only willing to print things that are safe, legal, and politically correct—then where does that leave us?

In my mind, this is why we need a new kind of journalism. One that isn’t afraid to dive into the mess, to ask the tough questions, and to hold people accountable—no matter who they are or how powerful they seem. Real journalism isn’t dead. But it’s getting harder to find, and we need to demand more from those who claim to be the truth-tellers. Because at the end of the day, the truth is the only thing that really matters.