Taylor Swift & Beyoncé Reporters Sought By Gannett; Job Listings Draw Blended Response

Newspaper protection of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé is about to get even larger, with Gannett this week posting job listings for devoted reporters for every of the artists at USA In the present day and The Tennessean. The bulletins by the most important newspaper chain in the USA have struck a false word with some within the media.

The job description for “Taylor Swift Reporter” says Gannet is searching for “an experienced, video-forward journalist to capture the music and cultural impact of Taylor Swift” who “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.”

The one for “Beyoncé Knowles-Carter Reporter” says the profitable candidate will “chronicle the music, fashion, cultural and economic influence” of the worldwide celebrity and icon, capturing “her effect not only on the many industries in which she operates, but also on society” and figuring out “why the star’s influence continues to expand and the effect it is having on the music and business worlds.”

Each jobs require the power to journey internationally, with a wage vary of $21.63 to $50.87 per hour.

Every of the artists has loved record-breaking excursions this yr as their attain and cultural impression continues to develop, however newsrooms have additionally continued shrink throughout the U.S., prompting combined response to the job postings. Some journalists identified that Gannett reduce its workforce final yr with 400 staff laid off in August 2022, and an additional 6% of the corporate’s U.S. media division in December.

A reporter for Chalkbeat Tennessee, wrote on X (fka Twitter), “Nashville is getting a Taylor Swift reporter. Memphis is still without an investigative reporter.”

Kristin Roberts, Gannett’s Chief Content material Officer, mentioned in a press release to CBS Information that USA In the present day Community is “committed to serving our communities across America with journalism that is essential to millions of readers, viewers and listeners. And that includes providing our audience with content they crave.” She additionally mentioned that Gannett has employed 225 journalists since March and now has greater than 100 open posts, per the New York Occasions.

Robert Thompson, the director of the Bleier Heart for Tv and In style Tradition at Syracuse College, advised the NYT that hiring for such particular beats “is not as absurd as it looks at first glance.” Masking an artist like Swift is a “perfectly sound activity for a journalist to be doing.”

LA Occasions tradition columnist Suzy Exposito mentioned she understood the reasoning for the roles:

Swift not too long ago turned the primary feminine artist to hit 100 million month-to-month listeners on Spotify, whereas her record-smashing Eras Tour has been made right into a live performance movie that’s headed for a $70M+ home opening weekend when it bows October 13.

Beyoncé earlier this yr broke the profession Grammy Awards document and is now the most-awarded artist of all time with 32 wins. In July, her Renaissance World Tour had the largest one-month gross in boxscore historical past, based on Billboard.