Journalism is often a tiring and thankless job. I spoke with Tammy Purcell about this very issue when I interviewed her for a profile. She understands it even more than I do, given the sheer amount of time and energy she pours into covering local government. Tammy is incredibly dedicated, passionate, and intelligent, and we were honored to feature her.

But here’s the truth: journalism is not only exhausting, it’s also highly criticized and too often under-read. I learned that quickly after publishing my first few issues of The Breeze. I found myself under fire from local leaders, other publishers, and—most often—the community at large. One small mistake, and suddenly there’s a public scowl waiting on Facebook.

Over time, I’ve learned not to defend myself, but to keep going. Still, the most frustrating social media comments usually come from people who never actually read the article. They just react, spewing opinions without bothering to check the facts.

Every now and then, though, a comment feels personal. That was the case when I mistakenly left in a note from ChatGPT after using it to help clean up some data. My editor and I both missed it in the final review. You can see it yourself at the bottom of page 4 in the August issue of The Breeze. One reader called us “lazy” and claimed that AI writes our content.

Let’s be real: AI is a tool—a tremendous help to journalists who are overworked, underpaid (or unpaid), and stretched too thin to cover everything that deserves coverage. It doesn’t replace the reporting; it supports it.

The truth is, journalism has changed in a big way. Local papers like The Central Virginian have been bought out. Some communities, like Orange, have no local representation at all. Social media has filled the gap with echo chambers of misinformation and shallow news.

So don’t criticize your local news for using tools that make coverage possible. Instead, remember that independent media is essential to checks and balances in a democracy—and it may be the only way to keep hyper-local reporting alive in rural America.

Jen Bailey

Hi! I’m Jennifer Bailey and I partner with entrepreneurs who have massive ideas that could change the world. Most marketing is meaningless. Filled with empty promises, its only job is to bring in new traffic, new leads, and new customers. But I’ve drawn a line in the sand, and I’ve learned that marketing can do so much more than reach business goals and build profit. My methods give businesses the fire and soul they need to reach the right people, set the groundwork for sustainable relationships, and offer true value to the people on both the giving and receiving ends of marketing.

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