Most Influential in Media 2017
55. Chris Ruddy
As the CEO of Newsmax Media and a personal friend of the president, Chris Ruddy’s pull on the media practically speaks for itself. Newsmax, now in a whopping 50 million homes, has become the primary challenger to Fox News thanks to Ruddy and his team. Beyond his business as a media chief, Ruddy frequently offers conservative commentary with a focus on media scrutiny and the Trump administration’s top challenges. His statements about the White House often include hints about the president’s mindset, which has driven a fair share of media cycles over the past year. (KM)
54. Emily Steel
While the #MeToo movement did not erupt until late 2017, a bombshell New York Times report by Emily Steel and Michael Schmidt in April is arguably a crucial catalyst. Steel’s report, on the millions of dollars in harassment settlements Fox News paid out to Bill O’Reilly’s accusers, left the media world jolted and ultimately led to the anchor’s ouster from the network. Steel, a media and business reporter, spent six months digging for the O’Reilly story and didn’t stop after its publication: in October, she teamed up with Schmidt again to report that O’Reilly had settled a $32 million sexual harassment settlement a month before signing a new contract at Fox News.
53. Andrea Mitchell
The voice that’s lobbing piercing foreign policy questions at Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as he stands awkwardly at a photo op? That’s Andrea Mitchell. As NBC News’s venerable chief foreign affairs correspondent and anchor of MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports, the veteran reporter is a much watch for those with an eye towards how the Trump administration is clunking forth on the world stage. At NBC News for nearly four decades, Mitchell has little patience for a nascent administration that traffics in opacity. “I’ve covered seven presidents now,” Mitchell told Politico this year. “And have not endeared myself to any of them. That’s the job.” (AM)
52. Ana Navarro
Ana Navarro is a cable news producer’s dream. A smart, fearless, Hispanic woman with a terrific sense of humor and great timing? Well, that’s the recipe for viral video clip nine times out of ten. In the world of cable news punditry, Navarro has carved out a unique niche for herself as a #NeverTrump conservative. If you see the CNN political commentator on a panel, it’s a good bet that the segment will be a must-see as the Republican strategist will likely toss out some entertaining one-liners. And if she’s paired off with a Trump loyalist – WATCH OUT! Nary a week has gone by in 2017 where there hasn’t been a tense on-air confrontation between Navarro and a Trump supporter. (JB)
51. John Podhoretz
The Commentary Magazine editor became a leading voice among Never Trump conservatives in 2017, thanks in part to his frequent appearances on MSNBC. John Podheretz’s cable news hits often manage to both entertain and inform — a feat that is very difficult to pull off. He is principled and passionate, and he’s managed to earn respect on both sides of the aisle with his well-written and considered columns. And he is a must-follow on Twitter, even if he has an extremely itching trigger finger when it comes to blocking followers. (JD)
50. Dean Baquet
As the executive editor of one of the world’s leading news organizations and arguably Donald Trump’s greatest nemesis, it’s only fitting that Dean Baquet has his place on this year’s list of top media influencers. The New York Times was the first to report numerous groundbreaking stories this year: from Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment scandal to Donald Trump Jr’s meeting with a Russian lawyer. Even though the Trump Administration trashes the “failing” Times on a regular basis, Baquet has offered numerous reminders about the paper’s rising subscriber count this year which means the Times isn’t just doing good work, it’s now doing good business too. (KM)
49. Chris Hayes
The MSNBC host has come a long way from 2015, when rumors were omnipresent about how long his show would last. All In posted some of the network’s best ratings in the 8 p.m. timeslot since 2008, often beating Anderson Cooper: 360 in total viewers and the key 25-54 demo. That’s largely because of the man in the pilot’s seat. Chris Hayes just exudes confidence these days, and with good reason. He’s figured out how to be both informative and entertaining — a rare combo in cable news.
48. Katy Tur
In addition to her continued work as a go to correspondent for NBC News, Katy Tur also released a big book this year, Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History. She also admitted in September that she had to endure a forced kiss from President Donald Trump at some point during said crazy campaign. This comes in addition to being branded “Little Katy” and a “third-rate journalist by the President and his supporters. Despite all of that, or maybe because of it, Tur continued to step up her game this year, continuing to be one of NBC’s most trusted journalists and regular fill-in on many MSNBC shows. (LB)
47. Hallie Jackson
Hallie Jackson is one of the fastest rising stars over at NBC. In 2017, she served two prominent roles. As Chief White House correspondent for NBC News, she held nothing back from Press Secretaries Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders. And as an anchor of a late morning time slot on MSNBC, Jackson has proven she has what it takes to easily handle her own show too. That combination is rare. The future is bright for this 33-year-old journalist and continues to make a big splash come 2018. (JW)
46. Ben Smith
As the editor-in-chief of Buzzfeed, Ben Smith oversaw an editorial process that drove many news narratives in 2017. Between reports on John Conyers’ sexual misconduct, the political impact of social media, Robert Mercer’s funding of conservative enterprises, and a deep dive into Milo’s alleged dalliance with White Nationalist movement, Buzzfeed has presented original reports on many big issues in the last 12 months. Yes there has been a re-org (which has meant layoffs), and a recent pivot to producing shows but all things considered, Smith’s editorial prowess have laid the foundation for the organization’s journalistic unit, which continues to pay off. (KM)
