Former Rock County Star Herald Editor Al McIntosh penned his widely acclaimed “Tired American” commentary in 1965 at the height of anti-government protests and anti-American sentiment.
He wasn’t afraid to express his political views on the Star Herald opinion page, though it cost him friendships and garnered plenty of local criticism.
He wrote “Tired American” because he was indeed tired.
I’m tired, too.
I’m a tired American journalist.
I’m tired of an American president declaring journalists are “enemies of the people” and that we should trust only what’s shared on “Truth Social.”
I’m tired of checking and double-checking facts in an era when facts have become a matter of opinion. And I’m tired of intelligent, educated Americans eagerly lapping up alternate realities to satisfy their bias.
I’m a tired American journalist — weary of justifying our paywall for online news to readers balking at a subscription on a world wide web where free “news” is readily and abundantly available.
I’m tired of explaining that we are a business and news is our product. It’s what we do. … Like a carpenter building a house. It costs money to produce, and it requires professionals who are paid. Imagine trusting an unknown “free” carpenter to build your house.
Free news is just about as dangerous.
I’m tired of defending the values of journalism among a generation of information consumers who grew up with no newspapers in their homes.
I’m a tired American journalist who loves her job but finds it increasingly difficult to explain why … Especially to an eighth-grade careers class that hasn’t heard of the Star Herald and can’t explain the difference between professional journalists and hobby bloggers.
I’m a tired American journalist — tired of society blaming the media for all society’s ills. It’s human nature to “kill the messenger,” but disdain for professional journalists is reaching new lows.
I’m tired of American politicians, unhappy with facts reported by American journalists, dismissing accounts of their crimes as “fake news.” Journalists are considered watchdogs of the government for a reason.
Meanwhile, an American public, weary from information overload, becomes increasingly complacent. There is value in truth, and I’m fearful of a society that no longer values truth.
I’m a tired American journalist nearing the sunset of her career but more passionate than ever about her work.
The Star Herald, since 1873, has been telling the stories of Rock County residents, recording local history and setting the tone for community character.
Each and every week. For more than 150 years.
What we do matters.
Or at least has.
I’m a tired American journalist — dreading the day community journalism no longer exists.
Nobody else is going to tell our stories. Nobody.
I’m tired in a way that’s different than Al McIntosh was in 1965, but it’s equally exhausting.
My sincere hope is that the Star Herald will still exist another 150 years from now with other passionate news professionals carrying the torch of a free and independent press.
For those haven’t read it, Al McIntosh’s ‘Tired American’ column can be found at https://www.star-herald.com/tired-american-gets-angry/
