Podcast Summary: "Future of News with Tara Palmeri, Don Lemon & Ben Shapiro at Reuters Next Conference"

Podcast: The Tara Palmeri Show
Host/Panelist: Tara Palmeri
Co-Panelists: Don Lemon, Ben Shapiro, David Pakman
Moderator: Mitali Mukherjee (Reuters Institute for Journalism)
Date: December 3, 2025
Theme: How creators and influencers are reshaping journalism and the future of news

Overview

This panel at the Reuters Next Conference explores the seismic shift in journalism as audiences move from traditional media to independent content creators. Tara Palmeri (independent journalist), Don Lemon (former CNN anchor now creator), Ben Shapiro (Daily Wire), and David Pakman (The David Pakman Show) join moderator Mitali Mukherjee to dissect trust, accountability, authenticity, polarization, and the evolving business of news in an era dominated by social media and creator platforms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shifting from Legacy Media to Creator Platforms

• Tara Palmeri shares her journey from major newsrooms to an independent, multiplatform journalism model:

  • "I am now chasing the audience because the audience is no longer watching television anymore. They are on their phones, they're watching YouTube, they're on Instagram, they're on TikTok." ([04:32])
  • She emphasizes applying the rigor of traditional investigative journalism while maximizing the authenticity and direct audience engagement afforded by creator platforms.

• Ben Shapiro discusses how The Daily Wire grew from a small creator project to a major conservative brand, blending news and commentary:

  • "Our audience understands who we are... The news is refracted through a prism of our values. And again, I try to be very clear in my own show between what is fact and what is my opinion." ([06:37])

• Don Lemon explains his post-CNN pivot and the importance of direct, authentic connection:

  • "I got pushed out of mainstream media... So what I'm doing is I'm going where the audience is and the audience is right here on this device." ([08:12])
  • "People want personality now. They're not getting news from a brand... They're coming for people who are authentic, people they trust." ([08:58])

2. The Role of Authenticity and Trust

• On Authenticity:

  • All panelists stress authenticity as essential, but note it’s no replacement for credibility.
  • Ben Shapiro: "There are lots and lots of people on the Internet who are authentic and who are absolutely non credible and spew bullshit all the time... our duty... is actually higher [in this space]." ([14:27])
  • Tara Palmeri highlights showing process and being real as ways to rebuild trust: "Using creator platforms now... authenticity... showing of the process, talking through with the audience... has really worked to rebuild trust." ([04:32])

• On Journalistic Standards:

  • Tara Palmeri: "I could apply the same rigor of investigative journalism analysis, just seeking the truth…rather than politics commentary, you know, identity." ([04:32])
  • Ben Shapiro and Don Lemon both discuss calling out their own “sides” when necessary, prioritizing truth over pandering to their bases.

3. Business, Technology, and Audience Evolution

• Platform Shifts:

  • Video has become indispensable, with both live and low-fi setups now accepted as credible.
  • Don Lemon: "My channel started to grow when I put on a sweatshirt and sat in front of my fireplace...not at them, but kind of with them and taking the comments..." ([11:13])

• Demographics:

  • Don Lemon: "My audience is heavily women...60% women, maybe even 70%..." ([13:08])
  • Tara Palmeri: Notes surprisingly large male audience for her political content ([30:16]).

4. Polarization, Algorithms, and Power

• On Polarization:

  • Ben Shapiro: "The algorithms are destroying America... TikTok and X algorithms program for virality... that can be manipulated by outside actors." ([23:06])
  • Real world opinions are being shaped directly by what's viral rather than by actual consensus or facts.

• Tips for Consumers:

  • Ben Shapiro: "Get offline. Like actually turn off your phone... Everybody needs a form of Sabbath." ([23:27])
  • Don Lemon: Advocates for moderation: "You can be informed without being inundated...turn the TV off...and read and pick your moments." ([25:04])

5. Gender and Representation in News Creation

• Moderator: Highlights the male-dominated nature of high-profile political news creators.
• Tara Palmeri: "I just don't think there are as many women doing this yet...I hope to one day be a model for other women who want to do this." ([29:50])
• Don Lemon: Notes more independent women news creators are seen outside the U.S., and predicts this will soon shift domestically. ([31:10])

6. Challenges: Monetization, Burnout, and Independence

• David Pakman: Describes the grind: "It's a treadmill...do everything yourself...or take on a structure more corporate...as legacy media comes into creator spaces, pie-sharing will get more competitive." ([32:44])
• Don Lemon: "We support each other...Tara's on my channel all the time...we support each other...it's scrappy." ([34:07])
• Ben Shapiro: On the toll: "I have not missed a day of work that was not a company holiday in four years..." ([36:30])
• All agree: Scaling comes with traditional challenges—editorial standards, burnout, and the need for support and infrastructure.

7. Are Creators Just "Remixers"?

• David Pakman: "Yes, absolutely. But I see that as a feature rather than a bug...we're layering opinion hopefully in an authentic and genuine way." ([38:32])
• Ben Shapiro: "Obviously we're not the ones who are doing a lot of the core reporting...spotting a buried lead...I think that is a real service..." ([40:07])
• Tara Palmeri: "I still think about what I can offer that's new, that hasn't been reported...some days it's reporting, some days analysis, but all based on calls, sources, and trying to break stories." ([41:34])

8. Advice for Legacy Media

• David Pakman: "Start creating content right away...get the content onto the platforms...start getting feedback, iterate." ([39:01])
• Don Lemon: "Perfection is boring...don't let perfect be the enemy of the good...have integrity." ([39:24])
• Ben Shapiro: "Acknowledge your bias...all the errors fall in the same direction...If all the errors are going in one direction...we start to doubt that you're telling us the truth." ([40:07])
• Don Lemon: "For the corporation to get out of the newsroom...The problem is not with the journalists, it's with the gatekeepers...if they are filtering...the game is over." ([43:19])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Tara Palmeri [04:32]:

  "I felt that I could apply the same rigor of investigative journalism analysis, just seeking the truth and that being my guiding force and light in this rather than politics commentary..."

• Ben Shapiro [14:27]:

  "The problem with authenticity is that it is not really a substitute for credibility..."

• Don Lemon [08:58]:

  "People want personality now... They want to get their information from people they like and trust without all the filters."

• Ben Shapiro [23:06]:

  "Yeah, the algorithms are destroying America. This is my informed view."

• Tara Palmeri [18:07]:

  "You can chase an audience and you can tell them exactly what they want to hear, but is that...ethical? Not to me."

• Don Lemon [34:07]:

  "It's interesting because I would look at the folks on other networks when I was in traditional media as competitors, but...we support each other."

• Ben Shapiro [40:07]:

  "Acknowledge your bias...the number one critique of legacy media from the right...all the errors fall in the same direction."

Timestamps for Segment Highlights

• [04:32] – Tara Palmeri on her shift to creator-led journalism
• [06:37] – Ben Shapiro on values-driven reporting and audience trust
• [08:58] – Don Lemon on authenticity and audience migration
• [14:27] – Ben Shapiro on the limits and duties of "authenticity"
• [18:07] – Tara Palmeri and Don Lemon on not pandering and staying ethical, even when tempting to please the audience
• [23:06] – Ben Shapiro and Don Lemon on the dangers of algorithms and the advice to "get offline"
• [29:50] – Tara Palmeri on gender disparity in independent news creation
• [32:44] – David Pakman on business/creative challenges for independent creators
• [36:30] – Ben Shapiro on burnout and scaling
• [38:32] – Panel on remixing and the unique roles of creators vs. legacy journalists
• [40:07] – Advice for legacy media

Episode Takeaways

• Independent news creators are increasingly trusted sources, especially among younger audiences.
• Authenticity and direct engagement are valued, but credibility and journalistic rigor remain crucial.
• The industry is grappling with polarization, platform-driven incentives, and the responsibilities of growing influence.
• While the right has dominated new content spaces due to exclusion from legacy platforms, the left is catching up, albeit slowly, hindered by less funding and slower institutional adaptation.
• Challenges remain: creative burnout, monetization pressure, gender imbalance, and the entry of corporate players into creator spaces.
• Key advice: Start creating, be transparent, don’t let perfection hold you back, and value independence and integrity.

Final Thoughts

This lively panel underscores that the lines between journalist, creator, and influencer are blurring, with the future of news shaped as much by individual voices and their communities as by historic newsroom brands. The biggest differentiators remain integrity, openness about bias, and the willingness to adapt to wherever audiences – and the truth – may go.