Trouble at Twitter as Trust Tumbles

V Spehar’s journey from food advocacy to becoming one of TikTok’s most trusted LGBTQ+ news voices is remarkable. On January 6, marking the fourth anniversary of their channel Under the Desk News, Spehar, 42, spoke with The Advocate to discuss their platform’s impact, new media challenges, and journalism’s future in a rapidly evolving landscape. As their platform enters its fifth year, they remain a steadfast advocate for meeting audiences where they are—even if that means reinventing what journalism looks like.Spehar’s journey into digital journalism began in chaos on January 6, 2021. As supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol, Spehar was on a Zoom call discussing food policy. Watching the events unfold, they made a TikTok video explaining the 25th Amendment from under a desk. “It was a safe space for me and for the audience,” they recalled. “That sense of calm resonated with people.”