Are Content Creators the New Faces of Journalism?

She used to tell stories over mukbangs on YouTube, now she’s reporting from a federal courtroom in New York, covering one of the biggest criminal trials of the year. 

(Credit: Adobe Stock - Education License)

Stephanie Soo, a 29-year-old YouTuber known for true crime storytelling, has found herself at the centre of a growing debate after gaining exclusive press access to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial. 

While many praise her shift from lifestyle videos to reporting, others question the legitimacy of influencers claiming the roles of journalists without formal experience. 

Previously known for her popular storytime and food review content, Soo’s true crime podcast, Rotten Mango started on Spotify in 2020. It then transitioned over to YouTube where she currently has over 5 million subscribers. 

Following backlash on TikTok and Reddit over her insensitive coverage of real murders, Rotten Mango was professionally revamped in 2023. Soo adopted a more serious, fact-based approach, replacing gossip with legal disclaimers and a sombre tone.

According to the Rotten Mango website, Soo does not conduct her own investigations, instead she works with a team of independent researchers and translators from all different backgrounds.

Soo is far from alone in this new wave of news influencers. Across social media platforms, YouTubers like LegalEagle, HasanAbi and friendlyjordies inform their massive fanbase on legal and political issues by breaking them down in accessible, often opinionated formats. 

Some influencers have already nailed the investigative process.

Digital creator Zoë Bread launched a viral 33-part TikTok series investigating misleading signage on a Manchester parking machine, which caused an uptick in fines issued by the Manchester City Council. Going as far as filing a Freedom of Information Act, her online campaign eventually compelled the council to update its signage and pardon all fines from the previous 12 months. 

Zoë's efforts drew coverage from the BBC and earned praise from Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Good. Her campaign shows how creators are playing a growing role in shaping public conversations.

The impact of creator-led content is clear when looking at audience trends. SiriusXM reports that Rotten Mango’s listeners are mostly young women aged 18 to 22. According to the University of Canberra’s 2024 Digital News Report, around two-thirds of Gen Z now rely on social media for news. Many are leaving traditional outlets behind in favour of creators they trust. 

As one Reddit user on r/GenZ put it: “When I realized that the corporate media never had any intention of objectively reporting on the news, I jumped ship from them and started getting my news from independent journalists and podcasters on YouTube.”

This mindset helps explain why someone like Soo can find herself with millions of loyal viewers, and now, a seat in the courtroom. For her fans she’s not just a YouTuber, but a more trustworthy alternative to traditional media. Soo has built her career on being a friendly face, equipped with stories for her listeners to consume. 

In a now-viral TikTok from May 7th, Soo bites into a sandwich outside court after the trial’s jury selection phase. The video’s caption begins, 'Just a girl eating her mushy PB&J after spending 8 hours in the same room as Diddy.' In another clip, she compares his expression to a “fuzzy koala”, with this remark later mentioned in a Variety article. 

The videos were met with mixed reactions from social media users. 

A repost of the TikTok racked up 20 million views on X, with users questioning her presence at the trial. Fellow true crime YouTuber Eleanor Neale shared a similar sentiment, replying, “that’s my girl so no shade to her directly, but what in the hell are they doing inviting influencers to the diddy trial?!”.

On Trisha Paytas’ podcast Just Trish, her co-host Oscar Gracey stated, “podcasts and this generation of influencers who ended up with huge shows are the new journalists in a way, for better or for worse”. 

While suggesting Soo’s TikTok’s were insensitive, he also justified her presence as a reporter in the trial. 

“I think people discrediting Stephanie have to realise, a lot of traditional media outlets don’t even have that many listeners or that many eyes on them,” Gracey said. “I do think she deserves that access.”

Stephanie Soo’s presence at the Diddy trial may seem unusual to those who still view journalism through the lens of legacy institutions. But to many young people, she represents something that traditional reporters don't: familiarity, transparency and comfort. 

While journalists are bound by editorial oversight, content creators like Soo publish the stories that traditional outlets might leave on the cutting room floor. Whether the industry likes it or not, Stephanie Soo already earned her press pass — not from a courtroom, but from the millions of people who keep showing up to listen.