(Mediate) – At long last, we have arrived at the end of 2016, a journey into often surreal political worlds most of us would have thought too fantastical to believe. To be sure, the vicious, often bizarre, presidential election that transfixed the globe ran through our newsrooms, TV studios, and production offices before it was transmitted to the world. And those messengers became as much the story this year as the political messages themselves. So this year our list of Most Influential List of People in News Media will be more relevant and controversial than ever. We often chose the people here based on how relevant they were in the Mediaite world while also attempting to include a handful whose names you might not know but who were instrumental in helping to shape the coverage behind the scenes. This is certainly not an exhaustive list and there are many stars we were not able to include. But we gave it a shot and ranked the top 25 — in order of influence according to our editors — followed by the “Just as Influential as the Rest” of 52 additional names which include some of the biggest household names in the business. Let us know what you think. Of course, you always do.
Here are the Top 25 (in reverse order from # 25 to our #1 Most Influential)
#25 John Oliver, Host
John Oliver piloted his Last Week Tonight through its first presidential cycle with aplomb, wit, and his former boss’s unyielding allergy to B.S. With the freedom to take the long view of the news, he presided over a feast of lucid, hilarious deep dives into matters of public interest too often overlooked. As surely as he mocked the media cycle, he drove it too: No Monday morning was complete without an explosion of “John Oliver Eviscerates This” and “John Oliver Smashes That” recaps. His was and remains the Sunday show that delivers the punchline to every other Sunday show.
#24 Martha Raddatz, ABC Chief Global Affairs Correspondent
ABC’s Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz had a standout year as she helped steer the network’s political coverage for the 2016 election. This year, she was also named co-anchor with George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s Sunday staple “This Week” where she consistently made headlines for her tough questioning of guests on both sides of the political aisle. Raddatz was universally praised for her sharp, incisive and pointed questions when she moderated a debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in October. The ABC veteran has a storied career fearlessly covering the White House, foreign affairs, especially the Middle East. Her expertise in foreign policy and her commitment to nitty gritty reporting was a much needed reprieve in an election fraught with political mud slinging.
#23 Jorge Ramos, Univison Anchor
In late 2015, when most media figures covered Trump’s campaign with a posture of charmed exasperation, Univision’s Jorge Ramos stood out for refusing to treat the candidate like a joke. “How are you going to build a wall?” he asked Trump in August 2015, before grilling the reality TV candidate for five minutes on his plans to deport undocumented residents, his proposed border barrier, and his stance on birthright citizenship. (As a reward for his persistence, Trump kicked Ramos out of the press conference.) Considering the scope of Trump’s campaign and the nationalist movement that elevated him, Ramos said, not without controversy, that for journalists, “Neutrality was not an option.” It took some time for the media to take Trump seriously, but Ramos was leading the charge.
#22 Don Lemon, CNN Anchor
The host of CNN Tonight enjoyed arguably the most successful year in his career, spurred on by nightly coverage and commentary of the 2016 race with often divisive and provocative panels. Whether he was overseeing the newest blow up between Trump supporters and passionate #NeverTrump conservatives or moderating a heated conversation about law enforcement in our communities, Lemon’s effort to expose a different layer in every conversation was key. Lemon’s contribution to the 2016 storyline was never just about the debates on his program; he often found himself at the center of the storm, earning the honorific from the GOP nominee himself of “lightweight” after Lemon challenged one of Trump’s supporters’ most outlandish claims. Lemon said during the scrap, “I have two ears and I have two eyes… I’m not stupid,” Lemon even became a part of the story this summer in the intense aftermath of a tragedy in his native Louisiana where three police officers lost their lives, sparring with Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke over the intersection of race, law enforcement, and Black Lives Matter. Don Lemon was a staple of CNN’s coverage for every nominating convention, debate, and nationally televised town hall, easily establishing himself as one of the biggest stars of 2016.
#21 Tucker Carlson, Fox Anchor
Few cable newsers can say they have hosted programs on CNN, MSNBC, AND Fox News. But with the debut of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News in November, the eponymous host has achieved that impressive feat. He’s already had a few viral hits taking on liberal guests, and it’s in environments like those, when he is up against someone telling him he’s dead wrong, where Carlson truly thrives. He is also one of the few media figures to thrive both on television and digital. Up until recently (when he got the Fox hosting job), Carlson was the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Daily Caller, a popular website he co-founded in 2011 as a conservative alternative to places like The Huffington Post. The Daily Caller has a vast and loyal audience and gets tens of millions of views every month. Like Drudge, the website frequently dictated the election’s top issues and controversies making Carlson a double threat.
#20 Robin Roberts, ABC Anchor
In a year where media personalities were vilified, Robin Roberts remains one of the most popular people in America much less on network news. She is also one of the most trusted, according to a recent Reader Digest Survey. Earlier this year, she scored an exclusive sit-down interview with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. She also launched her own podcast based on her new book, Everybody’s Got Something, and manages to continue to help Good Morning America to ratings success. In a highly charged and emotional political season, Roberts stood out as the voice of reason as she attempted to parse through and stay above, the regular spin of the politicos that appeared on her morning program.
#19 Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, Co-Presidents of Fox News
Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy are Co-Presidents of FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network. They took the reigns in August of 2016, after Roger Ailes resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment. Abernethy is also the CEO of Fox Television Studios. They both report to Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of 21st Century Fox. This November under their leadership, FOX News had its most-watched month since 2012. Additionally, as of November’s ratings, FOX had defeated every other basic cable network 14 weeks in a row, setting a record. Shine and Abernethy have had the tough task of not only leading the team through a tumultuous presidential race, but also trying to unite a news organization splintered by internal conflicts caused by the outgoing CEO. They, and the network they lead, have emerged as major winners.
#18 Jesse Angelo, CEO and Publisher New York Post
If there’s one thing that the New York Post delivered over and over again this election cycle, it’s their must-see daily covers that often skewered some element of the presidential race. The admittedly right-leaning property of News Corp. has been helmed by Jesse Angelo, the CEO and Publisher of the Post, who joined the paper in 1999 and took over running it in 2012. While Angelo, who has long been close with the Murdochs, may not be a household name, his influence should not be underestimated. From gossip leader Page Six (run by Emily Smith), which has been breaking more and more political stories about Trump, to its conservative commentaries, the Post has been the number one seller on newsstands in New York. And its digital footprint is now finally the force it deserves to be and Angelo is the quiet hand guiding it behind the scenes. The Post Digital Network comScore average for 3 months (Aug-October) ranks in at a huge 39.3 million. Being in the New York Post may not always be a good thing but it definitely matters and so does its leader.
#17 Rachel Maddow, MSNBC Anchor
Rachel Maddow may be the single most important liberal voice in America. Yes there are certainly a few print columnists who may get quoted more but five days a week, Maddow leads the charge for liberals and against what she often sees as the dangers and hypocrisy of the Republican establishment (and, of course, Donald Trump). Her commentaries are well researched, thought provoking and often newsworthy. Maddow also has the highest rated show on MSNBC which across the board has seen significant bumps in prime-time numbers and audience growth. Throughout the 2016 election, Maddow alternated between the thoughtful left-leaning commentary of her show, and providing live coverage on some the biggest moments of the year. Whether she’s addressing national security, international politics or the changing nature of political discourse, Maddow will remain a prominent fact checker and critic of the incoming administration.
#16 Murdoch Family
The Murdoch family oversees a lot more than just news but with the ouster of Roger Ailes, they suddenly took on a major, hands on, role at Fox News as well. With Fox remaining atop the cable news ratings, an attack on a leading Fox anchor by the eventual President-elect, and what sometimes feels like a civil war inside the halls of Fox, Rupert, Lachlan and James Murdoch certainly had their work cut out for them. But despite all the turmoil, they managed to settle lawsuits, sideline Ailes and generally keep the peace during a tumultuous and what could have been existential threat for Fox News. Instead they have emerged on the other side with Fox retaining its power and influence and the Murdoch family credited with adeptly handling a tough situation as well as any leaders could have.
#15 Katy Tur, MSNBC Anchor
If you paid even a little bit of attention to the 2016 election, you became familiar with name Katy Tur. The NBC/MSNBC reporter was working in London but covered Donald Trump’s campaign announcement during a stint back home in the States. From there, she was thrown into a year-and-a-half project that saw her covering his every move — and him “covering” her back. She dominated MSNBC’s election coverage along with fellow rising star road warriors Hallie Jackson, Kasie Hunt, Jacob Soboroff, and Kristen Welker. The real estate mogul commonly called Tur out by name, critiquing her reporting on him and causing his supporters to turn against her specifically. The intense focus on her led to a solidarity movement known as #ImWithTur. If you watch even a little of the unflinching work she continued to do, even after the attacks on her began, you’ll be with her, too.
#14 David Fahrenthold, Washington Post Reporter
While investigating Donald Trump’s philanthropic giving (or lack thereof), the Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold was really doing charity work for those who care about investigative reporting. His tweets about the Trump Foundation regularly became morning show news headlines. Most recently, Fahrenthold broke a story about how the Trump Foundation admitted to violating a ban on self-dealing in a new IRS filing. His reporting got instant results including leading Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to suspend the foundation’s charitable activities in New York. The Poytner Institute called him “one of the journalism stars of the 2016 campaign.” Most notably, on October 7, Fahrenthold broke news of the scandalous 2005 Access Hollywood video recording that contained crude remarks from the then Republican presidential nominee. The newspaper said that became “the most concurrently viewed article in the history of The Post’s website.” He proved to be a reporter’s reporter and has set the bar for others in the field.
#13 Jake Trapper, CNN Anchor
Jake Tapper who hosts both The Lead and State of the Union on CNN, has long landed atop many Mediaite lists and 2016 was no exception. His even-handed, smart interviews and commentary with Democratic and Republican politicians alike cemented his reputation as a relentless truth-seeker. During one interview with the now President-elect Donald Trump, Tapper repeatedly asked him about his racial attacks on the judge who was to be presiding over his Trump University fraud case-only stopping when Trump had finally answered the question (and made news). On another occasion, he slammed Donna Brazile, formerly of CNN for her part in the leaking of debate questions to Hillary Clinton. Most recently, he sparred with Michael Flynn, Jr. in Twitter direct messages, saying his tweet was “wildly irresponsible” after he continued to peddle conspiracy theories about #PizzaGate following a shooting at a D.C. pizzeria. He contributed to CNN’s October ratings, when for the first time in 15 years CNN edged FOX News in both total day and primetime demos, by being the No. 1 program in his time slot for that month.
#12 Chuck Todd, MSNBC/NBC Host
When Chuck Todd talks, politicos listen. That could be part of the reason that this Meet The Press host was given a daily extension of his program to air weekdays for MSNBC in the lead-up to the crucial election. Todd’s take on the day’s top headlines and the key political information he presents each day made for must-watch political television. Even though Chuck Todd is known as one of the network’s most down-the-middle steady hands, he isn’t without his own fair share of controversy; at times during the 2016 cycle, his influence was demonstrated by becoming a target of Donald Trump, who regularly took to social media to slam the Meet The Press host as “sleepy eyes” when his interviews got too tough. He regularly grilled the top newsmakers in the worlds of politics and media, and took an unflappable bipartisan approach when it mattered most. As controversies rocked both campaigns in the final stretch, Chuck Todd reliably held their feet to the fire at every turn, making Meet The Press as important a political show on TV as any other in 2016.
#11 Joe Scarborough, MSNBC Host
Ask any political influencer, of either party, which media figures they watch or follow and it would be shocking if Joe Scarborough was not at, or near, the top of all lists. When this former GOP Congressman talks, people listen; in fact, the spirited national debate over whether Joe (and Mika) were too cozy with Trump at times demonstrates just how important Joe’s opinions can be. His relationship with the President-elect — at times just as noteworthy as Trump himself — was a back and forth that unfolded in front of a national audience. At times, Scarborough was supportive of Trump when most others in the media “elite” gave him no chance of victory; at the same time, Scarborough could pivot and be vicious in a takedown of the controversial candidate. He also knew how to spar with other newsmakers; he famously shut off Florida Governor Rick Scott’s microphone during a heated fight about immigration in America. His ongoing feud of sorts with the CNN Money team has made for additional fourth estate headlines in last year, proving again that there is no fight he will back down from. Joe Scarborough is once again an easy selection to our list of Most Influential in News Media.
#10 Chris Cuomo, CNN Anchor
Chris Cuomo became a standout as the co-anchor of CNN’s morning show New Day during the 2016 election known for his tenacious, often newsworthy interviews . His epic 32-minute debate with Rudy Giuliani about Donald Trump became legendary and his meticulous preparation for interviews didn’t go unnoticed. As politicos tried to spin from both sides of the political aisle, Cuomo makes a point of trying to steer the interviews back on track, and get the pundits to stick to the facts (which was often hard to do). In November, his show with co-host Alisyn Camerota had its best ever month and topped MSNBC’s Morning Joe among adults in the key 25 to 54 demo. He is also a force on Twitter where he corresponds and debates with his 1.15 million followers on a regular basis.
#9 George Stephanopoulos,ABC Host
In a busy election year, George Stephanopolous juggled three major roles at ABC including Chief Political Correspondent, co-host of the networks’s Sunday morning program, This Week, and co-anchor of Good Morning America. His pointed interviews every Sunday consistently made headlines on Mediaite — and beyond. The veteran journalist relentlessly pressed Donald Trump throughout the election season on his campaign fabrications including most recently the president-elect’s insistence (without a shred of evidence) that millions voted “illegally” for Hillary Clinton. Despite controversy about his ties to the Clintons, Stephanopolous often proved to be equally tough on Clinton surrogates who appeared on both GMA and This Week. No matter what one thinks of his political background, regular interviews with “George” became must dos on the 2016 campaign trail and they rarely disappointed.
#8 Chris Wallace, Fox Host
Chris Wallace has been in broadcast for more than 50 years and has covered almost every major political event for FOX News in his 13 years there, including an exclusive interview with President Barack Obama this year, the President’s first interview on FOX News since 2014. Maybe most relevant this year, he gained nationwide praise for his extraordinary handling of the last debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. One usually tough critic wrote, “Chris Wallace delivered a sterling performance” saying he maintained “order and focusing on substantive issues that matter to American voters.” Yes, actual issues. During a hectic election year, Wallace proved to be an important voice of reason and calm.
#7 Mika Brezezinski, MSNBC Host
The show may be called “Morning Joe” but make no mistake — Mika Brzezinski is every bit responsible for its success as her co-host. The MSNBC morning show is the definitive newsmakers for the “the influencers,” and you’d be hard pressed to find many journalists and elected officials in the Acela corridor who don’t watch for Brzezinski’s take every morning. Brzezinski once told Mediaite in an interview that “We say exactly what is on the edge of our tongues,” and in 2016 she proved it; from the time she slammed the Clinton Foundation as “sleazy” and “morally deficit” to when she blasted Trump’s Mexico trip as the height of “stupidity,” you can always count on “Morning Mika” to tell us how it is. Her unapologetic tenacity and sharp commentary are must-watch in the mornings, and her ability to make news led us to put Brzezinski even slightly above her co-host on this list. While Joe has his name on the show, without Mika that cup of Joe just doesn’t have the same kick.
#6 Andy Lack, Chairman NBC/MSNBC
2014 -2015 wasn’t the best of years for MSNBC, due to a combination of programming changes, staff departures from the network, and falling ratings behind Fox and CNN. After extended stints at Sony and Bloomberg, Lack returned to NBC News on the heels of the crisis involving Brian Williams, who was suspended after fabricating accounts. Since Lack returned to NBCUniversal and become chairman of NBC and MSNBC, the conglomerate has re-established itself. He canceled three daytime opinion based shows to make room for more straight news and politics, in an attempt to re-fashion the liberal leaning network at least during the daytime hours. Overseeing that much news programming makes him a major influencer regardless but third quarter ratings for MSNBC show an approximate growth of 84% in total viewership, and it’s prime-time numbers are now far more competitive than they have been in many years. This became especially visible in November when election coverage led the network to see a year-over-year total day growth that beat out it’s rivals. As shows like NBC Nightly News, Morning Joe and The Rachel Maddow Show continue to draw noteworthy audiences, it becomes clear that Lack’s leadership and direction has proved him to be a major, and positive, influence for the mega news operation he is overseeing.
#5 Sean Hannity, Fox News Host
Sean Hannity’s unapologetic commitment to Donald Trump both on Fox News and his nationally syndicated radio show, would certainly seem to have had a hand in boosting Trump to the presidency. Hannity’s passionate advocacy for Trump, despite a constant barrage of criticism, became a touchstone of the election cycle, and a sore spot for liberals. Throughout the campaign, Hannity was not shy about blasting the media for what he perceived as bias and unfair coverage of the Republican candidates, most especially Trump. In September, Hannity had the highest rated cable news show in the key demo beating out his colleagues Bill O’Reilly and Megyn Kelly. He recently traveled to Cincinnati where he interviewed President-Elect Trump and Vice President-Elect Mike Pence on his program. This was the first cable news interview Trump did since his victory and one of a number of interviews that Trump seems willing to give, only to Hannity. Expect Hannity to remain a media force throughout the Trump administration.
#4 Matt Drudge, The Drudge Report
“It’s on Drudge.” The fact that those simple three words carry so much weight in 2016 is a testament to the continued relevance of Matt Drudge and the Drudge Report. The direction Drudge has taken the site in the past year has been the subject of great debate within media circles, but the site (and Drudge himself) still possesses almost incomparable power to get people talking. During the 2016 election, the stories that Matt Drudge placed on his website undeniably shaped the direction of the public dialogue, and many believed help propel Donald Trump to the top of the GOP primary heap. Despite its somewhat archaic looking page layout, The Drudge Report saw record-traffic this election season moving into second place on Similar Web’s Top U.S. Media Publisher ranking in July, and finishing off in the third place with a record 1.7 billion combined page views for the month of October. And with Donald Trump poised to be sworn in January, you can bet that his enormous influence will not end here.
#3 Carolyn Ryan, The New York Times
Whether it wanted to be or not, the New York Times found itself as much a part of the story this last year as it did cover the story; to be sure, the Grey Lady was a favorite target on the campaign trail of one Mr. Donald Trump, and firmly leading the Times’ political coverage this year was Carolyn Ryan, Senior Politics Editor. From a digital perspective, the New York Times served as the definitive home for primary results and the moment-by-moment outcome on election night; following The Upshot’s consistent updates in real time was a must-see for countless of readers. Now that Trump has won, subscriptions have skyrocketed with many counting on The Times and its entire editorial team led by Dean Baquet to be the single most important force keeping the new President and his administration honest.
#2 Megyn Kelly, Fox News Host
When teenagers of the future study the 2016 presidential campaign in AP US History, Fox News Channel’s Kelly will certainly be one of the key figures they learn about. Like any good journalist, she was reluctant to become part of the story, but when she was attacked for months on end by Donald Trump and his supporters, she stood tall, refused to back down, and got a primetime special and status as a household name out of it. The queen of cable news continued to rocket up the charts in every measurable way, achieving high ratings for her evening show while expanding her brand in unconventional ways, like hosting ABC’s Live! morning show and responding with grace to some colleagues’ jabs. Somewhere in between all of that, Kelly found time to write and promote a tell-all book. 2016 was her year and she’s not going anywhere. (Well, there’s been speculation she could be heading to another channel sometime soon, but isn’t an influx of tabloid rumors the surest sign that someone has made it after all?) Wherever she lands, expect Kelly to remain one of the top media forces for years to come.
#1 Jeff Zucker, CNN President
Love him or hate him, no media entity and /or person was discussed more throughout this election cycle than CNN and its President Jeff Zucker. Unlike some leaders or figureheads, Zucker, is painstakingly involved with daily coverage and the entire tone of CNN coverage comes directly from the network President. He has been blamed, depending on your point of view, for both helping to elect Trump or for leading the effort to bring him down. The President-Elect has called CNN “unwatchable” on Twitter, and repeatedly claimed that Zucker was failing. Yet at recent Harvard University forum, the former Today Executive Producer and NBCU chief was heckled for giving Trump too much unchallenged air time and many who despise Trump criticized his decision to hire former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowsi. Whatever one thinks, under his leadership, the network has seen enormous ratings gains in just about every category and CNN often became the standard bearer for the “media” throughout the campaign. Jeff Zucker is back on top and according to John Martin, CEO of Turner Broadcasting, “CNN is going to have a record year in terms of revenues and profits.”
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