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Korea Herald
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
With about 2 weeks left, Korean voters use YouTube to 'feel out' candidates
In what appears to be South Korea's most YouTube-driven presidential race, authenticity may matter more than agenda After months of political upheaval, from last December's martial law crisis to President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment this April, South Korea has entered a full-blown election sprint. In an early presidential race few saw coming until late last year, candidates and voters alike are navigating a compressed, high-stakes campaign ahead of the June 3 vote. Amid this rush, voters across the country are increasingly turning to YouTube for candid, unfiltered glimpses into the personalities, values and authenticity of the candidates. "This election isn't about voters changing their minds through YouTube. Instead, voters are likely using YouTube to confirm their perceptions of various candidates, such as who seems trustworthy, authentic or flawed. It's less about swaying votes and more about shaping how people feel about their choices," said Park Jin-woo, a media communications professor at Hanyang University. YouTube's rise as a key battleground in South Korea's election landscape comes as no surprise, given its deep roots in the country's political culture. According to the 2024 Digital News Report from the Reuters Institute and Korea Press Foundation, 75 percent of Koreans regularly watch news on YouTube. This far surpasses the global average of 51 percent. This high reliance spans all age groups. Even among voters aged 60 and above, YouTube usage for news stands at 55 percent, nearly double the international average of 28 percent. Among the candidates, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea has the most powerful YouTube presence by far. His official channel, launched over a decade ago, has more than 1.4 million subscribers and approximately 3,500 videos. Lee's videos try to lean heavily into humor, approachability and meme-ready charm. Thumbnails are often heavily photoshopped for comic effect, such as one showing him mid-drum solo. His Shorts are even more rapid-fire: since Yoon's removal on April 4, Lee has released over 120 Shorts, capitalizing on the platform's most viral format. He is also heavily invested in livestreaming and his channel's live section is packed with a wide mix of real-time broadcasts almost daily. Lee's appearances on other influential channels have made headlines as well. On Feb. 18, he spontaneously joined a livestream by the liberal political channel "Saenal," humorously reminding viewers to "subscribe, like and turn on notifications." The broadcast immediately went viral, prompting fans to donate more than 6 million won ($4,260) through YouTube's live chat, making it a top live donation stream on YouTube's charts that day. But with high visibility comes scrutiny, along with Lee's persistent controversies. An analysis from Sometrend, a local social media data analytics firm, shows that between Yoon's removal on April 4 and the start of the official presidential campaign on May 12, Lee generated over 211,000 mentions in YouTube comments, which is the highest among all candidates. However, negative mentions outweighed positive ones, accounting for 46 percent (97,597 cases) compared to 40 percent (85,270 cases) positive, with the remaining 13 percent classified as neutral. Critically, keywords like "crime" appear prominently in negative mentions of Lee, reflecting ongoing public attention to unresolved corruption and other legal allegations. These controversies haven't derailed his front-runner status, as recent polls show Lee comfortably leading, but they've given voters reason to closely scrutinize his character online. Updated Sometrend data, which now includes the first week of official campaigning through May 18, in addition to the earlier April 4-May 12 period, shows that public sentiment toward Lee has leveled out, with 44 percent of mentions positive and 43 percent negative. Kim Moon-soo, the conservative candidate from the People Power Party, presents a very different YouTube profile that is newer, more traditional and far less dynamic. His official channel was launched just over a month ago, on April 9, apparently for this election. As of May 19, it has quickly gained 389,000 subscribers, which is an impressive feat for such a short timeline. The subscriber count surged especially after he was formally confirmed as the party's candidate. Still, his content tends to lack flair. Most of Kim's videos, now totaling 225, follow a conventional format, such as speeches, policy announcements and campaign clips with minimal editing or emotional pull. His most-viewed video has 104,000 views, but most others hover below 10,000. Sometrend's data from the April 4-May 18 period reveals Kim generated fewer YouTube mentions overall: 217,884 compared to Lee's 276,202. His online sentiment profile is slightly more positive, with 48 percent positive (104,097 mentions), 40 percent negative (87,111) and 12 percent neutral. One notable attempt by Kim to boost his digital visibility was a recent humorous appearance on the popular comedy show, "Saturday Night Live Korea," where he poked fun at himself for a 2011 incident when he scolded an emergency dispatcher by repeatedly declaring, "This is the governor speaking!" Though the episode briefly gained attention with over 1 million views, Kim's appearance failed to create sustained YouTube engagement or notably shift his online image. Further complicating Kim's image online is his indirect association with controversial narratives around far-fetched election fraud claims promoted by far-right groups loyal to impeached former President Yoon. Kim himself has remained ambiguous rather than overtly supportive of Yoon. Lee Jun-seok, the youngest and most unconventional of the major candidates, represents the New Reform Party and has carved out a niche with a small but passionate digital base. While his overall YouTube footprint tracked by Sometrend is modest (34,093 mentions), his channel has become a magnet for younger, reform-minded voters. Lee's standout content is his nightly livestream, 'Up All Night Live." Broadcasting almost every weekday at 10 p.m., he shares personal commentary, political hot takes and reaction segments, often drawing tens of thousands of viewers. As of mid-May, the stream has passed its 40th episode, a consistency unmatched by other candidates. He supplements these with regular Shorts and offbeat video essays, like 'The Sad Tale of Kim Duk-soo and Han Moon-soo,' a tongue-in-cheek political parable. His channel grew significantly during the conservative camp's failed unification talks. On May 4, the day after Kim Moon-soo was named the People Power Party candidate, Lee's channel gained 2,800 subscribers. Two days later, on May 6, it gained 7,900 — the largest daily bump since its launch. In a country already famous for passionate politics, YouTube has become a converging ground for ardent followers — a space where they feed on a steady stream of content that reinforces their loyalty and worldview shaped by their chosen politicians. The platform's appeal lies in how it humanizes candidates, allowing voters to see them not just as policy-driven contenders, but as real people with personalities. Voters aren't watching YouTube to be persuaded, Professor Park explains, but to judge whether candidates seem sincere, trustworthy, or relatable. 'YouTube strips away much of the distance typical in politics,' said Park. 'When candidates show their human side through videos or live interactions, voters connect with them in a way traditional campaigning can't achieve, especially with only weeks until election day.' 'Ultimately, YouTube isn't changing who voters support. Instead, it shapes how confident or conflicted they feel about their decisions.' mjh@
Swift Newz
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Swift Newz
'سامسونج' تدمج جيميني للذكاء الاصطناعي في الساعات وسماعات الأذن
White South African refugee Jason Bartlett applauded President Donald Trump as 'incredibly brave' during a Wednesday appearance on Newsmax. During an appearance on 'The Chris Salcedo Show,' Bartlett spoke of white Afrikaners facing a 'genocide' and applauded Trump's offering them refugee status in anticipation that the decision would bring the administration criticism. 'He's incredibly brave because the world is out to get President Donald Trump,' Bartlett said. 'And you can see by the video of the South Africans that are coming into the country, it does not fit the left agenda. 'But that's why we love President Donald Trump. He's more our leader than any leader in South Africa at the moment.' GET TODAY : is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching! Reuters Institute reports is one of the top news brands in the U.S. You need to watch today. Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more! Find the channel on your cable system – Sign up for and get , our streaming channel and our military channel World at War. Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials. Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more! Watch on your smartphone or home TV app. Watch anytime, anywhere! Start your now: © 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Press Freedom: Ensuring Dissenting Voices are Heard is Critical for Democracy
Journalists and media workers hold banners during a World Press Freedom Day gathering in Gaza City, Palestine, on May 4, 2025. The press needs to increase the diversity of voices in its newsrooms and reports. It needs to be more plural, more transparent and more connected to the demands of society, says the writer. Giuliano Galli One of our greatest challenges is to understand the meaning of the words 'freedom' and 'press' in contemporary society, marked by technological transformations, political polarization and widespread distrust. Understanding what these concepts represent today is, above all, reflecting on the foundations of democracy itself . Public trust in journalistic institutions has been declining for some years in many parts of the world. In Brazil, according to data from the Reuters Institute 's Digital News Report , only 43% of the population trusts the news they consume, the lowest rate since the beginning of the historical series, in 2012. This is a crisis of trust that threatens journalistic practice as the main mediator of public debates. At the same time, the way information circulates has also changed radically. News is no longer just something we search for. Through cell phones and social media, it finds us and captures us, often driven by algorithms that prioritize what moves us – and not necessarily what informs us. Going viral has replaced journalistic curation. In this scenario, the traditional press is losing ground not only in terms of reach, but also in terms of authority, having to compete for the public's attention with digital influencers, now seen as alternative sources to the mainstream . In this scenario, what should the press do to regain credibility in the age of social media? Above all, it must defend ethical and excellent journalism , even at the cost of making the news less 'viral'. But it is also essential to recognize that the competition is not just for audience, but for meaning. And that the role of the press is always to report with rigor, context and responsibility. This shift in journalism requires self-reflection. The press needs to increase the diversity of voices in its newsrooms and reports. It needs to be more plural, more transparent and more connected to the demands of society. The current times, of great social transformations and increased access to new information and communication technologies, open up the possibility that small media outlets and even individual initiatives can join this large ecosystem known as the press – and this is healthy for democracy when done responsibly and guided by the public interest. For this reason, regulating digital platforms should not be seen as censorship, but as an intrinsic part of the solution. It is necessary to ensure that citizens know how to distinguish between journalism and manipulation; between fact and propaganda. Establishing responsibilities for large technology companies is essential to preserve the public information space and curb the proliferation of misinformation. Freedom of the press, after all, is not just a right for journalists, but for the whole of society, and precisely for this reason it must ensure that dissenting voices are heard so that democracy is not further weakened. Therefore, it is necessary to reaffirm the commitment to ethical, independent and responsible journalism. The future of press freedom, more than ever, depends on public trust and on territories regulated on the basis of diversity, dialogue and collective interest. * Giuliano Galli is a journalist and coordinator of Journalism and Freedom of Expression at the Vladimir Herzog Institute. A researcher of community journalism and popular communication, he has worked on the right to freedom of expression since 2014. ** This article was originally published at *** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Newsmax CEO shares his secrets to success as Trump's favourite US channel sees its stock soar
Newsmax, named as one of the US' top 12 news brands by Reuters Institute and a leading supplier of Conservative news, saw its share prices soar over 2000% in April after going public on the New York Stock Exchange on 31 March 2025. Self declared as US President's 'favourite US channel', Newsmax first began in 1998 as a digital media company, with the cable news organisation only launching in 2014. In this episode of The Big Question, co-founder and CEO of Newsmax Chris Ruddy joined Angela Barnes to discuss the secret behind their success. US President Donald Trump and Newsmax's CEO have been friends for over 30 years, Chris Ruddy told The Big Question. Despite spending lots of time together discussing friends, health and golf, Chris noted that Newsmax still has 'criticisms of President Trump.' 'There are a lot of people, both left and right in America, that don't like the tariff policy. They're on Newsmax all the time,' he added. And though Donald Trump may be a divisive character, many media outlets have seen a rise in viewers and readers thanks to Trump-based content. 'The best advice is to have Donald Trump on more. He likes to see himself on Newsmax, but, you know, we have him on quite a bit and we certainly discuss him,' Chris explained. 'Nielsen reported we had 34 million viewers tune in last quarter, up 50% from the previous year.' Chris thinks their success is partly down to the fact they are providing a Christian-Conservative focused news. And whether you agree with the angle of their content or not, the performance on the New York Stock Exchange was remarkable and does show investor support for the company. 'People are voting with their remote controls, with their downloads, with their apps, and they're saying they want alternative media here in the United States.' Related 'You cannot live without space in 20 years': What does the future of Europe's economy look like? The Big Question: What will it mean for Europe if Trump's tariffs resume? Despite being a relatively new channel, Newsmax has grown in popularity to become one of the top 5 most popular cable news channels in the US and available in over 100 countries. In September 2024, Newsmax launched an AI-dubbed, Spanish-language channel available in Dominican Republic and Latin America. As well as this, they also resumed broadcasting of their Newsmax Balkans channel, based in Serbia, following a break since 2022. 'Maybe we can do that someday in Germany, for instance, or Italy, which would be fun, and give them access to American news,' Chris added. The Big Question is a series from Euronews Business where we sit down with industry leaders and experts to discuss some of the most important topics on today's agenda. Watch the video above to see the full discussion with the Newsmax founder & CEO, Chris Ruddy.
Euronews
05-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Newsmax CEO shares his secrets to success as Trump's favourite US channel sees its stock soar
ADVERTISEMENT Newsmax, named as one of the US' top 12 news brands by Reuters Institute and a leading supplier of Conservative news, saw its share prices soar over 2000% in April after going public on the New York Stock Exchange on 31 March 2025. Self declared as US President's 'favourite US channel', Newsmax first began in 1998 as a digital media company, with the cable news organisation only launching in 2014. In this episode of The Big Question, co-founder and CEO of Newsmax Chris Ruddy joined Angela Barnes to discuss the secret behind their success. Is Donald Trump the secret to Newsmax's success? US President Donald Trump and Newsmax's CEO have been friends for over 30 years, Chris Ruddy told The Big Question. Despite spending lots of time together discussing friends, health and golf, Chris noted that Newsmax still has 'criticisms of President Trump.' 'There are a lot of people, both left and right in America, that don't like the tariff policy. They're on Newsmax all the time,' he added. CEO of Newsmax, Chris Ruddy chats to Angela Barnes on The Big Question Euronews And though Donald Trump may be a divisive character, many media outlets have seen a rise in viewers and readers thanks to Trump-based content. 'The best advice is to have Donald Trump on more. He likes to see himself on Newsmax, but, you know, we have him on quite a bit and we certainly discuss him,' Chris explained. 'Nielsen reported we had 34 million viewers tune in last quarter, up 50% from the previous year.' Chris thinks their success is partly down to the fact they are providing a Christian-Conservative focused news. And whether you agree with the angle of their content or not, the performance on the New York Stock Exchange was remarkable and does show investor support for the company. 'People are voting with their remote controls, with their downloads, with their apps, and they're saying they want alternative media here in the United States.' Related 'You cannot live without space in 20 years': What does the future of Europe's economy look like? The Big Question: What will it mean for Europe if Trump's tariffs resume? What does the future hold for Newsmax? Despite being a relatively new channel, Newsmax has grown in popularity to become one of the top 5 most popular cable news channels in the US and available in over 100 countries. In September 2024, Newsmax launched an AI-dubbed , Spanish-language channel available in Dominican Republic and Latin America. As well as this, they also resumed broadcasting of their Newsmax Balkans channel, based in Serbia , following a break since 2022. 'Maybe we can do that someday in Germany, for instance, or Italy, which would be fun, and give them access to American news,' Chris added. The Big Question is a series from Euronews Business where we sit down with industry leaders and experts to discuss some of the most important topics on today's agenda. ADVERTISEMENT Watch the video above to see the full discussion with the Newsmax founder & CEO, Chris Ruddy.
