Morano challenges influencer payments versus struggling neighborhood papers
Morano cites committee findings that influencers received $5,000 to $20,000 per campaign and asks why taxpayer money goes to paid messengers while local papers struggle. Sidahmed says his focus is the 293-outlet directory.
Speaking of influence, I want to follow up on what the chair mentioned, our hearing on influencers a month ago.
And this is something that troubles me as a former broadcaster.
Your testimony says we need independent journalists attending community board meetings, questioning elected officials, and investigating problems.
Yet the committee report describes influencers receiving anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 per campaign.
Some of those influencers aren't journalists at all.
They're essentially paid messengers.
Why should taxpayer dollars be used to compensate someone for repeating government talking points when independent neighborhood newspapers are struggling to keep reporters employed?
I appreciate the question, Council Member.
Really, my focus of my office is really my list, the citywide marketing directory list.
So the 293 publications that are in that list, those are the people that I'm really focused on trying to get as much money to as possible and working with the different agencies to see the value of working with them and using them to get their message out there.
I can't really speak to how agencies spend their money otherwise, but that's really important.
You know, I can tell that you're relatively new in the position because you actually answer the questions, which I really appreciate.
If taxpayer money is going to influencers, shouldn't every New Yorker know exactly who's being paid, how much they're receiving, and whether they're disclosing their relationship?
I'm curious, would you support public disclosure of the ultimate recipients of every dollar spent on influencer campaigns, including payments made through advertising firms and other middlemen?
It's not really my office's responsibility to decide that or not decide that.
I think my office's responsibility is really focused on getting the 50% of advertising money to community and ethnic media.