Mediaite’s Most Influential in News Media 2018
65. Harvey Levin
Unlike others who have developed a new eye for controversy in the Trump era, the TMZ boss has been living it, and creating it, for years. Levin, a trained lawyer and entrepreneur, saw his influential entertainment and gossip scoop machine at TMZ continue to roll on — and the now-infamous Kanye West visit to the outlet’s offices will forever be remembered by future pop culture historians.
64. Preet Bharara
Last year, when the president fired him from his position as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara quickly pivoted to media — and what a run he has had up the ladder. His podcast, “Stay Tuned with Preet,” has become a must-listen for big names throughout the country. And when he offers legal analysis, it’s not just punditry, it’s news. Drawing on his Federal law enforcement experience, he has now become exclusive to CNN which uses him on the high-profile shows and the biggest moments. Yet Bharara’s vocal opposition to the president is more nuanced than many would expect. In an appearance on Bill Maher’s show, Bharara implored the host not to use words like “traitor” against Trump to avoid “overstating” the situation.
63. Ali Velshi & Stephanie Ruhle
MSNBC’s Ali Velshi and Stephanie Ruhle built on their record as two of the most energetic and passionate voices on cable news this year. Between Velshi’s in-depth fact-checking segments and Ruhle’s ability to deliver compelling commentary off-the-cuff, viewers are offered two of MSNBC’s top talents on one show — along with their excellent on-air chemistry and ability to bounce topics off each other. In one memorable 2018 moment demonstrating their signature style, Velshi dove into a fact check of White House job numbers, as Ruhle quickly jumped into a freestyle monologue on the White House’s “straight-up lies.” She also reassured her audience that — unlike the president — she can “guarantee” there is no tape of her saying the N-word. It’s not your grandma’s news reporting, but who wants that these days anyway?
62. Margaret Brennan
Historically, the Sunday morning shows have always wielded considerable influence in Washington and beyond. And this year, Margaret Brennan — after years as a White House and foreign affairs correspondent for CBS — was tapped to host one of those great legacy shows, Face the Nation. Brennan’s style might be slightly less confrontational than that of her predecessor, John Dickerson. But that doesn’t mean her interview subjects get off the hook easily. Her thorough interrogation of Vice President Mike Pence in September made many in the Beltway stand up and take notice — an interview which took place just three days before she gave birth! At just 38-years-old, Brennan stands to be a D.C. power player for years to come.
61. Noah Kotch
Noah Kotch has had quite a 2018. While at Fox News, Kotch helped lead the digital news team to record high page views. Then, in June, he was hired away from the network to serve as the new editor in chief of the Daily Mail. Now at the helm of the most visited English newspaper in the world, Kotch’s editorial leadership helps to shapes the news, as read by millions of internet viewers each day. And while the pub is often defined by its tabloid sensibilities, it also breaks news, and serves up meaty, in-depth pieces on just about every crime, political and entertainment story imaginable. In media, the Daily Mail is omnipresent, and Kotch is at the reins.
60. Bianna Golodryga
Bianna Golodryga became co-host of CBS This Morning early in 2018, and yet continued on as a contributor at CNN. That is a pretty powerful combination. Her steady career climb has put her now in living rooms and kitchens across America each morning, where she interviews heavy political hitters and celebrities alike. Her regular contributions on two networks, including one as a commentator, is a rarity in news, reserved for a select few. She focuses on the serious news, too, a reputation she cemented after her headline-making interview with Dana Rohrabacher on Russia. Golodryga, who speaks Russian, is just as comfortable analyzing the latest news out of Washington on a CNN panel as she is covering historic events for CBS News.
59. Natasha Bertrand
Atlantic staff writer Natasha Bertrand proved to be smart, savvy and connected last year. But in 2018, her name recognition became higher than ever as she churned out scoops and spent more time in front of the camera on MSNBC. She’s a fixture on Morning Joe and offers analysis throughout the day. But her biggest claim to a place on this list is her coverage of the Trump-Russia investigation, which has been extensive and widely-read. Late last year, covering that topic, she had an infamous exchange with then-White House special counsel Ty Cobb, in which the flustered lawyer (who retired a few months later) demanded to know if Bertrand was “on drugs”. When Bertrand put the screenshots of that email exchange on Twitter the story took off, and she has not looked back.
58. Van Jones
Thoughtful. That’s a word you hear about CNN’s Van Jones a lot these days. His election analysis on CNN, frequently opposite conservative Amanda Carpenter, is insightful and a lot more objective than one might have expected from a partisan and former Obama official. Aside from his own weekend show, he hosts political town halls and is a fixture at liberal events. Jones’ interviews – like this year’s big ones with Jared Kushner, Oprah Winfrey, Meghan McCain, and Jay-Z — and his nearly ubiquitous commentary on the network give him pull with the audience even if they’re on the other side of the aisle. He also is using his platform to work with with White House and Democrats together — yes, together — to advocate for prison reform.
57. April Ryan
Like Jim Acosta, April Ryan is an outspoken member of the White House press corps who finds herself targeted by the fury of Trump and his supporters. She pays little attention to her critics, however — content to keep the heat aimed at the White House. Ryan’s exchanges with Sarah Huckabee Sanders are often the highlight of press briefings thanks to the often brutal questions she lobs at the podium. Even though press briefings aren’t held as often as they used to be, Ryan maintains a high profile with frequent appearances on CNN, where she serves as a contributor, offering fearless commentary.
56. Nicolle Wallace
If there was one cable news show you could associate with “Never-Trump-ism,” it would probably be Nicolle Wallace’s Deadline: White House. Whether you see that as a positive or a negative, Wallace has clearly carved out a space on the progressive network that speaks to MSNBC’s general audience but also to Republicans disaffected by the rise of Trump and what it’s done to their party — not just from the host herself, but from regular panelists like Steve Schmidt and Bill Kristol. As a Republican who worked in the Bush administration, Wallace’s voice is potent, and part of the reason her show really works.
