Professor Jason Turcotte, chair of the communication department, warns that political candidates who prioritize influencers over traditional news interviews risk weakening public scrutiny. Though he’s not opposed to candidates appearing with influencers, he has concerns about replacing traditional news access with digital and social media. “It's convenient for politicians, right?” Turcotte says. “But I think it's a loss for the public and for voters because we're not going to be held to the same level of account as pre-social media.”

This article was originally published by Capital Public Radio on November 2, 2026.