Where do we draw the line between journalism and being a K-pop fan?

While being a fan comes with many benefits in terms of research, can it hinder our ability to ask our faves tough questions?

When Gannett announced in September that it would be hiring a reporter to cover Taylor Swift, the move raised eyebrows.

Gannett is the largest newspaper publisher in the United States, owning more than 200 daily papers including USA Today. But over the last three years, Gannett’s workforce shrunk nearly 50 percent due to layoffs and the departure of employees. And given the lack of stability in recent years, some questioned whether hiring a Taylor Swift correspondent is the best use of the company’s resources. Is it merely a move for publicity, clicks and SEO purposes?

The decision to hire a reporter dedicated to Taylor Swift made me skeptical. However, I was willing to give Gannett the benefit of the doubt.

Covering Taylor Swift should be like any journalism job. Stories about the singer, her fans and the phenomenon surrounding her should be done with fairness, balance and accountability. With all the positive stories surrounding Taylor Swift, this journalist should also be willing to ask the tough questions too.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the direction Gannett is going for, however.

Last week, Gannett announced it had finally filled its position for the Taylor Swift correspondent job. The gig went to journalist Bryan West, a self-proclaimed “Swiftie”. In describing his new job, he said, “I would say this position’s no different than being a sports journalist who’s a fan of the home team.”

To say the least, I was disappointed in the decision. But to be fair to West, he just started his new job and time will tell what he can do with the Taylor Swift beat.

While I personally believe that a gig like this should also include a bit of separation from the subject, West’s hiring DID get me thinking about the limits of covering something when you’re a stan. And in the world of K-pop journalism, I’ve noticed the line between being a fan and a journalist have been pretty blurry for quite some time.

As part of staying on top of things for this newsletter, I read A LOT of K-pop interviews and stories. Some of them great, but many of them very forgettable.

It’s clear a lot of interviews are conducted by fans of the artists themselves. And while I’ve read many excellent profiles written by fans, I think what makes them truly stand out is how far the writer is willing to go with the artist. Unfortunately, too many articles these days are written in the form of glorified press releases.

The problem is, more often than not, reporters are asked to send in questions in advance to publicists. Journalists are told not to cover controversial topics during interviews. Publications wanting to cover an artist also have to be “approved” by K-pop companies.

To be fair, publicists also have a tough job. They act as messengers between journalists and K-pop companies, each with separate and very specific needs. In fact, most publicists I’ve worked with try their hardest to navigate tricky dynamics, schedules and demands. And the majority of publicists try their best to help me out, even when they are unable to grant interviews.

However, in the event an interview is granted, what ends up happening after this process is a lot of singers and idols end up giving media-trained and rehearsed answers. The unfortunate thing about this is that many writers don’t push back, possibly because they’re fans of the artist or they’re afraid of losing connections with publicists for going off script. I know from personal experience. It’s not easy to be uncomfortable, but it’s a necessary part of the gig.

As a K-pop fan myself, I will be the first to admit that there are times I struggle with interviewing people I’ve followed for a long time. But my love of journalism has always been rooted in the personal.

I am not a perfect journalist by any means. However, the best moments in my experience have often come from the more uncomfortable questions.

I’ve had the opportunity to interview Tablo from Epik High twice. Epik High is a group I’ve been listening to since high school. But at the time of our first interview, Tablo was only beginning to openly speak about the Stanford controversy that almost ruined his life.

The prospect of broaching a difficult subject made me nervous because I did not want to upset him. But I knew his story was much bigger than him as a person. It had implications in a world full of fake news and toxic social media culture. I wouldn’t have done my homework if I didn’t ask him about it at all.

So while it made me a bit uneasy, Tablo actually surprised me with his answers. He told me the reason why he’s talking about his Stanford controversy so openly is because he wanted to help save someone’s life. In a world where Asian people are still stigmatized for speaking about mental health and depression, that kind of message means something.

With all that said, my interview with Tablo was completely unscripted and I never had to send in questions for approval. That gave me the freedom to ask him just about anything. And in an entertainment industry increasingly filled with vetting and approvals for journalists, it actually felt rare.

In preparation of writing this post, I put together a number of *unscientific* polls on my Instagram page, asking followers what they wish they saw more of in K-pop interviews today.

The majority of followers wanted to see fewer rehearsed answers from artists. They felt most profiles don’t share something new about the subject. And, most people also felt that artists should be held accountable for their actions and address controversies in news stories. In an industry where controversies and scandals come and go by quickly, it’s clear people aren’t satisfied with what is currently out there.

The truth is, music fans want better coverage, and they deserve it. So why aren’t many music writers today aiming to push for better coverage?

When I think of good K-pop interviews, I always go back to one RM of BTS did with the Spanish publication El Pais. During the interview, he was asked whether the “worship of youth” perfection and “overstraining in K-pop” are Korean cultural traits. Here’s how he answered: “People in the west just don’t get it. Korea is a country that has been invaded, devastated, torn in two. Just 70 years ago there was nothing. We were getting help from the IMF and the UN. But now, the whole world is looking at Korea. How is that possible, how did that happen? Because people are working fucking hard to improve themselves.”

This answer shocked me in a good way. He was blunt and honest, so rarely seen in K-pop profiles today.

Of course, RM is at a point in his life and career where he has enough power and agency to speak his mind. But not all idols have the ability to do that. That’s why it’s up to us journalists to find new methods to be creative and add more colour in our pieces. That could mean adding an additional voice or historical context. Those extra steps could go a long way.

At the same time, I understand that many writers have to balance relationships with publicists and K-pop companies in order for access.

But if journalism is meant for the public interest, we need to start interrogating what many people are thinking and stop giving in to softball questions and find new ways to make our pieces stand out.

---

HYBE acquires Latin music label Exile Music

HYBE, the company behind groups like BTS and Tomorrow X Together, has acquired the Spanish-language media company Exile Content — signaling a move for the Latin music market.

As part of acquiring Exile Music, HYBE will be setting up a Latin America unit for artist management and talent discovery, and is considering using its K-pop business model for the Latin genre.

Given HYBE’s expansion into the U.S., this signals yet another big move for the South Korean media conglomerate. Read more here.

Jung Kook takes over Times Square, pop king status confirmed

While I have been a bit conflicted with Jung Kook’s new album Golden, I cannot deny the pure elation I have felt watching the BTS member take over New York’s Times Square for a free concert last week.

Rumours of the show circulated nearly 24 hours before, when BTS tweeted a surprise from Jung Kook was coming on November 8th. The next day, thousands gathered in Times Square hours before his performance was confirmed officially. Jung Kook’s impact is REAL, Y’ALL!

“We are honoured to co-create this historic moment for Jungkook and the entire BTS group,” Nick Holmsten, the co-CEO of TSX Entertainment, said in a press statement.

“His solo journey has already made history with multiple chart-topping singles, and we’re fully confident that this album will continue the trend,” he added. “This marks a pivotal moment in music, particularly for K-Pop fans, and holds great significance for both Times Square and New York City.”

YG Entertainment confirms debut date for new girl group BabyMonster

While Blackpink’s future with YG Entertainment remains uncertain, the music label is preparing to debut its newest girl group later this month.

Called BabyMonster, the group is set to make its official debut on November 27. This act marks the first female group since Blackpink came onto the scene in 2016.

BabyMonster’s debut lead track will feature a “powerful mood,” according to a statement by YG Entertainment.

Back in May, BabyMonster released a pre-debut single called ‘Dream’, in which viewers got to see clips of the members preparing for their big reveal.

What I’m listening to: ‘Chill Kill’ by Red Velvet

The spooky season may be over, but Red Velvet recently made a comeback with their third studio album, Chill Kill.

Nearly a decade since they came onto the scene, what I love about Red Velvet is they never fail to surprise me with their comeback singles — even if they’re not always my cup of tea. (Case in point: ‘Birthday’ was too disjointed for my liking, but I appreciated its quirkiness).

Their title track ‘Chill Kill’ though, is a very pleasant listen. I loved the theatrical and dramatic production of the song paired with the girls’ powerful vocals. While teasers for the music video gave me the impression that it was going to sound pretty eerie, it’s actually a very fun dance pop song.

Red Velvet also never fails to bring out the visuals in their music videos, and ‘Chill Kill’ does not disappoint.

---

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Accountability is important to me, so please address corrections and concerns by sending me an email at bunnipopnewsletter@gmail.com. Continue the conversation by following Bunni Pop on Instagram and Twitter.