Local Journalism is Crucial Now: What's BTS got to do with It? | James Ford | TEDxBeaconStreetSalon

[@taetaesblessedhands1635]

finally an ARMY that can literally say "thanks for coming to my TED Talk".

[@elle5305]

taetae's blessed hands first of all YOUR NAME IS EVERYTHING second, haha true, we can!

[@pristine_azalea244]

Should've done something like this in my speech :'(

[@sisterjimin-ahshalallifegu8211]

Lmfaoooo

[@tychestuart7500]

actually i once saw another ted talk that had bts in it

[@lina5377]

its time to delete: yourself oof

[@rooowtwx]

I presented about BTS' song "N.O." for a popular culture class in 2014 and no one knew them at all back then. Today, sociology professors and TED Talk speakers are talking about them.

[@my-sn8ij]

Rtyx i love that song

[@mr_booinyourarea8697]

I feel you, I used to talk about kpop in general after KZbin showed me kpop due to constantly listening to gangnam style And my classmates looked at me like I was a alien and now they all go "omg bts!!" 😂🤷‍♀️

[@alicemako5729]

Rtyx i CRY

[@zainchandia7355]

Army taetae MH that’s literally the worst song they’ve ever done.

[@jellisf]

You're a real pioneer! Thank you for watching, and thank you for setting a great example.

[@minie7950]

just as bts’s leader, namjoon, has said; “there is only so much we can do which is to tell and influence you guys to love yourselves and to remember who you are. but it’s you all who take this campaign further by doing things we wish we could do as well. you guys donate, make your own campaigns that enhance our message.”

[@aishamalik4602]

THANKU IM EMO:(

[@gwacheonson9400]

BTS is really a relevant and clever example when you talk about social media interactions, cause they surely have been communicating intensively with their fans even since pre-debut days and the content they have shared are countless, still counting!

[@seewhaticcurious1]

And not just that they are engaging with their fans online, but the actual content and message they are sharing is vital. From the very beginning, they had INTENTIONAL messages to encourage their generation in a positive way. Whether it was showing them helping the homeless, elderly, or disadvantaged children, or singing about injustices, they were not afraid to show their inner struggles and desires in humble ways. I think a huge amount of credit goes to BigHit and Bang Si-hyuk for their vision as well. From giving the boys an opportunity to learn about the origins of Hiphop to teaching them how to resolve conflict between them to encouraging each member's personal development, their company and staff has a huge role in BTS' success and opportunity to connect with their fans all around the world.

[@biswanathmitra4063]

That's why we call them "the next generation leader" and "global sensation "

[@eminemandlinkinpark74]

BTS musicality and the influence around the world are incredible

[@seri3264]

Eminem and Linkin park your comment is very appreciated, thank you !

[@onlyfacts8801]

@Eminem and Linkin park Both artists in your name are legendary, but I believe BTS is standing out too in this new era, with their lyrics, their philanthropy, and their ability to transcend language through music. And I guess that's why millions of people from all ages, ethnic and social backgrounds love them. As for me, I had never experienced such a connection with an artist. They're a jewel in the music industry

[@kimtaetae1357]

Thank you for including BTS as an example that media is not just a toxic and unhealthy platform but has a huge influence in society and has a power to make a change.

[@jellisf]

Thank YOU for seeing that as well in my talk. Many thanks. - James

[@MegaALLCAPSRAGE]

I think the big point here is that ARMY use local media, share news sources with one another and are actively engaging with various media outlets. We do it because they can’t break into the American market or the American consciousness unless we are loud, but if all people did that about the things they cared about the 4th estate would be much stronger. Actively engage with media outlets and other people online. If something of importance happens in your community and you feel no one is talking about it, tag news outlets. thank you James Ford for a lovely TED Talk and cheers to your daughter for promoting BTS to you.

[@emilyfishie]

Wolfine152 i think so too.

[@janejung7439]

I agree, in this case ARMY can be seen as a collaborative group of people from all over the world who understand how to tap into their resources to talk about something that is important to them. There is a lot of research involved on how to gain media attention and most work has been done by openly sharing that knowledge and encouraging the spread of those messages. So they aren't just a group of young fangirls--they are a diverse group of intelligent individuals who see past differences and really know how to stay connected. The greatest phenomenon here is how BTS managed to create a group of fans like that. That would be a great BTS ted talk to transition to if anyone wants to do it~

[@BookAndLace]

@@janejung7439 I had similar thoughts. I'm an older fan and find that the diversity in ARMY is brilliant. I'm actively encouraging my kids to be into BTS as they & ARMY are such good role models. One of the aspects of us that I wish more parents and peers realized is how our mutual love of BTS helps us support each other despite so many differences. Mention ARMY or BTS and we're family... all the lines & boxes put on us by society/life fall away. It would be amazing if more people learned to focus on the shared loves & chose not to care about differences.

[@gargi6168]

Army's strength of communication with each other is incredible, for example yesterday, we mass voted and went from 1M votes to 3M in a span of 40 minutes Armys always try to spread news as fast as possible on every social media site, which is amazing

[@melikaheuork5164]

Perfect summary of this video

[@noelle7544]

Came for BTS, but I enjoyed the entire piece. Thank you James!

[@congeeya2418]

Sameee 💜

[@jellisf]

Thank YOU, @Noelle. - James

[@maruisaiahnapa7381]

Outside of the realm of BTS' influence in the music industry, paying close attention to how they and their fans operate through media can give journalists valuable insight in getting their news factual, relevant and engaging. Yes, there were scoffs at the mention of their name, but once people learn to study their inner workings without prejudice, they will find invaluable insight and information that extends past the reach of music. Thank you for featuring them in your talk, I learned much more than I had hoped for through you.

[@averose3347]

For a make up quiz i made a brief 10 pages of international business strategy bighit used for bts. An eye opener😅

[@Kekekepeeps]

@@averose3347 "a brief 10 pages" 😂😂

[@DD-fh6gy]

@@averose3347 please share your "brief" essay if you don't mind 😀

[@averose3347]

@@DD-fh6gy I'd love to! Let me translate it to english first😊

[@kevinlefanu2012]

@@averose3347 I'm really interested too!

[@iamhere3698]

Thank you for including BTS and mentioning their message.

[@tatasstt5569]

Cynthia Ruiz true

[@jellisf]

It was my pleasure and honor. Thank you for watching! - James

[@BangtanMyBangtan]

It's interesting that way back when BTS debuted, they tried the the 'traditional' route. Broadcast, variety shows, trying to get more interviews from 'traditional' Korean media. But because they are not from the Big 3 (3 biggest entertainment agency in SK) ... they were kinda overlook & probably were discarded in many promotion. Furthermore the agency met a couple of drawbacks due to several unsuccessful ventures ... including one girl group member in a criminal case. These tainted reputation usually makes others from the industry shy away from them. So they decided to focus on 'After School' (An entertainment program that focused on international audience) & making their own content. So BTS grew larger outside of SK BEFORE they became massive in their own country. When they got more recognition outside SK, the more 'traditional' SK idol supporters started to take notice. In journalism perspective, I think this should teach journalist to grow outside their own circle. Reporting localised news is fine but when you got the attention of somebody with more credits outside that circle, the local news expands. Or the magic word, goes VIRAL. In BTS situation, tho it's true that ARMY are massive but the thing is they were small at first. They became massive because both BTS & ARMY decided to go beyond their circle. BTS started putting subtitle in their MV (unlike some Kpop group that still think this is unimportant) & ARMY started translating their content. And once it got into the pipeline, it expands.

[@ilovebangtan1249]

BangtanMyBangtan kinda accurate. Btw your profile pic is namjoon and he so cute my profile can relate looking at ur pic

[@e.deborah7256]

I've got to agree with you. So the way I got into the K-pop genre was quite funny. I began watching Korean dramas, reluctantly, in my last year of high school. My roommate physically dragged me out of my room to sit in front of the TV. It was Boys Over Flowers. The episodes were too long and it took getting used to. I remember thinking that the language didn't sound as harsh as Chinese. But the plot wasn't to my taste. I graduated and got into University. My new roommates were also into Korean dramas. A lot of good ones were recommended to me. American dramas lost most of it's appeal to me by then. I started watching dramas from other countries. Growing up Jackie Chan was a household name, so I was already used to reading subtitles. I had dabbled in some Japanese animated movies before, so watching dramas and movies wasn't much of a culture shock. Indian movies were a staple for me and my mother had colleagues that were Indian. I was into Thai food before I even knew anything about Thailand and their language took awhile to get used to. I had read an autobiography about a woman from the Philippines way before my last year in high school and she was inspirational. I fell in love with an OST while watching a Rurouni Kenshin live-action; traced the band and fell in love with Japanese rock music, particularly One Ok Rock. It was euphoric and just what I needed at that time. Blood Sweat and Tears by BTS showed up as a related video and I thought "Why not give it a listen?" You've got to know that I don't know how many times I replayed that video. I saw the date it was released and went mad thinking why I hadn't seen this before then. So down the rabbit hole I went. I absorbed their music, the fan theories, the fan videos. Later found out my Pinterest feed couldn't escape the clutches of the ARMY. I was overwhelmed by the dedication and the talent of all these strangers that are touched by the music of a group like this. You have to understand that I didn't just become partial to the group immediately. I was listening to other people's music, other K-pop groups and I always went back to BTS. Thankfully there were also a couple others that grabbed my attention; one of which was AKMU. Don't even let me get started on that duo. Now, one thing you should know is that I've listened to alot of people sing and most of them were Westerners. The one thing I am thankful for is my inherent open mindedness. That is what allowed me to experience new cultures inclusive of music. It made me learn not to be quick to judge but try and see through other people's lenses. So that that way I could understand, if only for a tiny bit. Everybody has their own BTS story, or K-pop story in short. But I would never forget the day I found out that BTS would be receiving their first Billboard award. Before BTS I could care less about award shows. Heck, the only award fact I knew at that point was that Michael Jackson won 8 Grammys in one night. But when I felt joyful and happy knowing they we're nominated and had won by a landslide, that was the time I decided to call myself an ARMY. The mere thought that I could be so happy for people I have never met in my life was mind blowing. And my God, the fandom itself is... I don't know. Having to share happiness with millions of people through BTS is a miracle in itself. So yeah. That's my BTS/K-pop story. It's funny how far I've come in such a short time. I believe my story shows how relevant the media can be; be it local or global. P.S. That last phrase feels a bit abrupt but bear with me. I couldn't think straight anymore.😅 And I'm still going be listening to music I can't sing to. Just because, doing that makes me see the entire world.☺️

[@BangtanMyBangtan]

@@ilovebangtan1249 Namjoon is my ultimate bias. Yoongi is my ultimate bias wrecker. XD

[@BangtanMyBangtan]

@@e.deborah7256 I can relate coz many things that you've mentioned happen to me too. In my case, I actually didn't like Kpop ... not the music itself but the industry. I thought the industry was demeaning. This was during the time of Wonder Girls. As I got older, I started to focus on researching beauty products. That's how I stumble on BTS. I was researching Korean beauty products. At that time I remembered thinking BTS is 'cute' & one of my hilarious assumption was Jin is younger than Jungkook. Then I discovered Rap Monster ... from him I found out 'Kpop' is not as 'simple' as I thought it was. And Rap Monster, now RM ... taught me a lot about BTS & their uniqueness in the industry. I actually became a fan of Namjoon before I fall into BTS wonderland. BTW, my music taste was eclectic. From jazz to nu metal. From gamelan to native american chants. From EDM to Mozart. But pop was always something forgettable ... until BTS happens.

[@crazyth1ngs600]

I think you mentioned an important point: the subs! I am always amazed at how there is a whole community (not just around BTS), who dedicate themselves to translate stuff so that people who basically live on the other side of the world know what's going on. Even if we are talking about local news that have nothing to do with Bangtan: For me to understand what's happening somewhere where people do not speak English, I need translations, so for news to spread beyond the local sphere, there have to be people who talk about it in a language that makes them accessible to other communities as well. Well, that's just a random thought that came to me, when I saw your post, sorry! :D I'm just always so happy when I see that there are people from so many different cultures among ARMY who are connected by BTS ^-^

[@rejiinamio]

I couldn't believe that I'd be seeing BTS in a TED Talk video, but here it is. I've been learning a lot from TED since high school, and I'm already in college. The knowledge is something I couldn't get inside the classroom, so it's amazing that using the internet, I can 'attend' talks by professionals. And here I am, actually engaging in the comments as a form of discussion from one part of the world. BTS has been bridging a lot of people into opening discussions like this, and I'm grateful that you've made them an example of how local media can learn from them - BTS has been on the rise for a while now, and I'd say it's amazing how they can get engagements from their audience just from social media alone. With twitter as the platform where they're most active, people react fast - Their posts get 1M likes. News related to them get shared instantly and are spread in other social networking sites like Facebook or several other forums where fans also talk about them like reddit. I guess the hype surrounding them is also due to fans' dedication. 😊 thank you for mentioning them in your talk!

[@elimontes7167]

Yo tampoco puedo creerlo 😮🤔

[@dopegirl7528]

Yep, I agree, BTW your account name describes the entire namjoon stans life

[@megami.x]

BTS should just have their own TED Talk! They could share deeper thoughts and feelings about the love yourself “campaign” in a group setting, as opposed to quick short interviews where they barely have time to think. Discuss their stresses, pressures, and insecurities to remind us that they are only human. Dive into their mind, try to give us an idea of what it feels like to be the most impactful musical artist in the world.

[@ORANGE-ib3jd]

@@megami.x they have a series called "burn the stage" where they talk about their struggles and hardships and how much they have gone through in thses 5 years if being an idol.

[@raneemiftekhar6354]

Wow, I can already see Namjoon giving a TED talk. I loved his UN speech and would love to see an extended and thoughtful speech.

[@banabelle]

I had to double take lol. Also while watching this I couldn’t but think about how people think ARMYs are just 14 year old girls who are boy crazy, when actually a lot ARMYs are actually this guy. They’re smart and attentive and they care about the real world, just like BTS.

[@boiltheegg4864]

sincerity that couldn’t be delivered yeah also Army is any age and the power we hold is unbelievable

[@laughingmommy]

So true. I am a 43 years old linguist with decent working and educational backgrounds and also a mother of two kids. I consider myself smart. And I am a fan of bts. AMRY is Everywhere and is only expanding.

[@annarmillner]

Very true! ARMYs can come in all ages. Although I am 14, I find myself very inspired by the boys.

[@himansigupta18]

I personally hate it when people use the age of BTS’s fan base as an insult because even though I am 13, I truly do care about the message that BTS gives and I do believe that I have changed in better ways and worked against my prejudice because of them.

[@hsshshyyy8081]

I'm a 15 year old male army

[@Happily_Sightless]

I really hope Joon sees this. Thank you so much from all of ARMY.

[@jellisf]

I do, too! Thank you so much for watching. - James

[@Happily_Sightless]

James Ford Oh my goodness, I never thought you'd see my comment!! Thank you for giving such an amazing talk!

[@0000794]

Social media is so much more powerful than just 'a bunch of kids with their smart phones'

[@sn0wfa11s]

Ikr. I hate it when ppl think like that.

[@jellisf]

True, true, true. Thanks for watching. - James

[@jerrygil1965]

Exactly cuz they're stereotyping

[@samhitaashah7944]

Thank you for realising that BTS is not just popular because of pretty faces, thank you for sharing the real reason why BTS is so big with millions of people. Hopefully they realise BTS' true potential.

[@n-silvabts9178]

Mr. Ford, I remember your posts from Citi Field! Your enthusiasm is inspiring. Thanks for talking about BTS with so much respect and love. You're such an open-minded person! i wish other journaists were like that. I agree about what you said regarding local media.

[@obsidian1853]

I agree on this.He is an open minded responsible journalist with great sense of respect and love..

[@jellisf]

Many, many thanks to you -- for watching this, and my Cit Field posts! - James

[@paulaserna5421]

Thank you for said that BTS teaches great things to the people through internet

[@jellisf]

Thank YOU for watching. - James

[@taejinchild7329]

I would never expect in my entire life i would see a topic about bts here in ted talk.

[@user-lr1jf7jc5t]

Same honey!

[@er4206]

It's not about BTS, but he did use them as an example.

[@jellisf]

Thank you for watching! - James

[@user-lr1jf7jc5t]

@@jellisf OMG are you the speaker , Mr James i enjoyed your whole speech but the BTS title attracted me since am their fan, you used their message as a good example so Thank you!

[@kpopidolsownmyass8477]

i wasn't sure if they meant the K-Pop group BTS or something like behind the scenes lmao. I've been watching TEDTalks since so long now and seeing them being mentioned makes me so proud, wow. This is surreal.

[@jellisf]

Glad you liked it. Many thanks. - James

[@xanmmmmdli6974]

Your name it is relatable

[@Kasivie]

your name lol

[@875amy]

Great use of BTS as an example. I'm glad BTS can share a positive message with a large group of people.

[@jellisf]

So am I! They're so very skilled. Thank you very much for watching my talk. - James

[@glad-is-gold]

It was a very good listen for me. The talk is very relevant not only to your audience but for the world. You are correct.. BTS got this really big because ARMY got engage. It should be for every issue that affects humanity.

[@btsinfiresmylifeuu_9146]

I'm watching this video the day after BTS won 2 Daesangs and after their emotional speech in which Jin mentioned that they taught about disbanding in early 2018 because they were mentally tired but still, they persevered. And if you are an ARMY, you know how 2018 has been: success after success after success In some way, BTS help enlighten each one of us ARMY. I wanna share my story with BTS. I was in 1st year of engeering studies when BTS debuted, I was depressed, why? I grew up being the A student, I was the top at every subject, being the best was a want and a need, I thought that my grades reflected how good I am as a person When I got accepted in one of the top universities of my country, and in one the most challenging fields : electrical engineering, I got soo happy, but that happiness didn't last long Studies were hard, soo hard, and I found myself with an 80+ students that also were also the best of the best I was struggling to be the best, but I couldn't, I was so hard on myself, I was blaming myself so much, and because I was evaluating myself through my grades, I saw myself as a bad worthless person, until I came across BTS They were my "way out". I still remember the 2 "wake up"songs that made me sit down and think about my life and myself, what I want to really do, what makes me really happy, the songs are : no more dream and N.O ( the lyrics make me cry to this day) BTS taught me to work hard yes and to try my best, but on the other hand to accept failure Since that day, I became a whole different person, I worked hard, but gave myself a break when I felt like I needed one. I started enjoying electrical engineering, the more I did, the more I found myself willing to learn and know more. 5 years later, I graduated with honors, found a job, and I'm trying to fulfill my dreams one by one Every song of BTS is a witness of an era of my life. BTS for me is not just a 7 members band that are good looking, good at singing and dancing, its beyond that BTS's comebacks held messages that helped me to get through what I went trough I hope I meet them one day, share my story with them, and thank them in person for the positive impact they had on me. BTS, you are Korea's pride and this generation's hope. Thank you! I love you all! I Purple you all💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@28mymeloudie]

BTS INFIRES MY LIFEUU _ i got emotional when i read ur comment here. 😢 i really thank God for having BTS as an inspiration. They’re just soooo wow! 💜👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@28mymeloudie]

BTS INFIRES MY LIFEUU _ anyway, thank u for sharing ur story.. 💜 God bless u Army.. 🙏🏻

[@somaiyaakter9655]

So inspiring......... All the love for BTS...

[@ferhernandez1832]

Ohh god ...fightiiing my friend. I looove that two songs too! And now So What is also one of my favourites .... Thanks for sharing your story it is pure inspiration!

[@jamais_vu3]

YASSS

[@cga13thtrips]

Just wanted to watch how BTS was portrayed... ending up watching and learning from the speech. Thank you.

[@jellisf]

Thank you very much for your comment, and for watching! - James

[@ladyplscalmdown]

an interesting take on BTS x ARMY and their social outreach

[@taratravia9464]

I am a licensed psychologist and I’m fascinated by BTS and what they’ve been able to create in such a positive culture spanning manner. I would be really interested to hear a journalist speak about how K-pop fans have used their platforms to change the conversation around serious political issues, for example hijacking Instagram hashtags.

[@thanderlin4058]

*Empathy seems to be a powerful motivator.* I think at times we like to ridicule the collective masses, imagining them as shapeless clusters of gullible/lazy minds. But *'CITIZEN JOURNALISM' has proven to be a striking wild-card in the system.* And depending on how much empathy is stirred within the people, the *results are surprisingly efficient and even overpowering* like all the evidence provided to the police about young Lesandro's death. Or the sheer global mobility power of the BTS ARMY in regards to their humanitarian campaigns for the protection of children - despite obscurity of their native culture and language barrier. Thanks for spreading the potential of journalism James. Cheers.

[@jellisf]

Many thanks to you. Your insights are invaluable. Thank you for watching. - James

[@4walkieW]

Thank you so much for making BTS as an example how platforms really take the role in social

[@jellisf]

Thank you for watching! And for commenting! - James

[@shayne2955]

I actually remember reading the article he wrote. I remember sharing it. ARMYs (the fanbase), myself included, love sharing local articles about insights on BTS because we find it hard to properly promote them on mainstream media and televisions without them just seeming like another kpop band. Local news sites give us another unbiased perspective to share to doubtful nonfans. ARMYs work really hard for these news to get to the locals, I even shared it on my persinal accounts. So, yeah local news is important.

[@pris1145]

Yeah I agree. I hate how in late night televisions they were shown as just a Korean boy group with pretty faces and avid obsessive "12-14" year old fangirls. That simply isn't true. Bts is way more than that.

[@jellisf]

I greatly appreciated this comment, Shayne Dingli. Thank you not just for watching my TED talk, but for your interest in my article, as well.

[@rosey4140]

These stories also hit home because I am from New York, so I experienced all the buzz around these boys’ sad stories on twitter. I think it’s important that local news connect more with the community and pay more attention to what is actually important to the citizens within said community. When we’re heard, we’re louder. Injustices in our country have reached my phone through twitter rather than local sources in the past few years so I do think that there is change to be made there so that local news sources can become one with the times. Thank you for mentioning BTS and their message that has been spread through the emergence of social media. I think that journalists can also learn a lot through seeing how fans engage and spread information!

[@jellisf]

You said it so well! Thank you for adding to this conversation, @rosey. And thank you for watching, as well. - James

[@Krystuhyo]

Bts are kings! The impact is crazy! Everywhere they go they leave history and amazing story! Love them so much! Such humble and talented men!

[@jellisf]

Thank you, everyone for your great comments! Thank you, also for watching this TEDx talk! And thank you, BTS, for showing what effective communication looks like, in a way that news media can apply it.

[@lelmdrWHO]

BTS brought me to this video, but it was really good to hear. I think this guy is spot and has encouraged me to be more active in my local community in the same way I am vocal in my fan community. BTS is truly unprecedented when it comes to creating an online community, especially if you look at their roots. They're a boy band ... who speak a language relatively few people in the world speak, yet they have created this extremely powerful and engaged community. Yes by being attractive and talented, but so are so many artists, but they truly engage with their audience through all kinds of media and further more, just like this speaker, urge their community to be involved. bTS may be the common denominator, but ARMY is a community that now runs itself. We're global, we spread news almost instantaneously, we have translators who volunteer and translate content and messages into dozens of languages within a matter of hours or days, we self organize events and do charities and crowd fund for fans in need, we even try to police ourselves when someone is behaving inappropriately, we have are own artists and creators and musicians, we have long open debates about philosophy, and people who research literature and artwork used in BTS content and share their findings. We are involved, passionate, and organized beyond belief. How amazing would it be if this global culture that has formed around this once poor little boy band from South Korea because how we deal with politics and community and even world issues?! If people got excited in the same way about being a part of something bigger, who felt they had a voice, and had access to such incredibly powerful tools decided they wanted to make some changes.

[@TheFierina]

this is a beautiful insight, thank you for sharing. xx

[@qualitykoalateacher2622]

Preach👏👏

[@christinetolentino9024]

I absolutely agree with this

[@jellisf]

This is exactly what I'm talking about! Thank you so much for watching my TED talk, and for adding to this conversation. - James

[@lelmdrWHO]

James Ford I can't believe you actually read my mess of a comment! Bless 💜

[@harsha8046]

And now I want to write BTS's message of love yourself for my school magazine.... hope it will be selected

[@MidnightEkaki]

Wow... since finding 7 talented underrated silly humble boys from South Korea back in 2013 I never in a million years expected them to end up being mentioned in a TED Talk. Thank you so much for this brilliant speech.

[@jellisf]

Thank you for your generosity, and for watching! - James

[@catlegs6233]

*me checking this video out just to make sure ted talk doesn't disrespect bts* but "you nice, keep going" - jimin

[@111solecito]

My man!!! We appreciate you!!! BTS is more than just a band, they are reason why millions of ppl are still alive, why ppl are happy, why ppl look forward to a better day, why ppl can learn and accept others etc. They are the reason why so many of us come together to love each other. We army are a great family to bts and bts is to army

[@onlyfacts8801]

I'm a young woman from Europe and just discovered Ted Talk today, because of this review about BTS influence. I first came to see how BTS was portrayed, but I'm glad I discovered this show, it's insightful and thought-provoking. You've just gained a new subscriber. I remember reading your article on Twitter, it's true that the ARMY is a huge community there : During these two last years, BTS has had the most Twitter engagements of all times... The main reason for this is that they are unique, passionate artists who work as hard as humanly possible, yet remain relatable and genuine. Their lyrics tackle universal subjects such as mental health, society's pressure, consumerism, self-love, discrimination... They've indeed become so popular partly thanks to social media, where they have been using their influence to raise millions of US$ for charities (especially UNICEF), thus millions of their fans were inspired to make donations and projects to help others too. BTS are truly a jewel in the music industry.

[@jellisf]

Many, many thanks for watching and commenting, Only Facts. - James

[@dianahi2663]

I just realize that this video exist because I was seeking for some psychological aspect of bangtan's songs. Thank u so much for communicate their message, in a serious way.

[@redruby9564]

Army please share this with the Gp

[@min_nha9360]

Finally... Thank you for including BTS and mentioning the message that they try to spread.

[@jellisf]

How could I not? Their message is so positive and well-presented, and effective! Thank you very much for watching. - James

[@camelia2306]

Finally someone talking about BTS not just to get some views and actually trying to understand their message and their positive influence on millions of people around the world honestly I couldn't be happier to be an army and finally see BTS getting the recognition and respect they deserve 💜💜💜

[@AvatardSwag]

ARMYs are the ONLY fanbase who regularly sends flowers to the radio stations that played BTS' songs

[@ggukreum]

Thank you so much for including BTS and the message that they are trying to spread with their music. I'm glad that you enjoyed their concert!

[@jellisf]

Me too! Thank you very much for watching. - James

[@reshylanntimtim4499]

Wow just in total awe how BTS is relevant to a TED talk. 💜

[@elle5305]

wow, thanks for mentioning them. Thanks for seeing what their messages in their songs are, without judging them for being a korean boyband

[@lilmermaid2342]

BRUH. This should be *TRENDING.*

[@chelseyk8565]

This is very insightful. Indeed bts and their fans have a lot to do with local media and people should learn from this, another way of diseminating information

[@lingliteo5125]

Come and click for BTS and thank you for including BTS in the talk.

[@Eksl07]

ARMY and I’m sure BTS, really appreciate you talking about their influence! 💛

[@wonucantseewithouthisglasses]

Yes I searched for this, and yes I am crying rn, no lies 😭

[@chinkyfist6655]

I'd love to hear TEDtalk do a session on how the BTS and their ARMY operates using social media and how powerful the social media platform is for everyone to use for a good cause. There are tons of projects that the BTS ARMY and BTS themselves have facilitated and the world doesn't even know. BTS has such a phenomenal influence on the audience that they in return are doing great things for themselves and others. We are learning from one of the most influential people to ever have existed. This is because of how and what they are doing. They're using the platform to be their voice. Thank you.

[@user-tu4yy]

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk

[@Aika1801]

Dear Mr Ford, thank you so much for holding this TED talk!

[@jiminsjamless1481]

Look at my boys💜 they’re not only being honoured at music awards but even at educational functions!!!! 💜💜💜

[@kajjafeeluv__775]

Thank you for mentioning BTS message

[@SG-mm4wq]

That is ARMY power. i am proud of them.

[@biswanathmitra4063]

He has Showed great respect and Lifted up Our Image By presenting A totally different and extremely appreciative side of us, breaking all the Fake Notions. The Whole ARMY family thanks you.

[@stayhydrated4200]

In my opinion, BTS are very popular because the things they do, speak, and practice are so *sincere*. They also talk to ARMYs many times about "loving yourself" and make their fans feel included and loved in a certain way, which can apeal to a lot of teenaged viewers. They also talk about topics like mental health and harships directly, which also apeals to youth. Through KZbin Red, they have sparked an interest in many people because they showed their natural personality and make ARMYs feel included. The speech was so cool btw, I really loved it ❤️

[@bluewhale8323]

I agree with your analysis!! I love not only interactive efforts of BTS abut also their dedication for ARMY.

[@kimlinethekims6675]

Thankyou for including our boys in this amazing TED Talk.💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@Amy-so9ph]

I clicked on this because im an ARMY and i was pleasantly surprised by what i learnt about the broader ramifications of interacting and engaging with the world through media. Its why I love BTS, getting to interact and engage with their music and messages from another country and through language barriers which makes me feel so connected and passionate about the positive change that can come from what BTS does and what everyone can do as citizens of their communities.

[@Rainsdk-o7q]

BTS mentioned in ted talk..im loving this..heart heart..

[@kellieknox9915]

I’m so glad they used BTS as an example for journalists. They’re successful in large part because they are accessible. They have fan meets, they post on Twitter frequently, and live stream even simple things like a group dinner or walking the dog. Many journalists seem less accessible, defined by their content instead of the content of their character. I’d love to see journalists connecting with the public the same way BTS connects with ARMY.

[@quynhlee8421]

Thank you for mentioning BTS in your talk. So proud of BTS 💞

[@jellisf]

Me, too! Thanks for watching. - James

[@cezka]

It’s wonderful to see that people are finally starting to understand that BTS is not simply another group of pretty boys who can sing and dance but role models inspiring the world. With this lovely TedTalk, not only will more people understand that fact but they will also realize the diversity of the ARMY fandom; BTS’ music and message is not just for children and teenagers but for all to enjoy-young adults, parents, and grandparents alike. Aside from featuring BTS, the main discussion on journalism-local news especially-is very relevant and informative. I do agree that local news stations should learn to evolve with the times and become more interactive with their watchers-especially through social media-and that those watching should also know they have the power to share their story through the same outlet. We are living in a time where information can be shared and understood across the globe with a few taps after all; we should use it. That’s why, truly, thank you Mr. Ford for this enlightening speech.

[@spiralpageturner]

thank you for including bts in such an informative tedtalks. as long as you have access to an audience and the will to share information/your experience, everyone is a journalist! The key is to engage and empathize with everyone- which is something i find really hard to do. i learned so much from this, thank you

[@jellisf]

Right you are! Thank you so much for joining this conversation, and for watching! - James

[@itsnlee]

Im honestly shook bts is mentioned on a Ted talk. They taught me a lot of things beyond a classroom.

[@94bhea]

Really really informative THIS is BTS' influence personified Thanks! Using BTS as an example made me undestand the discussion much better

[@starsign0805]

As an ARMY who is studying journalism, i never thought this would happen, but honestly I should have seen it coming.

[@Rahmaa2002]

See, BTS made made me stronger. They changed me since I got to know them a 1 year and half ago....They learned and stilll learn me to do good things... aslo my new family (ARMY) made me start to communicate with other(Armies) and that showed how much we accomplished stuff together by helping each other.

[@hannahgoodell5931]

Thank you for speaking so kindly about BTS, you speak nothing but the truth and I'm sure your daughter was happy beyond measures.

[@Josh-fn3si]

OMG.. BTS and TED are my favorite things.

[@jiminsjams6050]

I’m 19 and just started a Kpop Society in a U.K. university with a friend I made through our love of music. I’ll be sharing this video with our 50+ society members 😌💜

[@alyaistisafira6784]

Thank you for this amazing speech

[@JeonSakuravv]

This is a great way to learn from BTS. Thank you, sir for your insight and enlightening journalist and the community about the way news works!

[@AC-sr4cm]

When ARMYs start a presentation in class: Nevertheless, thank you for discussing BTS and put our words in your presentation. We really appreciated your efforts of researching about them 😃

[@kimtaetae1357]

Why do haters always faster than me? 😭 damn im lacking. They always knew bts contents first before me.. why are they so updated with bts seriously?

[@portiarenee5486]

Because haters are obsessed with tearing down who they hate

[@MoonChild-is3pl]

They turned on notifications and subscribed to bangtanTV 😂

[@namkhanguyen9482]

Thank you for appreciate BTS in your interesting presentation.

[@lausybass1378]

As an Army and a journalist at the same time,its really amazing seeing mu two.favourite thing being combined altogether.

[@lukaskielburg5352]

Really interesting talk. Shared with friends.

[@jerrygil1965]

The most LOYAL and DEDICATED FAMILY💜💜💜

[@mh-tp7mc]

Thank you so much for mentioning our boys!

[@TheDreamcatcher6]

His daughter must be so proud!!

[@seemin8286]

Wonderfully said

[@lucianahrib9938]

thank you for including BTS 💜 it was a very interesting speech

[@jellisf]

Many thanks! - James

[@jamais_vu3]

I came here for bts but the whole video was a learning experience... I never expected bts to be included in TEDx talks Bts is indeed breaking barriers

[@maripark220]

Thank you for your Ted Talk about BTS. They are a group that opens people's minds and hearts.

[@madison-fq9mh]

there will always be cons to social media, but the pros of how easy we can access news, share articles, spread the word speaks volumes. people are spreading messages and news to eachother without barely lifting a finger, and it can create such an impact. sometimes negative but i think most are usually postive. BTS is the number 1 most social artist on twitter, and being korean they probably wouldnt have never reached such worldwide fame without social media connecting eachother. and its the same thing with local news! thank you for including such positve compliments about BTS, and for putting social media into a postive light and telling the purpose of it !

[@azaichissi5980]

The real question is why r fans enthusiastic about bts? Listen to their music n read the lyrics.💜👍 thank you for respecting them💜💜💜

[@vivisun6456]

bless his daughter

[@paulagabriela8399]

Apart from BTS what I loved the most about the video was the idea of encouraging us to let our voice be heard. We live in the greatest era of all! So much power in our hands to really start a change ... I admire BTS and what they reached through their music and personalities ... We got much to learn about them...I'm proud of them and happy that more people over the world is recognaizing their talent and effort! 👏👏❤️

[@ritsuxsohma]

Share this on social media so it can get more views! This needs to be more widespread. The speaker certainly deserves it!!

[@me_diannovita]

Their songs, lives, histories, journeys, struggles and just THEY in general give me reasons to live

[@Ridak.k]

Thank you for mentioning and acknowlegding our boys and the fandom we purple you💜

[@MarianahsTrenchGal1]

I'm an ARMY and I'm subscribed to this channel, how haven't I seen this yet?

[@Born1985]

This is incredible. Thank you for mentioning BTS in your discussion. It is true they stand on a very powerful platform and choose to spread their music with messages of love and positivity. 💜

[@purlple_you7132]

I'm not good with large speeches on thanking someone so I say from the bottom of my heart and the many hearts of other ARMY, thank you. We thank you for talking about BTS and their impact.

[@user-ni3nd2ew6b]

I never thought I’d hear BTS in a TED Talk...wow. They really are legends

[@stellamartin4863]

Thank you much sir 감사합니다,기자 씨(Mr.Journalist)