I loved what you shared all last week and made me feel like I was there. I think you need to send what you wrote here as a Letter to the Editor of the NYT … someone needs to keep them in check! Perfectly stated.
I agree 100%. This would be a perfect op-ed for the NYT. All of the moaning and groaning about creators at the DNC that I’m seeing makes me more irritated than usual at mainstream media and more energized that the Democrats are finally evolving their tactics for outreach.
I just finished reading Ilana's post and was thinking the exact same thing. Sounds like journalism is bashing the creators because they are successful at what they do. Thoroughly enjoyed all the posts from Illana.
It's amazing to me that people think that this benefited you. I can only imagine how many followers you have lost by doing this. I have made the mistake of reading some of the comments to your posts and those are also pretty awful and disturbing so now you are subjected to that as well (which I guess comes with the territory of being an influencer but it is more then I could handle). I think it is amazing that the Democrats are trying to meet their audience in many different places, one of them being on social media. Proud of you for doing this. Seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity. Kamala for president!!!
OMG...YES, YES, and YES!! I no longer follow The NYT...why? It feels inauthentic to me. They clearly lean a certain way but they try to come across as "non-biased". I am so very tired of inauthenticity. I got all of my DNC coverage from you and one other creator. I loved every minute of it. I love that it was an authentic experience. I was inspired by your BRAVERY...I know you are losing followers and possibly brand sponsorships because of this, but you did it anyways. And I agree - the fact that you were all invited....that tells me how the Harris campaign is the next generation. Traditional media...is not.
As usual Ilana, perfectly on point! I was on the edge of my seat last week following your movements around the DNC, it made me feel like I was there. You did an incredible job of summarizing each moment in your posts, far superior to watching anything on TV or reading the NYT.
Thank you so much for sharing both coverage of the DNC and your feelings/thoughts of being there. I found it to be so much more digestible to see/read things through the POV you offered ... I am feeling very inspired and hopeful for the future, which is much different than how I felt before Kamala and her team came on. Thank you for being a trusted source and for being brave to celebrate your beliefs out loud!!!
I actually mostly watched the DNC through your stories :) It was great and I loved how it was presented from the audience perspective with all of the cheering and excitement. I do feel like our current media is about steering us towards what they want us to see only. It's generally not reported as something unbiased, it feels like there is always a spin and a somewhat misleading and clickbait headline attached. Even with the push to have Biden drop out. I feel like as soon as the debate was over, every news outlet jumped on that bandwagon, like it was some pre-planned plot amongst themselves. I like seeing creator content and think it gives a good perspective often times. I feel pretty optimistic about November now :)
I was traveling in Europe for work during the DNC, I was asleep when most of the DNC coverage was on air in Europe, if any. You know where I got to actually see speeches and highlights that WASNT edited to show what the news wanted me to see? Content creators on social media like you. If I didn’t follow you and a few others, I wouldn’t have seen anything except these ridiculous follow up articles. And as an elder millennial I don’t subscribe to any news publications… when a major story breaks I go to social media (FB, insta and threads) or i google to find the info/read about it. Just like everything else media is changing and people aren’t looking for their “news” from traditional news sources and the DNC clearly understands this. They give media special access/passes to things/events (hello media passes) - how is a creator pass any different? And as you stated creators aren’t paid to post what whoever is paying for it says to post. It’s 100000000% more authentic than a news story that is going thru edits and what that news source wants to portray. I’ll take creator content over media outlets any day.
Should have said Thank you for doing what you did- so thank you for allowing me to experience it and see it without being able to actually see it live!
If CNN had any idea what they were doing, they would be hiring you and other creators. How great would it be to have creators from different backgrounds providing an authentic window into what women voters around the country are thinking?
Amazing! Thank you for taking such a thoughtful, well balanced approach to responding to this article. I admit that I was starting to buy into this a bit, but you brought up so many good points that I had not thought of - I agree with another commenter, someone needs to send this to the NYT!
Go Ilana! I'm not on Social Media so I didn't see your coverage but I used to be so I know that you are passionate and have an incredible way of thoughtfully relating to any issue. The DNC/Harris-Walz were lucky to have you! Thank you for all you do to spread and support kindness, justice, sanity, etc...
I follow a handful of creators that were at the convention. I don't think I realized how many events there were outside the usual evening program and I enjoyed seeing many of the different ones that were attended. I have rolled my eyes at all these articles suggesting that having creators there is a vapid exercise - many creators are experts in their day jobs and are passionate about those subjects, and I appreciated getting their insight! And honestly, I've never really watched the conventions before, despite being a reasonably informed and very consistent voter, so the DNC was successful in getting me engaged via this route.
Personally, I am very annoyed with journalistic organizations that are owned by billionaires whining about not getting an interview. Or saying that Harris/Walz needs to give more policy detail when what we've gotten from the GOP is project 2025 (which to be fair, is very detailed, and is also so terrifying to the majority of folks that the GOP promises they are totally NOT going to use this playbook that the previous cabinet members spent a whole administration putting together) and the best Trump can do is, "Drill, baby drill". Democrats are engaging with voters directly, social media is a part of that, and we can hear ideals and plans directly from the candidates rather than filtered through the lens of Sulzberger's beef that Biden didn't do his bidding.
Sorry, went on a little rant there. Anyway. I'm glad the creators were invited.
This was a wonderful newsletter and so well articulated- I really appreciate your views and what you have to say. I'm so appreciative that you dissected the NYTimes article in such a thoughtful way. Thank you!
I loved what you shared all last week and made me feel like I was there. I think you need to send what you wrote here as a Letter to the Editor of the NYT … someone needs to keep them in check! Perfectly stated.
I agree 100%. This would be a perfect op-ed for the NYT. All of the moaning and groaning about creators at the DNC that I’m seeing makes me more irritated than usual at mainstream media and more energized that the Democrats are finally evolving their tactics for outreach.
I just finished reading Ilana's post and was thinking the exact same thing. Sounds like journalism is bashing the creators because they are successful at what they do. Thoroughly enjoyed all the posts from Illana.
It's amazing to me that people think that this benefited you. I can only imagine how many followers you have lost by doing this. I have made the mistake of reading some of the comments to your posts and those are also pretty awful and disturbing so now you are subjected to that as well (which I guess comes with the territory of being an influencer but it is more then I could handle). I think it is amazing that the Democrats are trying to meet their audience in many different places, one of them being on social media. Proud of you for doing this. Seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity. Kamala for president!!!
OMG...YES, YES, and YES!! I no longer follow The NYT...why? It feels inauthentic to me. They clearly lean a certain way but they try to come across as "non-biased". I am so very tired of inauthenticity. I got all of my DNC coverage from you and one other creator. I loved every minute of it. I love that it was an authentic experience. I was inspired by your BRAVERY...I know you are losing followers and possibly brand sponsorships because of this, but you did it anyways. And I agree - the fact that you were all invited....that tells me how the Harris campaign is the next generation. Traditional media...is not.
I was surprised by how many creators I follow attended! I obviously have a type, lol!
This is the NYT being pissy that Harris isn’t giving them the access they want. And I’m
a subscriber too, but this article is just sour grapes on their part. Really disappointed in the NYT. Thanks for your good work.
As usual Ilana, perfectly on point! I was on the edge of my seat last week following your movements around the DNC, it made me feel like I was there. You did an incredible job of summarizing each moment in your posts, far superior to watching anything on TV or reading the NYT.
Thank you so much for sharing both coverage of the DNC and your feelings/thoughts of being there. I found it to be so much more digestible to see/read things through the POV you offered ... I am feeling very inspired and hopeful for the future, which is much different than how I felt before Kamala and her team came on. Thank you for being a trusted source and for being brave to celebrate your beliefs out loud!!!
I actually mostly watched the DNC through your stories :) It was great and I loved how it was presented from the audience perspective with all of the cheering and excitement. I do feel like our current media is about steering us towards what they want us to see only. It's generally not reported as something unbiased, it feels like there is always a spin and a somewhat misleading and clickbait headline attached. Even with the push to have Biden drop out. I feel like as soon as the debate was over, every news outlet jumped on that bandwagon, like it was some pre-planned plot amongst themselves. I like seeing creator content and think it gives a good perspective often times. I feel pretty optimistic about November now :)
Gosh, this was spectacular. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being a creator that many of us non-creators admire and value!
I was traveling in Europe for work during the DNC, I was asleep when most of the DNC coverage was on air in Europe, if any. You know where I got to actually see speeches and highlights that WASNT edited to show what the news wanted me to see? Content creators on social media like you. If I didn’t follow you and a few others, I wouldn’t have seen anything except these ridiculous follow up articles. And as an elder millennial I don’t subscribe to any news publications… when a major story breaks I go to social media (FB, insta and threads) or i google to find the info/read about it. Just like everything else media is changing and people aren’t looking for their “news” from traditional news sources and the DNC clearly understands this. They give media special access/passes to things/events (hello media passes) - how is a creator pass any different? And as you stated creators aren’t paid to post what whoever is paying for it says to post. It’s 100000000% more authentic than a news story that is going thru edits and what that news source wants to portray. I’ll take creator content over media outlets any day.
Should have said Thank you for doing what you did- so thank you for allowing me to experience it and see it without being able to actually see it live!
If CNN had any idea what they were doing, they would be hiring you and other creators. How great would it be to have creators from different backgrounds providing an authentic window into what women voters around the country are thinking?
This is articulated so well and provided so much context that I would never have known. Thank you for taking us with you!
Amazing! Thank you for taking such a thoughtful, well balanced approach to responding to this article. I admit that I was starting to buy into this a bit, but you brought up so many good points that I had not thought of - I agree with another commenter, someone needs to send this to the NYT!
Go Ilana! I'm not on Social Media so I didn't see your coverage but I used to be so I know that you are passionate and have an incredible way of thoughtfully relating to any issue. The DNC/Harris-Walz were lucky to have you! Thank you for all you do to spread and support kindness, justice, sanity, etc...
SUCH a great piece, thank you for writing this and for being there to stand up for what's right!!!
I follow a handful of creators that were at the convention. I don't think I realized how many events there were outside the usual evening program and I enjoyed seeing many of the different ones that were attended. I have rolled my eyes at all these articles suggesting that having creators there is a vapid exercise - many creators are experts in their day jobs and are passionate about those subjects, and I appreciated getting their insight! And honestly, I've never really watched the conventions before, despite being a reasonably informed and very consistent voter, so the DNC was successful in getting me engaged via this route.
Personally, I am very annoyed with journalistic organizations that are owned by billionaires whining about not getting an interview. Or saying that Harris/Walz needs to give more policy detail when what we've gotten from the GOP is project 2025 (which to be fair, is very detailed, and is also so terrifying to the majority of folks that the GOP promises they are totally NOT going to use this playbook that the previous cabinet members spent a whole administration putting together) and the best Trump can do is, "Drill, baby drill". Democrats are engaging with voters directly, social media is a part of that, and we can hear ideals and plans directly from the candidates rather than filtered through the lens of Sulzberger's beef that Biden didn't do his bidding.
Sorry, went on a little rant there. Anyway. I'm glad the creators were invited.
This was a wonderful newsletter and so well articulated- I really appreciate your views and what you have to say. I'm so appreciative that you dissected the NYTimes article in such a thoughtful way. Thank you!