Kelsey Russell

Kelsey Russell, a 23-year-old graduate student at Columbia University, has gained significant attention for her innovative approach to encouraging media literacy among Gen Z on TikTok. She began her viral journey by live-reacting to receiving a New York Times Sunday print subscription for her 23rd birthday and documenting her daily learnings from reading the newspaper. This series quickly gained traction, with her first video amassing 1.7 million views and 311,000 likes.

Russell's goal is to revive the practice of reading print newspapers among young people, addressing concerns about the decline in traditional news consumption and the spread of misinformation on social media. Her TikTok account, which features her reading and explaining news articles, has resonated with many young viewers