Digital Influence, Reputation, Reliability, and Modern Journalists Navigating the Center of Uncertainty
The Changing Landscape of Journalism
In today's digital age, journalists are finding themselves balancing the demands of content creation with traditional journalism in an industry that prioritizes engaging content to stay afloat.
With thousands of layoffs across newspapers, news channels, and digital media companies, the media landscape has undergone a significant transformation. In 2024 alone, more than 4,000 layoffs were announced, compared to at least 8,000 journalism job cuts in 2023, as reported by Press Gazette. This shift has been driven by a fragmented media landscape catering to niche interests, leaving journalists walking a tightrope between staying true to the story and creating compelling content.
Millennials Caught in the Middle
For many seasoned journalists, not raised in the era of social media, this dilemma is daunting. To focus on the story or content, that is the question. Simply put, is the industry losing sight of journalistic integrity in favor of sensational headlines?
Balancing Act Mastered: Asia Milia Ware
Asia Milia Ware, the senior beauty editor at New York Magazine's The Cut and an influential figure in the beauty industry for nearly a decade, is one who has mastered the art of balancing both worlds. Her career as a journalist and an influencer harmoniously intertwines, as she occasionally promotes her most coveted stories on her massive TikTok and Instagram following to drive clicks.
The Adaptable Journalist: Kaitlyn McNab
Kaitlyn McNab, culture editor at Teen Vogue, admits she has grappled a bit more with fully embracing the integration of journalism and influence (jinfluencing). However, her unwavering confidence in her abilities prevents her from feeling territorial as influencerspokejournalists continue to win opportunities once reserved for seasoned interviewers.
The Digital Empire: Morgan DeBaun
Morgan DeBaun, founder of Blavity Inc., has a unique perspective on the evolving media landscape. Blavity Inc. is an enterprise that houses nine niche digital and IRL (in real life) brands, including TravelNoire and AfroTech. DeBaun emphasizes the importance of flexibility as the digital mainstream media has surpassed traditional platforms in recent years.
A 2024 Pew Research Center study indicated that 86% of U.S. adults at least sometimes get news from digital devices, compared to only 26% accessing news through print. This shift towards individual branding is evident in the rise of top-ranked self-funded podcasts and personal social media accounts.
The Shift Towards Individual Brands
Individual branding may be the current trend, but established organizations can adapt and thrive as long as they're willing to remain ambidextrous, according to DeBaun. For instance, Blavity Inc. recently launched the Blavity Creator Program, a paid program offering Black creators in various interest groups access to Blavity's platforms.
A Return to Traditional Values: Aria Hughes
Complex, a digital fashion and design magazine, relaunched print after years of prioritizing digital content in an attempt to redefine journalism in the attention economy. Editor-in-chief Aria Hughes stresses the importance of realistic expectations, maintaining editorial integrity, and returning to traditional journalistic ethics in the face of the rising influence of content creators.
Despite these concerns, DeBaun argues that business-savvy media figures must be mindful of warning signs while focusing on their own capabilities and capabilities. As she wisely remarks, the media publications of yesterday may not survive in today's landscape. Instead, aspiring figures should look towards successful creators like Alex Cooper, Charlemagne, and Alix Earle as models for success in the new media era.
Meanwhile, creative consultant Robert "Bobby Trendz" Samuels Jr., has taken a risk by launching AOD, a fashion and design magazine that combines digital and print narratives, in the hope of creating an authority in emerging media while preserving traditional journalistic style. As the industry continues to evolve, the future of journalism remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: adaptability is key to survival.
- Despite the increasing trend of individual branding, traditional organizations can adapt and thrive by remaining ambidextrous, as demonstrated by Blavity Inc.'s launch of the Blavity Creator Program.
- In an attempt to redefine journalism in the attention economy, Complex, a digital fashion and design magazine, recently relaunched print, emphasizing the importance of returning to traditional journalistic ethics.
- Regardless of the layoffs and shifts in the media landscape, journalists, like Kaitlyn McNab of Teen Vogue, continue to grapple with fully embracing the integration of journalism and influence, while finding ways to gain a foothold in the new media era.
