I was at an outdoor work event recently, minding my own business in the sun, when a conversation from a nearby table floated into my ears.

I perked up and turned around: someone from another Vancouver publication was talking loudly about the Straight to a table full of people. And let’s just say they were, um, not expressing very nice thoughts.

I sat there and watched them with a mix of bemusement and shock. On the one hand: Wow, they’re really going for it like a bargain shopper on Boxing Day! Fascinating. Do they not realize how loudly they’re talking? On the other hand: Pardon me, but what in the sweet fuck? This wasn’t some internal team meeting behind closed doors—this was a very public event, with loads of editors, organizers, arts patrons, and even city politicians in attendance. Was this really the place to (very passionately, and, might I add, inaccurately) criticize another local outlet?

It got me thinking about what it means to work in the media—what we owe our audience, and what we owe each other.

I’m a firm believer that if the product is good, there is room in the market for all of us. I like that different media outlets fill different needs. I like reading excellent work published by other publications and thinking, “I need to work with this writer,” or, “Damn, wish I’d come up with that.” I like when I see what another outlet is doing and then challenge myself to cover the same story in a different way. We all fill holes that the others have left—that’s how it’s supposed to be.

I understand that the media is a business, and that there is only so much advertising and sponsorship money to go around. I understand that the Straight is technically in competition with the other arts, events, food, and community publications in Vancouver. I understand that we’re all fighting for readers. But I also really respect my fellow journalists and editors—heck, even the bloggers!—regardless of whether they’re at legacy publications or media startups. I want them all to succeed. Because the loss of any journalistic enterprise is not good for any of us.

A thriving media ecosystem does not have just one publication covering each area of interest. Can you imagine if you only had one news channel to go to for politics? One magazine for all your music coverage? One newspaper talking about the environment and global warming? It would not only be boring—it would also be a wildly inaccurate portrayal of reality. And it would be deeply unethical.

Anyone who thinks that having a media monopoly is a good thing has the wrong morals for this business. What we as journalists provide is information—accurate, timely, thought-provoking, insightful information, if we’re doing our jobs right—and the people who we share that information with deserve to have the freedom of choice. This is how people learn—it’s how they expand their own worldviews and engage in thoughtful discussions and discover new voices and maybe even find their own.

We cannot assume that as any one media entity, we’ve got the full story 100 per cent of the time. We also, with endless cutbacks across the industry, can’t possibly cover everything. Plus, healthy competition makes everyone better, if you ask me. It holds us to a higher standard, it pushes us to try new things, and it keeps us accountable to the shared mission: telling stories that have the potential to change perspectives.

I do not want the Straight to be someone’s only source of information. No editor should want that for their work. The privilege we’re afforded through this industry is not one we should ever take lightly, and that means recognizing that what’s better for us individually is a thriving whole.

I can’t even count the number of times I’ve seen media outlets or journalists report about other publication’s troubles with an underlying tone of glee (the Straight’s own parent company has been the topic of many). I’m not saying we shouldn’t be critical of each other when it’s fair and warranted; media outlets need to be held to account. (Remember when the Straight’s previous owners mandated a focus on esports? Thank the Divine Holy Spirit of Rihanna that era is over.) But if you’re actively trying to destroy other publications, or you’re smugly celebrating their layoffs or closures, you’re contributing to an information deficit that is both scary and sad, not to mention contributing to the demise of your own industry. You’re also being irresponsible with your position of power.

We stick with this job because we love it and because we understand the importance of it (I’ve already waxed poetic about this particular digression; read more here). So even when they frustrate me, I still hope that our fellow publications stick around. Sure, you could call them competitors, but I prefer to call them colleagues.

As for that person who was shittalking the Straight: after listening for a few minutes, I approached their table.

“Hi,” I said, extending my hand for a shake. “I’m Sara—the editor-in-chief of The Georgia Straight. Love what you’re saying.” And then I shook my head and walked away.

They might see this whole thing as war. But if they let the smoke dissipate for a second, they’ll understand it for what it really is: a peace offering.