10-07-2025
Meet The New Vanguard Of News: How Millennials And Gen Z Are Redefining The Business Of Media On Their Own Terms
In an era where trust in legacy media is waning and digital platforms are shaping political and cultural consciousness, a new generation of citizen journalists is emerging, armed with iPhones, credibility, and conviction.
Millennials and Gen Z, digital natives raised on both hashtags and hard truths, are crafting a new kind of media empire, one where authenticity and accessibility overtake broadcast polish. And leading the charge are figures like Aaron Parnas and Lynae Vanee, two breakout voices who've built national followings by meeting audiences exactly where they are: online. According to a June 2025 Nieman Lab report, for the first time, survey participants say they get their news from social media over television.
Parnas, a lawyer-turned-commentator, has amassed millions of followers across platforms by translating fast-moving political developments into bite-sized, jargon-free videos. Often dubbed a "TikTok journalist," he resists the label, not because he rejects social media, but because he refuses to be boxed in.
Aaron Parnas
'Every journalist, whether they're on TV, radio, or print, is a content creator,' Parnas says. 'We don't call Jake Tapper a TV journalist. He's just a journalist. I'm doing the same work, just on a different platform.'
What began as quick updates on geopolitical developments during the Russia-Ukraine war quickly evolved into a trusted pipeline for daily news and policy breakdowns. But with growing skepticism around TikTok's future in the U.S., Parnas diversified his presence early, pivoting much of his energy to Substack.
'I generate 90% of my income from Substack,' he shares. 'It's a more intimate setting, and people actually care about what I'm saying rather than just scrolling past.'
That financial independence, fueled by subscribers hungry for accessible analysis, allows Parnas to operate without the editorial gatekeeping of legacy institutions. It also makes him part of a growing cohort of self-employed media entrepreneurs using newsletters, short-form video, and podcasts to bypass traditional publishing paths altogether.
Vanee's rise followed a different, though no less intentional, trajectory. A former educator and spoken-word artist, she first found viral success with her series 'Parking Lot Pimpin',' a genre-defying blend of performance, pedagogy, and political commentary.
Lynae Vanee
'When I was a teacher, we were taught that nobody cares what you know until they know that you care,' Vanee says. 'So I always try to make people feel seen in the work.'
Her poetic delivery, often shot in one take from the front seat of her car, helped her cultivate a dedicated Instagram following and eventually land her own show, The People's Brief, on REVOLT. There, she operates with what she calls the 'best of both worlds,' bringing her digital authenticity into a traditional network setting while retaining creative control.
'I have a producer credit, I write for the show, and the team has really been amenable to my voice,' she explains. 'We're figuring out how to package these ideas for TV without losing the nuance.'
Nuance is key. Vanee's content, grounded in Black feminist thought, historical context, and grassroots activism, is rarely optimized for virality. And yet, it resonates. Despite algorithmic hurdles, she's maintained a steady audience drawn to the clarity and candor of her political takes.
'I'm convicted,' she says simply. 'This work isn't just a job. It's a calling.'
Both Parnas and Vanee embody what makes this generation's approach to journalism different: transparent, targeted, and rapid. They aim to inform and mobilize, without pretending to be neutral about injustice.
Yet neither sees themselves as activists per se. For Parnas, the job is to simplify the news, not shape it.
'Because I'm a lawyer first, or rather I was a lawyer, something that was really instilled is that you have to be able to take very complex subjects and distill them down in quick and easy ways for a jury of your peers," he says, explaining his straightforward style of video-making. When you're in front of a jury of six or twelve, you're not talking to twelve lawyers, you're talking to twelve average Americans, teachers, plumbers, contractors, who don't know anything about the law. You have to teach them the law as if they are."
Vanee, on the other hand, views her work as part of a broader cultural and artistic legacy. Her training in African American studies and spoken word infuses every episode with intentionality.
'Being a full human being is an act of resistance,' she says. 'My platform allows me to be more than a commentator. I'm also a poet, a daughter, a friend, and all of that informs what I bring to the screen.'
While both creators admit the path isn't always easy, Vanee notes the monetization challenges of 'sensitive' political content, and Parnas has faced skepticism from traditional journalists, the impact is undeniable. Collectively, they reach millions of viewers weekly, offering a counter-narrative to both corporate media and partisan echo chambers.
And they're not alone.
A growing number of millennial and Gen Z creators are building what amounts to a decentralized news ecosystem. Some host newsletters. Others record explainer videos from their kitchens. All are united by a desire to democratize information and reimagine what journalism can look like in the 21st century.
Their tools may be unconventional, but their mission is not.
'Legacy media dismissed TikTok at first,' Parnas says. 'But give it a year, everybody's going to be there. Because this is where the people are.'
For millennials and Zillennials forging their own path in media, the lesson is clear: the newsroom is wherever your voice can be heard. And the future of journalism is already streaming.
