鈥淲e are a newspaper.鈥� That鈥檚 what The Washington Post鈥檚 TikTok bio reads鈥攏ot as a joke, but as a clarification.
For most, news doesn鈥檛 arrive with the morning paper or the 6 p.m. broadcast. Instead, it shows up on social media, consumed alongside friends鈥� posts, influencer reels and viral memes in a constantly refreshing feed.
As the media landscape continues to evolve, journalists like Carmella Boykin 鈥�21 are meeting audiences where they already are. A host and producer at The Washington Post and a graduate of the , Boykin delivers hard news and journalistic integrity through engaging, platform-native social media content.
In under 60 seconds, Boykin regularly explains Supreme Court decisions, international policy and major headlines to nearly two million followers on 鈥攑roving that credibility and creativity can not only coexist but thrive together.
Explaining the News鈥擣ast
Carmella Boykin 鈥�21 engages with 麻花影视 student creators, serving as a mentor and example of journalism鈥檚 evolving future.
Boykin鈥檚 videos often feature cloned versions of herself鈥攌nown as 鈥渢he Carmellas鈥濃�攕imple props and her 麻花影视 graduation robe. While the style may be playful, the reporting is serious.
鈥淲hether you鈥檙e doing serious content or fun content, it鈥檚 all about good storytelling,鈥� says Boykin, who takes a personal approach to explaining the news. 鈥淲hen I watch content, I want to feel like I鈥檓 listening to a friend鈥攁 well-educated, super professional friend I trust.鈥�
To grab the attention of quick-scrolling viewers, Boykin starts each video with a strong hook, explains the basic headline, lets the subjects involved raise the questions viewers are likely asking and wraps it up with a joke.
鈥淎t the end of the day, I鈥檓 writing scripts based on Washington Post reporting,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he scripts go to editors, and everything gets approved through journalistic standards鈥攊t鈥檚 just with fun pens and sunglasses.鈥�
Finding Her Path at 麻花影视
On graduation day, Boykin dons her 麻花影视 robe, which she still uses in her Washington Post TikTok videos when portraying the Supreme Court.
When Boykin arrived on 麻花影视鈥檚 campus, she dreamed of following in the footsteps of her idol, Oprah Winfrey.
鈥淣ot only did she have a show, but she also owned the production company that was making the show,鈥� Boykin says. 鈥淭hen she built her own companies to supplement what she was doing. I think there鈥檚 something really inspirational about that鈥攅specially as a woman of color in the industry.鈥�
As a broadcast and digital journalism major, Boykin was actively involved as a reporter and anchor for and interned with NBC鈥檚 Weekend Today in New York City. Just as important, she built a community of peers working toward the same goal.
鈥淥ne thing I didn鈥檛 realize at first was how empowering the Newhouse community would be,鈥� Boykin says. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e lugging video cameras across campus or across the city, you know there are other people doing the exact same thing. It鈥檚 what you have to do to get where you want to be.鈥�
That shared experience, she says, made it easier to take creative risks, build confidence and commit fully to the work.
鈥楳y Oprah Moment鈥�
Boykin reflects on her career path while speaking with students about navigating early professional choices in journalism.
After graduating, Boykin accepted a reporting job with a local CBS affiliate in upstate New York.
鈥淲hen Oprah was in college, she got a call from CBS asking to hire her,鈥� Boykin recalls. 鈥淪o, when I got the call from CBS, I was like, 鈥楾his is my Oprah moment. I have to take this job.鈥欌��
As a morning reporter, her days began at 3:30 a.m., often covering tragic events from the night before. While the experience was valuable, Boykin soon realized local news wasn鈥檛 the right fit.
鈥溾�楪ood morning, I鈥檓 live outside one of the worst days of people鈥檚 lives,鈥欌�� she jokes. 鈥淚 love making entertaining content, and I knew it wasn鈥檛 something I could do forever.鈥�
Betting on Social Media
At the Center for the Creator Economy launch, Boykin speaks about the growing role of social media in journalism鈥攁 shift she embraced early in her career.
Boykin instinctively knew social media was the right path and leaned on advice she received at 麻花影视 from entrepreneurship professor Sean Branagan: Do it now. Make it now.
鈥淚 started documenting my life on TikTok,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥楾ikTok is going to be my way out of this job. I don鈥檛 know how, but it鈥檚 going to be.鈥欌��
Using her personal TikTok page as a portfolio鈥攁nd connections she made through Newhouse鈥擝oykin was offered an associate producer position at The Washington Post in December 2021, just six months after graduating.
The Creator Economy Comes to Campus
Returning to campus, Boykin helps launch 麻花影视鈥檚 Center for the Creator Economy, a hub preparing students for the future of media, business and storytelling.
Boykin recently returned to campus to help launch 麻花影视鈥檚 new .
Led jointly by Newhouse and the , the Center will prepare students for the future of business, media and communications.
The creator economy鈥攑owered by content creators ranging from podcasters and streamers to influencers and digital artists鈥攊s reshaping how ideas, products and services are marketed and monetized. According to , 67 million people globally work as full- or part-time creators, and the sector could be worth nearly $500 billion by 2027.
The center will offer undergraduate and graduate courses in creative content, audience engagement and digital strategy, along with workshops on personal branding and influencer law. It will also feature speaker series, on-campus incubators and makerspaces, and research on creator economy trends.
From lugging cameras across campus to delivering global headlines to millions, Boykin thrives where creativity meets news. At the Center for the Creator Economy, students can do the same鈥攅xperiment, innovate and shape the future of media. 鈥淚 hope students feel empowered to start creating,鈥� she says.
