The press once again has showcased its tendency to highlight certain personas in its annual Person of the Year award nominees. To be specific, ‘Time’ magazine, in its typical controversial manner, has decided this year’s nominees would include Joe Rogan and, unsurprisingly, the 2024 presidential contenders.
Now, it’s worth noting that the decision to include the presidential candidates isn’t a new move. The endearing admiration of the press for President-elect Donald Trump is well-known, he was, after all, chosen as Time’s Person of the Year in 2016 following his electoral triumph. Quite convenient, it seems, to nominate someone who was obviously prominent that year.
However, more shockingly, Vice President Kamala Harris had also seen her name appear on this list in the past. Yes, you read that right. She even shared this dubious honor with President Elect Joe Biden in 2020. Indeed, one has to wonder about the criteria on which ‘Time’ bases its judgments.
It seems that winning the U.S. Presidential election every fourth year guarantees a spot on this list. We’ve seen this trend with both George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. It seems Time is willing to overlook clear failings, as long as the names are big and draw attention.
But also named, was Joe Rogan. The controversial host found himself on the list after interviewing Trump on The Joe Rogan Experience, his popular podcast. This sudden exposure apparently granted him entry into the roster of nominees. People were left wondering if the almost three-hour long session that soon became his most popular podcast episode, had something to do with it.
But the cast of characters doesn’t end there. The evidently eccentric entrepreneur Elon Musk has also found his way in. Surprise, surprise, here is someone who has bagged the title previously. In 2021 to be exact. Will he be leading the pack this year again or fall behind some underwhelming politician?
Some particularly strange choices have made it to the list as well this year. Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, for instance. One wonders, has royalty status become a criterion for ‘Time’s’ considerations? Then, there is Russian economist Yulia Navalnaya. Quite the peculiar selection, don’t you think?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also among the nominees. As is Jerome Powell, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve. And then, completely out of left field, comes Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. One cannot help but ponder over the diversity of the selection.
And, if we might have expected another nominee like Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO, you’d be right. The omnipresent face of social media made it to the list, which is hardly surprising given how ‘Time’ tends to gravitate towards high profile personalities.
Now the question you’re all probably asking yourselves is, when will the identity of the winner be made public? The opaque veil will be lifted this Thursday. Expectantly, crowds and critics alike will be waiting with bated breath to see who earns this very controversial title.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift graced the title of ‘Person of the Year’ in the year prior. Yes, an individual from the world of pop. Truly, ‘Time’ never ceases to surprise us with its peculiar choices. Fingers crossed they opt for someone actually deserving this year.
Anyone remember who else held the title? Let’s jog your memory. In 2022, it was none other than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, coinciding nicely with the initiation of the conflict in Ukraine. But was he really the ‘Person of the Year’, or was Time conveniently capitalizing on the crisis?
Rewinding further, we would find environmental activist Greta Thunberg had also clinched the title back in 2019. An adolescent activist being granted such a prestigious title clearly indicates that ‘Time’ has no peculiar preference or concrete judgment criteria.
So, there you have it. A promising list of nominees, but they inherently carry undertones of controversy, ensuring ‘Time’ grabs the headlines and remains in the spotlight. Will we get a worthy winner, or will it be another unexpected and contentious figure claiming the title? Only time will tell.
In conclusion, ‘Time’s’ Person of the Year award continues to be nothing less than a mystifying spectacle. The selection criteria remain abstract, and the narrative is seemingly driven by a media agenda, particularly when certain political figures are involved. We will watch this process with intrigued skepticism, awaiting the unwrapping of this year’s package of surprise.