In modern media, it's credibility vs popularity

In the past year or two, as I attended many news conferences, one phenomenon has stood out: Key opinion leaders, or KOLs, now replace seasoned journalists on the front rows at tech fairs, and have taken precedence over traditional media at major industry events.

Wearing goggles or using smartphones, bloggers and internet celebrities broadcast the shows and interact with fans in real time, offering free samples of new products to get fans hooked to their platforms. In the process, they also receive generous tips from followers.

This contrasts sharply with a typical day-job journalist who sits there taking copious notes, asking serious questions, recording speeches and sound bites. It's not hard to determine which looks more appealing, at least on the surface.