It’s 2025. We are living in a world where society lives on their phones practically every day. You wake up, and the first thing that most of us do is check our phones. I remember a time where that was not the case. We were outside, breathing fresh air, and actually communicating with people face-to-face. Why am I bringing this up? This is what the world was like when journalists were getting scoops, interviews, and reports. They were out there, in the front lines, garnering the most extensive coverage known to man. The amount of work and material that was crafted because of it is what made news/entertainment coverage so remarkable. Unfortunately, we now experience our news by… checking our phones.
Let’s rewind the clock back a bit. When I first started my podcast in 2007, I had no idea what a podcast was. I never knew what it entailed. When I began to learn about it, I fell in love with the craft and continued to host it for almost 20 years now. That’s my passion. I never saw it as the conglomerate that it became to be years later. It was just a joy. Now, everyone has a podcast. Some even made it bigger in just a matter of mere months to a year, where their follower count is over a million! I sat and wondered, “What are they bringing to the table that I am not?” It’s different when you have celebrities who have a podcast. They have the backing already. However, what about the ones who suddenly creep in, and somehow immediately rise to the top with no warning? Don’t get it twisted, folks. I am INCREDIBLY grateful for all I have accomplished. It comes across my mind of, “What am I doing wrong?”
We are going to bring this back to the main point, but let’s get into the next example:
As I mentioned earlier, phones are close to the vest these days. We get our news on it. We watch TV shows on it. We literally can do everything on a phone that we were doing with a television set in our living room. People have been able to capitalize on this fact that we live and breathe by our phones that folks created viral sensational videos at the drop of a hat. Whether it is dancing, fashion, or selling a brand, those who found their niche in doing this became known as, “Influencers.” We, as humans, started watching for what they are going to promote next. It could fall along the lines of a new product their are using, or whether it is lifestyle tips. It’s something there that attracts us to want to see more. From there, they would soon garner a big following.
Now, let’s circle back to the topic at hand. Why am I discussing all of this?
Before I go into this, I want to preface this by saying that I do follow a small amount of influencers on my social media. They are good at what they do. However, what I am about to say is why I am angry at a vast majority of them.
In recent years, it seems that the way of the influencer is the choice to represent red carpet events throughout the globe. It was not noticeable that much within the last two years, but in the past few months, it has taken off. Influencers have been making their way to major red carpet premieres and given the 5 star treatment. If it is not that, we are also faced with the fact that influencers are taking spots away from qualified, experienced journalists at press events.
A video was posted to X by user @cedarstacks where actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach walked into a press room to promote, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” and said this:
It blew my mind that Moss-Bachrach said this walking into the room! It made me come to the realization that even the actors are aware of how much influencers are taking up the space for where journalists should be.
There have been so many conversations I have had with people in this industry about this topic. It hurts my heart, let alone my brain, to hear that people who have been in this business for so many years are being sidelined for influencers because they have more of a following. The people in this medium in front and behind the camera know these journalists and respect their work. All of sudden, they are getting pushed to the side because their backing lacks that of an influencer. What is it that an influencer at a red carpet/press event going to bring to the table except for the, “Gotcha,” moment? There are people who want to see, hear, and read reports and interviews from those qualified. What is happening with the mainstream media? Are we as a society so immersed in listening to everything an influencer says and does that journos are now invisible?
Today, it was announced that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” is ending its run in May 2026. Not only his show, but the Late Show franchise as a whole is ending. This devastated me on a personal level, and here is why.
Take a look at this comment from one of my favorite ladies in the business, Loni Love:
She is not wrong! As I said before, I host a podcast. I have for 18 years. However, even I felt some type of way about this. I thought the same thing Loni did when the news was announced of Colbert’s show ending. Leave all the political agendas at the door. That is not what I am talking about here. I never have, and I never will. My feeling on this is…is this where we are headed? Are we giving credence to podcasters to make an even bigger name for themselves than they already have? Are we going to give influencers more freedom to run red carpets and interviews simply because they have a social media following? I feel like this is where we are going. Mind you, some on social media had a great come-up. That is because they actually put in the work! What about the other vast majority that everyone wants to have at their events? What are they bringing to the table? It hurts to see how we are losing our greats because we made influencers famous.
A few months ago, it was announced that the Golden Globes will be introducing a “Best Podcast Award” category in 2026. I have reservations on this because I do not understand why this needs to be a category for the Golden Globes. I love that podcasts have their own awards, ie Signal Awards. Also, the Astra Awards are introducing a Podcast ceremony. This is something I responded well to, because we are celebrating podcasts in its own entity. I have mixed feelings about this category in the Golden Globes. What type of podcasts are being recognized? Is it only those with a strong backing? Also, I thought this award ceremony pertained to those who work in television and film. I suppose this the way of evolving, but I feel this will cast aside those podcasts who provide excellent material, especially independent podcasts, and only focus on those that have star power. Unfortunately, that is the nature of the beast, I guess. Call me a cynic, but I appreciate it more with what Signal Awards and Astra Awards are trying to accomplish. No podcast is unworthy of submission, so I thank you for that.
As I am about to wrap up my thoughts, I sit here and think about the wonderful journalists who continue to do big things and bring us quality interviews and reports that we like seeing day in and day out. On the entertainment side, shout out to Damian Holbrook who has been a huge supporter of journalistic integrity. I also want to give praise to people like Hope Sloop from Decider, Brandon Davis, Rachel Leishman from The Mary Sue, Marc Malkin of Variety, Errol Lewis from Soap Opera Network, Michael Fairman, Johnathan Kornblee from Parade…just to name a few. Sometimes, I had thought about giving up. I thought my work was not appreciated or valued. That changed as I looked at material from the past year, and I smiled. It was worth it. Putting in the time, energy, and the money was incredibly worth it. I’m doing this for ME. Obviously, I want you to follow me and doing this for you, too. However, if I am not doing this for me, and if I am not happy, then why continue to do this? I’m proud of the work. I am going to continue my brand and continue to build. I am watching all of those I mentioned, and plenty others, continuing to do their best, and damn it… I couldn’t be more proud of them.
We may think from time to time that we need to reinvent the wheel to compete with Influencers. They may be the gold standard now, but their time will also fade. Novelties do wear off. One thing that will remain is those journalists who stuck behind the talent that they have been supporting and writing about for eons.
We will never go away, and we are here to stay!
FIN
