The media landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation that will reshape how Americans consume news over the next decade—and conservative outlets are leading the way.
That’s the view of Rob Bluey, president and executive editor of The Daily Signal.
In an appearance on PragerU’s “Real Talk” show with host Marissa Streit, Bluey outlined the challenges and opportunities facing conservative media, including The Daily Signal’s fight for press credentials during the Biden administration and more recent battles with censors.
Their conversation also touched on major shifts in how Americans get information.
Bluey acknowledged the growing influence of podcasters and individual personalities competing with traditional news brands, while emphasizing the continued need for organizations such as The Daily Signal.
“Individual news consumers are going to have to discern who they trust,” he said, warning against reliance on any single source.
The Daily Signal operates with a team of 14 full-time staff members and four journalism fellows—small compared with many legacy outlets. Yet it maintains a presence in the White House briefing room, regularly attends Capitol Hill press conferences, and its reporters have traveled with President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Press Credential Fight
Access to Washington’s major institutions wasn’t always guaranteed for The Daily Signal.
In August 2023, the outlet was among 442 organizations that had White House press credentials revoked when the Biden administration changed access rules. The new requirements mandated congressional press credentials—something The Daily Signal had been denied because of its affiliation with The Heritage Foundation.
“Biden decided to change it, I think, because he wanted to restrict the number of reporters who had access,” Bluey said, noting the timing coincided with growing questions about the president’s mental acuity.
The decision prompted The Daily Signal to become legally independent from Heritage to secure congressional and White House access.
Bluey contrasted Biden’s restrictions with the Trump administration’s approach, which included creating a new media seat for nontraditional journalists—something he called a positive step for transparency.
Rising Stakes
The conversation took on a somber tone when discussing the assassination of Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk, who was shot in September while speaking at a college campus in Utah.
“The world of speech and journalism has changed forever after the murder of Charlie Kirk,” Streit said.
Bluey addressed growing security risks for conservatives, particularly those in media. Daily Signal reporters have faced attacks, including from Antifa during protest coverage.
“It is frightening to think that you need to resort to having a security team protect you just because you want to share conservative values and beliefs,” he said.
Streit said Kirk’s killing crystallized a new reality.
“He just wanted to debate. He just wanted to bring truth. He just wanted to speak,” she said. “The idea that somebody who is speaking truth that some people might think is wrong or hate speech would get shot—to me, that’s a turning point in the belief that there’s real free speech in America.”
Despite the risks, Bluey said he remains committed to the mission, driven by what he calls “a passion for pursuing truth” and telling stories that can lead the country toward better policies.
Looking Ahead
Bluey described artificial intelligence as both an opportunity and a challenge. While AI could handle routine tasks for media companies, he worries about the decline of original reporting and the loss of mentorship opportunities for young journalists.
He predicted legacy media will continue to lose influence as politicians bypass traditional outlets for direct-to-audience platforms. Still, he expressed optimism about the future, pointing to expanding conservative media-training programs such as those offered by the National Journalism Center and various journalism fellowships.
For those considering careers in conservative media, Bluey recommended pairing classical education with journalism training, noting the balance between learning practical skills and understanding foundational principles. He pointed to programs at Hillsdale College and fellowship opportunities as strong alternatives to traditional journalism schools.
“If you’re interested in journalism or media, pursue that career,” he said. “We need more people willing to engage in this space.”
The Bottom Line
Streit compared the work to enlisting in defense of American values.
“It is very unlikely that America will ever be taken down through outside bullets and tanks,” she said. “If something happens to America, it’s from within. It’s through education. It’s through limiting free speech. And it’s through journalism and fake news.”
Bluey’s core message: Media trust will only be rebuilt through transparency and accountability. Conservative outlets, he argued, succeed by openly acknowledging their perspective rather than claiming false objectivity.
“Trust in media organizations plummets in part because they haven’t been honest with their audience about the agenda they have,” he said.
As the media landscape continues to evolve, Bluey sees conservative journalism playing an increasingly vital role—not as partisan cheerleading, but as rigorous reporting guided by clear principles and accountable to the audiences who fund the work.
