The announcement of Bryan West as the newly appointed reporter dedicated to covering Taylor Swift for Nashville’s The Tennessean and various Gannett newspapers nationwide generated considerable buzz. West, an accomplished journalist who identifies as a Swiftie, emphasized in his video cover letter on YouTube that he can report on Swift impartially despite his fandom.
Gannett stands by West’s ability to provide unbiased coverage of Swift, recognizing the singer’s significant cultural impact. Michael A. Anastasi, Gannett’s vice president of local news and editor of the Tennessean, stated that Swift’s influence requires unique expertise, and they believe West is the ideal journalist for the job.
In an exclusive Variety story, Anastasi praised West’s balance between being a seasoned journalist with serious news credentials and someone deeply familiar with Taylor Swift’s world. West defended his qualifications, likening his position to that of a sports journalist who supports the home team while maintaining professional objectivity.
West has already begun reporting, covering topics such as country music stars’ comments about Swift at the CMA Awards and Argentinian fans’ enthusiasm for the “Eras Tour.” However, there has been some criticism, particularly due to West being a male fan. In response, Gannett’s chief communications officer, Lark-Marie Anton, dismissed the backlash with a “Shake it off” comment.
Some critics, including Tom Jones of Poynter, expressed concern about West’s suitability for the role, suggesting that a woman might be better suited to connect with Taylor Swift’s predominantly female fanbase. Candy Lee, a journalism teacher at West’s alma mater, Northwestern, acknowledges the controversy but emphasizes that hiring someone unfamiliar with Swift wouldn’t make sense.
Despite the skepticism, Lee commends Gannett for not discriminating based on gender and praises West’s audition. Jones, while initially critical, acknowledges the novelty of the idea and expresses a willingness to give the new reporter a chance, though he emphasizes the pressure for the stories to be distinctive and unique. The ongoing developments in West’s coverage of Taylor Swift will be closely observed by both supporters and critics alike.
Here’s how netizens reacted to the development;
the full time reporter on taylor swift being a MAN is actually so crazy. like what. you’re telling me one of the girls didn’t get that job?????? oh get serious
— makayla (@gapsinsilence) November 6, 2023
USA today undermined how much Taylor is girlhood and how much we would hate this. No hate on the dude, but we all know that position was meant for a woman.
— lue???? (@folkwhore13) November 7, 2023
I don’t know this man, but I feel like I should say that I know *for a fact* that hundreds if not thousands of women applied for this job that involves, you know, reporting on a female musician who writes music about the female experience. https://t.co/zRzxcr4WFd
— Emily Holshouser (@emilyytayylor) November 8, 2023
I will never stop complaining that an artist who has one of the most unapologetically feminine bodies of work was given a male journalist to write about her full time.
We never see this happening in reverse either. https://t.co/8Ix1knK4kV
— ✨ Sarah’s ????????????????????????ོ⸆⸉ ✨ (@IrishInIsengard) November 7, 2023
