"At first glance, it makes sense. The media has changed dramatically. Traditional television audiences are shrinking, and younger generations consume most of their content through TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and podcasts. Influencers already have built-in audiences who trust them and feel connected to them. From a marketing and publicity perspective, hiring influencers is a strategic move, they bring reach, engagement, and viral potential."
"Journalism is not simply "talking to someone on camera." It is a profession grounded in ethics, research, cultural awareness, and accountability. Students who pursue journalism degrees study media law, defamation, bias, political systems, history, interviewing techniques, and professional codes of conduct. They learn how to verify information, how to ask difficult questions without causing harm, and how to navigate sensitive issues such as race, gender, nationality, trauma, and controversy. They are trained to understand the weight of public platforms."
"When influencers (who may have no formal training in journalism )are placed in high-profile press settings, there is a risk that interviews become driven by personality and virality rather than substance and responsibility. Major sporting events like the Olympics are not just entertainment spectacles; they carry political, social, and cultural significance. Athletes often represent countries in complex geopolitical situations. Some have overcome poverty, discrimination, injury, or personal tragedy to reach that stage."
Influencers have increasingly been invited to conduct interviews at major international events such as the Olympic Games. Traditional television audiences are shrinking while younger generations consume content on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and podcasts. Influencers bring built-in audiences, trust, reach, engagement, and viral potential, making them attractive for marketing and publicity. Journalism requires formal training in media law, interviewing techniques, verification, ethics, and navigating sensitive social and political issues. Placing untrained influencers in high-profile press settings risks prioritizing personality and virality over substance, accountability, and cultural awareness, potentially harming athletes and public understanding.
Read at Her Campus
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