This piece deftly summarizes the complexities of navigating entertainment reporting in the age of cancel culture from a journalist's perspective.

As just one member of the most powerful online (& offline) music fandom in the world, I'd like to bring in another perspective. https://twitter.com/eleanorhalls1/status/1356184713082363909

I, too, am bored by coverage that reads like press releases, and exhausted by trolls. What I most want to see in a piece on @BTS_twt is objectivity and accuracy. Journalistic integrity. A piece with depth and evidence of hearty due diligence is very welcome, but somewhat rare.

Unfortunately, the spaces with the most quantitative @BTS_twt coverage are dominated by "kpop columnists" whose niche careers rely on heralding an ever-imminent kpop wave, often resulting in various semantics gymnastics to dilute BTS' impact & falsely equate them with other acts.

I don't want puff pieces or pieces that read like paid marketing copy, I want journalism. But of course not all outlets are built to encourage journalistic depth or integrity. Seems like many journalists are underpaid, overworked & have limited access - not a recipe for quality.

I know I can't reasonably expect an author to come to a piece, or even emerge from it, with ARMY-level insight. I don't "cancel" outlets or journalists for a genuine misunderstanding. But a pattern of baiting, bias, racism, microaggressions, and/or gross inaccuracy? Deserved.

Now for the reality: what I look for in @BTS_twt coverage is irrelevant. I'm only one of millions, and we are far from a monolith. And while I'll boost quality coverage and weigh in critically on coverage at times, I'm not likely to be the loudest one in a journalist's mentions.

There are many like me. But there are also those consuming BTS content who *only* want puff pieces that read like press releases. There are also those who are counting every line about each member, microanalyzing every word choice, and refusing to acknowledge nuance or context.

Many have no idea how to engage with media and they do not care about consequences to the band, the fandom, the outlet, or the journalist. The nastiest among us come out, even if we don’t claim them, and then this loud minority is wrongly used as evidence of our mass mentality.

I've watched, horrified, as these hordes of extremists descend on unwitting journalists who've written a quality piece that in some cases was even boosted by the band/label themselves, for the most trivial reasons that don't even make any logical sense or warrant a response.

This is not to be confused with thoughtful, critical analysis - which ARMY also engages in, in large numbers. We'll call out lack of journalistic integrity & ask for clarification.

But even these sincere exchanges can be co-opted by bad actors & prevent meaningful conversations.

I can see the immediate effects, and imagine the possible long term results on @BTS_twt coverage. But like OP, I have more questions & observations than concrete answers. And I can't speak for celebs, or even for ARMY. Ultimately, I can't control anyone but myself in this space.

ARMY has been attempting to have meaningful conversations on these topics for several yrs while trying to navigate media spaces w/our large numbers. It's only gotten more challenging as we grow; even a small percentage of us represents tens of thousands. https://twitter.com/tony_ganzer/status/1026549427849191424?s=20

Luckily, BTS & their team seem to understand the mechanisms of their enormous worldwide ARMY & choose to see the best in us. They also seem to understand what drives our core, & how extremist viewpoints don't represent us & shouldn't prevent BTS from receiving objective coverage.

It does seem like writers who seek to please fandoms will be doomed to fail. Even the most skilled & well-intentioned among them will be trolled. And even if a piece holds up well to journalistic scrutiny or is well received by a fandom generally, there's no guarantees. :/

But maybe there's small consolation at the end of the day that if your piece was grounded in principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, & public accountability, then you did your job as a journalist & that in itself, is inherently highly valuable.

Trolls, and their very real consequences, is a shared fear for all of us. I see BTS as one of the most unique & deep dive-worthy artists of this generation & I want brilliant & fair-minded writers, voices from all over different parts of the industry, covering them. Without fear.