Time’s Person of the Year has been a tradition for the magazine since 1927, and historically highlights individuals that “have the power to transform society.” In the past, the magazine has named world leaders, with the list including three U.S. presidents and three popes. This year the magazine admittedly took an unusual approach to person of the year, and chose singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.
Time stated that despite the “significant darkness” prevalent in 2023, Taylor Swift “found a way to transcend borders and be a source of light.” Swift undoubtedly had a successful year and could arguably be the Performer of the Year. However, naming Swift Person of the Year for “transcending borders” does not seem quite accurate.
With the ongoing siege on Gaza, which Swift has not spoken out on, many readers found Time’s choice to be in poor taste. This is especially apparent in comparing the magazine’s selection last year, President Zelensky of Ukraine. The contrast leaves many readers asking why the people of Gaza were not chosen.
One commenter wrote “I have loved and even idolized Taylor for over 17 years but don’t you think maybe the ‘person of the year’’ should be the journalists risking their lives in Gaza? The doctors working with no equipment in Gaza? The innocent men, women and children of Palestine who are living in fear and famine and not giving up? Especially given Zelenskyy and Ukranians were on the cover last year.”
Other media organizations have taken the opportunity to platform Palestinian voices, including GQ Middle East. GQ Middle East’s men of the year included Palestinian performer Saint Levant and Gaza based journalist Motaz Azaiza. In comparison, GQ US named Kim Kardashian as one of its “men of the year”. Ultimately, Western media has shown its dramatically different priorities in who it highlights.
In response, The Slow Factory, a non-profit that works to promote climate justice and liberation posted their own version of People of the Year on Instagram and named the children, journalists and caregivers of Gaza as the People of the Year.
The organization’s caption wrote “What more can we say? We know who the real people of the year are. We know who the real heroes are.”
The people of Gaza, namely journalists such as Motaz Azaiza, Bisan Owda and many others, have truly “transcended borders.” Despite the over 50 days of tragedy they have experienced, and continue to experience, these journalists continue to document Gaza daily to over a million people around their world.
It may not be a “source of light” as one might describe Swift’s Era’s Tour, but it is reality. This reality is one that the Western world and Western media sparingly show, tasking those experiencing it to garner attention and care.