Influencers paid $20k to go to the DNC?

The rumor mill is fierce at the convention

The biggest rumor circulating right now around influencers and the Democratic National Convention is that some influencers are being paid up to twenty thousand dollars to attend the DNC and make content.

I’ve been reporting this out and I can’t find any evidence of pay to play here. That doesn’t mean it isn’t happening, but thus far all the influencers I am talking to are heading to the convention to cover it without compensation. I chatted about this, and a bunch of other rumors with

Emily Amick

on UTI.

Nearly ten years ago I wrote a satire of the magazine industry called The Knockoff that showed influencers creeping on the turf of print magazine editors. In one Fashion Week scene Instagram influencers were given the front row seats usually given to top editors in chief. Today this is fairly commonplace.

And now the influencers are coming for the political journalists.

The DNC has announced that it will be welcoming 200 influencers to Chicago this week. They’re gonna get access to every space that the traditional media and press would normally be allowed. The DNC is even coordinating interviews for them and getting them into parties. It's the very first time that we've seen the DNC officially give credentials and allocate special space for content creators.

And it's definitely the biggest number of influencers to be given credentials for a convention on either side of the aisle.

This makes so much sense. I watched a lot of the Olympics on the Peacock app on the TV but I watched an equal amount of videos and commentary on social media on my phone. I think it’s gonna be the same for the DNC. For people under the age of 40, it will mostly be consumed on social media.

This level of access acknowledges the growing influence of social media personalities and content creators in shaping public opinion. Traditionally, such access was reserved for mainstream media, but now, influencers will have the opportunity to report from the ground, engaging their followers with real-time updates and personal insights.

Media consumption patterns are evolving. Younger audiences prefer getting information through platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Influencers, with their large and engaged followings, are able to package and present political content in ways that resonate more effectively with these audiences. This marks a significant departure from traditional news outlets, which often follow a more rigid and formal approach.

From the Daily Beast:

DNCC officials have been planning a blue carpet in place of the usual red carpet associated with glitzy affairs since earlier this year. The party has been working to modernize its media outreach strategy by engaging with voices young people know. A recent report found that less than half of Gen Z watches broadcast TV and spends an average of three times as long each day on video-sharing platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

“Our intention is that the Blue Carpet is a space that everyone can use,” a convention official told the Daily Beast. “The faces and names you will see on the carpet won't just include well-known elected officials, state party leadership, and heads of leading allied organizations, it will be a convening space for the delegates and everyday Americans who make up the backbone of our party.”

The official added that scheduled surrogate appearances will mostly take place between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Central. During off peak hours, convention attendees can use the Blue Carpet as a convenient backdrop for photos.

And because under the influence is here for you. For all things influence, we will be having our very own influencer correspondent on the ground. None other than our friend Emily Amick. Emily is at the DNC as we speak. You can watch the unedited and sometimes ridiculous video of our chat below.