Parties on yachts, free appetizers and multiple lounges: this is what the Democratic National Convention in Chicago looks like so far for the invited influencers and creators. For the first time in history, 200 creators have been accredited to cover the convention as part of the Democrats’ attempt to reach out to young voters. But while they are getting the VIP treatment, the accredited journalists are struggling to find a place to plug in their laptops.
As the Democratic National Convention began on Monday, security lines snaked for hours around city blocks. Influencers, delegates, members of Congress and journalists like CNN anchors Dana Bash and Wolf Blitzer They got stuck. Getting in and out of the convention was a chore, with creators and journalists Waiting in hour-long lines for security screening. “Maybe this is a mistake,” Bash was heard saying of her decision to leave the event and return later.
Inside the United Center, however, everything was different. Credentialed influencers have at least four different locations to film. There is a three-level platform on the convention floor where influencers and creators can sit that has a direct vantage point of the stage. They are also allowed up into the galleries along with traditional print media. On Monday, many influencers spent most of their time in one of two creator-only lounges; inside the lounges, convention staff restocked buffet tables with free wine and food, like prime rib sandwiches.
Before heading to the convention center, the creators were treated to an exclusive yacht party. The onboard bar served Midwest Margaritas and I’m Speaking Spritz, while the creators mingled with members of Harris’ campaign and Gov. Tim Walz’s wife, Gwen Walz.
The amenities for creators and access to space stand in stark contrast to what the DNC has made available to credentialed media outlets, even though journalists and creators have similar credentials. There were 15,000 members of the media who were credentialed for the event, and while some larger outlets have trailers outside the convention center, journalists have complained that they have received far less access to space and workspace than at other previous party conventions. I had a hard time finding somewhere In one of the press sections there were not enough power strips for the journalists present.
“We are concerned that the decision to reduce accessible, dedicated workspaces by hundreds compared to previous conventions will hamper journalists’ ability to cover the historic nature of this convention,” the Standing Committee of Correspondents, an organization that represents journalists who cover party conventions, said in a statement to WIRED on Tuesday. “The Standing Committee of Correspondents urged the DNC to allocate significantly more workspace for print journalists attending this year’s convention in Chicago than they decided to provide.”
Influencers have become an integral part of the digital strategy of campaigns in both parties this cycle. On Monday, he The New York Times reported Five creators are expected to speak at the convention this week. Some of these speakers are predominantly Lifestyle influencerswhile others create content that advocates for specific issues such as reproductive rights.
“Bringing creators to our convention will multiply our reach and ensure that everyone can witness democracy in action,” Cayana Mackey-Nance, the DNCC’s director of digital strategy, said in a statement earlier this month. “We are confident that when the world turns to Chicago in August through their phones, tablets or televisions, they will see exactly who Democrats are and the future we are fighting for.”