This week the United States’ biggest newspaper chain posted two unusual job listings on its site: a Taylor Swift reporter and a Beyoncé reporter.
Gannett, which owns more than 200 daily papers, will employ these new hires through USA Today and The Tennessean, the company’s Nashville-based newspaper. The chain is looking for “modern storytellers” adept in print, audio, and visual journalism.
The Taylor Swift reporter will identify why the pop star’s influence only expands, what her fanbase stands for in pop culture, and the effect she has across the music and business worlds. Similarly, the company wants a journalist who can capture Beyoncé’s effect on society and the industries in which she operates.
Critics of the new roles cited layoffs at Gannett, where the workforce has shrunk 47% in the last three years because of layoffs and attrition. Some journalists said that while hiring these artist-specific roles reflect their influence in pop culture, they fail to invest in local journalism at a company known for its local dailies.
“At a time when so much serious news and local reporting is being cut, it’s a decision to raise some questions about,” said Rick Edmonds, an expert at the journalism think tank Poynter Institute.
Omise’eke Tinsley, academic and author of “Beyoncé in Formation: Remixing Black Feminism,” says this type of role makes space for more positive stories about Black women. But also, she adds, the existence of both jobs directly reflects Beyoncé and Swift’s economic power.
Representatives for Swift and Beyoncé did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It is not uncommon for journalists to develop a beat on a specific figure, particularly in politics. But most entertainment journalists are responsible for reporting on a wide range of talent — even if they are subject matter experts on a specific artist.
She said a major challenge for entertainment journalists is the sheer volume of releases from pop artists. “Hit records become deluxe editions become sold-out world tours, and it can be dizzying for a general music journalist to keep up.”
“Digital media is now competing with fan accounts on social media — not when it comes to accuracy, but when it comes to being the first source to report on pop stars’ developments,” she said.
Top artists prioritize the attention and work of expert reporters, leading to what critic Soraya Roberts has called a “culture of sameness” — yet another barrier to local arts coverage.
Tinsley believes that posts on social media criticizing the focus of these new roles may reflect a culture of sexism. “Adding to the pantheon of what figures and representatives matter has the potential to do something important,” she said. “I believe some of the dismissals (of these roles) have to do with what we value and don’t value as a society — and I think there’s an implicit misogyny in it.”
