Yesterday, we discussed the shortlist for Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Taylor Swift was the sole entertainer on the list, and I theorized that this was really not the year that Time would make an entertainer their POTY. And I was right. Time announced their POTY and it’s “The Ebola Fighters.” They’re doing multiple covers to highlight the work of many different people (the header image is a compilation by Time). You can see Time’s “Ebola Fighter” package here. Just FYI: that link is an auto-play video.
#2 on Time’s People of the Year list: the Ferguson protesters. Vladimir Putin got the #3 position. Massoud Barzani, the leader of Iraqi Kurdistan, is #4. And Jack Ma, the chairman of Alibaba, is #5. NO TAYLOR SWIFT? She didn’t even make the top five!
Anyway, I can’t really argue with Time’s decision. Time is a global brand and their POTY is usually someone with a larger profile internationally, not just in America. The Ebola crisis was a huge international story and I look forward to reading the profiles of the Ebola Fighters.
Covers courtesy of Time Magazine, WENN.
Great choice! I was dreading Taylor Swift would appear anywhere on that page! Phew!!
Phew indeed!
Indeed Phew! also a sigh of relief that Time decided to not just highlight the”good white folk helping out” the shameful way NBC and Other media Outlets kept salivating behind that mess but the actual every day Locals in the trenches
Do they release the short list with bogus names just to generate buzz? Serious question. I mean in this media market, that’s a fair marketing ploy to get attention.
I donated money to help fight Ebola, so I humbly accept this award. Thank you, thank you very much.
But seriously I’m glad the courageous people on the frontline are receiving the recognition they deserve.
so relieved T. Swift is not on there. When I see all the other high-profile names, having a performer would’ve just been…idk, kind of cheesy.
Why would Taylor Swift even be considered in the first place? She did nothing truly newsworthy this year.
she was the only female in music history to bump herself out of number one on some music chart (sales, or Billboard, I am not sure). She also has the only platinum album of the whole year. When you consider the challenge that females have in the music industry, that isn’t nothing truly newsworthy. Is it Time person of the year worthy? Not when you have truly impactful people doing great things that should be recognized.
Good job Time! Now I am actually looking forward yo reading this issue.
+1
Yes good choices.
Excellent choice. Those people are heroes.
This. I was really hoping for them. I get why Ferguson was second, but unfortunately, those that were violent and looting and lighting fires would have taken it as a ‘good job guys’. Those that protested peacefully – I have all the respect for.
Ebola though – man. I can’t imagine having to go into such a dire situation, put your life on the line like that and do whatever you can for the good of the world. Truly brave.
Wow someone got their act together and gave us some interesting /good choices.
What? No SOPHIE? The comets will freeze in their orbits. The octopi and otters will drown. The only thing that could be worse than this news today would be if Sophie’s fiance doesn’t get a SAG nom.
Crisis averted!
All excellent choices, even Putin. He’s not a good person, (yes, quite the understatement) but he did play a major role in world events throughout the year.
Good call.
Trues heroes. Here in the US it’s easy to forget those who are working on the front lines who are risking their lives every day in the face of this horrific epidemic. So glad they are being recognized in this way.
Me, too. I wish I thought I would have the courage to do that, but I honestly don’t think I would. They are true heroes.
I wish you had more stories like this, and less of swifty,,waity, and…gasp…Angelina . You have a great team of writers and it be nice to see your site evolve a little. Everyone’s a critic sorry.
To be honest, I really really wouldn’t want that. If I want news or “serious” reporting from the frontlines, I’ll go elsewhere. When I come here, I want to forget about all of that for a few minutes and just indulge in gossip. There are always stories in the entertainment world that will turn my stomach – like the Cosby mess – and that’s enough for me.
Time chose wisely, I’m pleasantly surprised (which in itself is probably not that great).
There are plenty of hard news sites. Celebitchy is about escapism. I admire that they cover serious matters in celebrity news with intelligence and sensitivity, but I read it because of the humor.
LOL!
I don’t want Celebitchy to change! As was said above, there are tons of sites to get newsy news. Granted there are tons of gossip sites, too, but this one is so much better than most with great regular folks who comment in ways that make me laugh. As Billy Joel said…”Don’t go changin’…”
I agree with everyone else, good choices and keeps the spotlight on some very important issues.
If #blacklivesmatter this was the absolute right call.
Well done, Time! I was worried they would make it Swifty, which would have earned them a collective “Really?”. Highlighting Ebola makes it truly a global concern, instead of just an African problem.
The Ebola fighters deserve this honor. They’re out there saving lives while helping finally wake white people up to this place called Africa.
Meanwhile, many of these “protesters” were jerks causing destruction for some kid they barely cared about.
I live in St. Louis and will wait to read the article as to why the protestors were chosen. I would totally agree if the protestors go a step further and try to make some changes in the laws and in procedures. But at this point all that has been done is protesting and I do not see any significant changes being sought (yes, they say they want changes, but are they actually doing something, other than protesting, to make those changes).
Protesting is sometimes the first step in change. It says to the power-elite that numbers know and care about what is happening. It’s asking for acknowledgement of problems.
I guess I just don’t understand exactly what these protestors are protesting. Yes it’s sad someone died. But follow police orders and you won’t get killed. Exactly what changes are you hoping policing will make? Pretty soon it’s going to turn into police can’t make any contact with black people because the cop is being racist:racist making contact, racist talking to people of color (what are you talking to me bc I’m black?), racist ordering people. And before y’all judge (¬ that it should matter in a world where there should be no labels) I’m a person of color.
@kiddo, I agree that protesting is the first step and support the peaceful protesting, but I want to see the next step taken otherwise the protesting means nothing. AND I hope the news media gives that next step as much publicity as it did all the rioting and looting.
Emir, that’s not true. Akai Gurley wasn’t suspected of any crime and was shot in a hallway by a trigger happy cop. The problem arises from the perception of black people by cops. Blacks are seen as inherently more dangerous and police handle black cases in a much more aggressive way than they do whites.
@Emir. There are things always things that can be changed. They put cameras in the cars so that both the public and the police are protected when stops are made. Maybe, police should be wearing cameras on their person to help in situations like these. There was so many conflicting reports as to what happened and that just fueled the fire more. I agree, follow what you are told to do and nothing will happen. But unfortunately there will always be someone (no matter what race they are) who will not follow what they are told to do and more incidents like this will happen. @kiddo, totally agree with you on the perception of blacks being seen as more dangerous.
Swack, it’s not that simple. Different standards of doing as you are told are applied to different races.
@kiddo, maybe I should have worded that, and nothing SHOULD happen. We know that is not always true (that nothing happens). My bad on the wording.
“But follow police orders and you won’t get killed”
Unfortunately, that isn’t true, especially if you are a minority. There are too many examples to cover them all, but I will start with the gentleman that was pulled over for speeding. Was asked to get out of his car, he did. The officer asked him to get his driver’s license, and as he did so, the officer started shooting at him because he feared a gun that didn’t exist. This is on video. If only people could follow police orders and still not get shot, that would be wonderful.
@ Emir ” But follow police orders and you won’t get killed”
Really so America is now a police state ? why don’t we just get rid of the justice system and let police be judge jury and executioner
Execute anyone (by that I mean black people ) on the spot for any even perceived infraction or who dares not to bow to their authority ….Im so done
No actually, not “many protesters” but VERY FEW protesters were out there looting. In fact, out of the thousands of protesters we had in Boston for days at a time, there was no damage to public property whatsoever.
Have you ever heard the term “crime of opportunity”?
Criminals exploit protests in order to steal and loot. They know the police force is tied up and distracted, so they use that as an opportunity to rob businesses. They have NOTHING to do with the people who were out there peacefully protesting every day so please do not get it twisted.
Thanks Kitten for doing it so I didnt have to… all I’d add to this is that .. uh They are protesting the systemic treatment the police give black citizens of the area? the daily harassment with impunity? the Broken Windows style policing? The Militarized tone deaf response when transparency is requested??
I also agree that it was very few doing the looting.
I think maybe TIME should have said ‘#2 goes to the peaceful protesters of Ferguson”, clearly not including everyone down here. I love close to this and THOUSANDS of people were doing the wrong kind of protesting. Including the now famous video, of Browns step father screaming, “burn it to the ground-burn everything”. This was seconds after the verdict was announced. I don’t know of many people were aware of this fact, but the protesters set lots of buildings on fire then SHOT guns at the first responders?!? That’s discusting! TIME should have worded it a little better. That’s all.
Well said, Kitten. I really disagree with the idea that peaceful protestors are also responsible for the actions of the looters. The peaceful protestors outnumbered the looters MANY times over.
Additionally, the “shots” heard in regards the firefighters….news reporters on the scene first said that when the beauty supply store went up in flames, that aerosol cans of hair products (like hairspray) were exploding in the building, and it sounded like gun shots. The reporter I saw was standing directly outside of the beauty supply store, and I saw this happen in real time. This statement about the exploding products sounding like gun fire was then revised by other news channels as “gun shots were fired at fire fighters”. I have yet to see any evidence that it was actually gun fire. I am still undecided on if there was actually gun fire.
Peaceful protesters were subjected to military style guns pointed at them while they were peacefully protesting.
http://mashable.com/2014/08/29/ferguson-officer-go-fuck-yourself-resigns/
I agree that the peaceful protestors can’t be held responsible for the non-peaceful protestors. I also agree that looting and setting fires is not the way to get to change, and that some people are just exploiting the situation for their own gain. Violence is never the answer, so don’t take this the wrong way, but on some level, I understand the frustration that might lead a person to violence in this situation. Something evil is happening with all of these unarmed black men and even children getting killed and it doesn’t feel like anybody is really listening. Again, not condoning the violence, but I understand the anger.
I actually think it’s illegal for the protestors to block street and traffic. But whatever. It’s obvious everyone believes cops are bad. I only wish that when you call cops for help they could read exactly what you wrote about them and reply accordingly. But they won’t because (most) are better people than you or me.
@Kiddo seriously?!?!?! What a stereotype and a gross generalization “Blacks are seen as inherently more dangerous and police handle black cases in a much more aggressive way than they do whites.” My white husband is a cop. And he’s NOT racist. Please I dare you tell him he’s racist. Where’s your facts showing that cops handle blacks differently than they do other races. Don’t assume that all police have the gross views you do.
Great choice. I have a friend over there, she’s a psychiatric nurse practitioner, with a husband and young daughter at home. She says “Our mission is providing hope through care of healthcare workers in Liberia who may have the Ebola Virus Disease…” I’m incredibly moved by her bravery and by how positive she remains.
agree with all comments through back
ps: the girl on the cover is beautiful ; he clears his face a ganda nobility
Love all their choices but Putin… though I do agree he has a high profile.
I agree. He is currently in a really bad position with their economy and the dropping price of oil. I think Angela Merkel would have been a better choice.
I don’t keep up with a lot of international news, but reading the article on Jack Ma and Alibaba was very interesting. I admit, I only read about half of the article because all the business stuff made my eyes spin, but still, very interesting!
Taylor Swift was not a ‘serious’ contender; she was put on the list to get the list PR. Would you have paid attention otherwise?
Thank GOD someone at Time still has sense!
I think the Ebola fighters were a great choice, and I like the fact that Time featured locals on the ground helping their own friends and neighbors. All the people working to help Ebola sufferers have true courage.
Putin’s a bad guy, but he does belong on the list.
I don’t think the Ferguson protestors belong on the list, and I don’t think they’d be there if the decision had happened in April instead of November. They haven’t influenced world events, and the protests have brought very few concrete suggestions for change. (Body cameras, unfortunately, would not have helped Mr. Garner; his death was captured on video and the police officer was still not indicted.)
I’m afraid Mr. Brown and Mr. Garner’s deaths, along with Trayvon Martin’s, will be forgotten within a few years, like many previous victims of police brutality. Personally, I’d like to see the protesters turn their energies to a giant voter-registration drive, so people in Ferguson and elsewhere could elect a more representative city government.
The protestors in Ferguson were catalysts for other protests around the country.
I whole heartedly agree!
Time did this right. The most deserving people got this award. 🙂