The Algorithm is the Editor: ABC News Surrenders to the Search Bar
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
By launching 'Searched,' ABC News admits that trending data—not journalistic instinct—is now the primary driver of the news cycle.
For decades, the gold standard of news was the editorial meeting: a room of seasoned journalists debating what the public *needs* to know. But as first reported by The Verge, ABC News has decided that the public's search history is a more reliable guide than human judgment.
ABC News has introduced a livestreamed program called *Searched*, which The Verge reports is designed to highlight stories that are currently trending in web searches and social media discussions. While the network only recently announced the show, it has been airing since April on the ABC News Live streaming channel, accessible via Hulu and Disney Plus.
On the surface, this looks like a bid for relevance. ABC News claims in a press release that the show utilizes real-time data from social media platforms and top search engines to deliver "topical news" to its viewers. In practice, this means the news cycle is no longer curated by editors, but by the whims of the algorithm. The result is a news product defined by volatility and trivia. The Verge notes that a recent episode of *Searched* focused on Tropical Storm Lala, the retirement of NBA star Russell Westbrook, and an Illinois Powerball winner.
This is the inevitable conclusion of the "pivot to streaming." The Verge reports that ABC News is introducing this segment as broadcast television viewership drops and more people migrate to social media for their information. Rather than fighting the tide, ABC is simply outsourcing its editorial judgment to the very platforms that are cannibalizing its audience.
*Searched* is not an isolated experiment. It is part of a broader push on ABC News Live that includes *Doctor’s Note*, a series on health trends and medical facts; *Burden of Proof*, which focuses on highly discussed trials; and *All Access with Linsey Davis*, featuring interviews with influencers, athletes, politicians, and celebrities.
Hosted by ABC News correspondents Ashan Singh and Gio Benitez, *Searched* airs every weekday. But the real host isn't Singh or Benitez—it's the search bar. When a news organization decides that "topicality" is defined by what is already trending, it ceases to lead the conversation and instead becomes a mirror of the internet's shortest attention spans.
By automating the selection process through real-time data, ABC News is effectively admitting that the traditional role of the gatekeeper is dead. In its place is a feedback loop where the algorithm decides what is important, and the news network simply narrates the results.