“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
― Malcolm X
Social media is one of the most powerful tools we have today. From gaining to spreading it, social media makes the world we know today. In this blog post we will be focusing on the new media seats that have been added to the briefing room, what they will do for us, and how it will change how we see things.
In the past, the briefing room has been dominated by media outlets like NBC, ABC, CBS, And CNN. They have long occupied the front row seats, which is a privilege that has granted them visibility in its prime, as well as priority during press briefings. These outlets which are also known as “mainstream media” have been the primary channels in which the public gets its information and news from. These seats have been a representation of the close relationships with the presidency and the press.
The front row seating is more than just the proximity, it also shows the influence that these seats hold. Front row journalists are typically called on first, letting them set the pace or tone of the briefing room. This dynamic however strengthens the perception that the media gatekeepers information, and has to power to prioritize certain issues over another. Because of this, it has led to criticism that the briefing room only selects a few voices to be heard rather than smaller outlets that represent a broad range of perspectives.
With Trump’s presidency now in term, his administration has consistently challenged traditional media, his use of twitter and Instagram have constantly been used so he possesses the power to communicate with the public directly and freely, as well as shift knowledge in news. Trump’s administration has further made this unconventional approach by actively engaging with alternative or right leading media outlets. While previous administrations have focused a good amount of their messaging on big outlets like New York Times and The Washington Post. Trump’s team prioritized platforms like Breitbart, One America News Network, and others. These outlets are often critical of mainstream media and have helped Trump solidify his connections. This strategy by his admin was sought to undermine the authority of the media, which he frequently referenced as “fake news”.
The influence that social media has is big. From podcasts, to blogs, to simple Instagram posts, everything can influence anything. Going into 2025 social media usage has risen tremendously, leading to people believing things more on social media than anything else. This means that many people, including teens, may get their information from social media such as TikTok and Instagram.