The Power Grid Explained

If you’ve arrived at this page, you clearly have some questions about how we derive our rankings. This page explains how we created and update our Power Grid. If you are here because you feel that there is an error in our rankings, data, methodology or there has been an obvious omission, please email us at powergrid@mediate.com.

What is the Power Grid?
It is an objective ranking of roughly 1,500 known and important players in the media today, divided into categories including Media Moguls, TV Anchors and Hosts, Magazine Editors, Print and Online Editors, and Top TV Executives. A comprehensive list of categories (and their specific metrics by which they are ranked are listed below.)

Why isn’t it perfect?
We are very proud of this feature, but we know that the launch version is far from perfect. We imagine that there are a number of people of varying import that we have overlooked. Also, not every media personality fits perfectly into a given category; job descriptions and titles vary even within the same parent company. In fact, some people are in more than one category. More important, for some metrics, like number of employees or net worth, reasonable estimates were made.

Our logic and algorithms — what weight to give each entry (online buzz, traditional metrics, etc.) — are subject to constant attention and improvement. Of course, some of the nuance of the ratings will evolve over the next few weeks and months.

Why am I not on here?
The easy answer is that you may not be a well known person in the media. There is a chance, however, that you are in fact someone who belongs on the list and we simply overlooked you. Please do not take offense – we apologize for the oversight and promise to include you soon. But please let us know the error of our ways by sending us an email at powergrid@mediaite.com.

What makes these rankings different?
What we feel is most unique about the rankings is the fact that our proprietary algorithm combines the traditional metrics used for judging influence, such as Rupert Murdoch’s estimated net worth or the estimated number of magazines Anna Wintour sells, or NBC’s estimated viewers, with less traditional metrics such as Google hits, Twitter influence, and amount of airtime on major television networks.

How do the rankings change?
Unlike other media rankings, this system changes in real-time. Imagine a blogger breaking a major story, or a reporter’s coverage being picked up by all of the national networks. These individuals will move up the influence charts shortly after their faces, voices or bylines appear in the media. Most important, each category has a different algorithm depending on what are the most important factors for that group. For example media moguls are judged based on, among other things, company valuation, net worth, and online buzz while we use print circulation, online unique visitors, and online buzz for magazine editors and Nielsen ratings and online buzz for TV anchors. We expect each category to be updated weekly, though the online buzz metrics are updated on individual, and continuing basis.

What do the Arrows mean?
Green arrows up appear next to someone’s photo when he or she has recently risen in the rankings. Red arrows down appear when he or she has recently fallen in the rankings. Grey arrows sideways appear when the person’s rank has remained unchanged for more than a day.

Note that a person can rise (or fall) in the rankings even if his or her underlying metrics remain unchanged, provided that someone who used to be above him or her has taken a tumble or someone who used to be below him or her has shot up.

How do we do it?
All of the information we use is available online, and we have numerous people here and around the world painstakingly entering every bit of data according to what we feel are the most recent and reputable sources. Every individual has several “Online Buzz” metrics, which are a combination of Google News results, mentions in blogs (either through Technorati or Google Blog search) and Twitter followers. Because Twitter is still in a relatively early stage of adoption, we do not punish individuals who are not actively participating with the service. Rather, we reward (only slightly) those who have made an effort to participate in Twitter and have an active set of followers.

What about traditional ratings?
As for traditional metrics, we are using self-published figures such as ratings from Nielsen and the American Bureau of Circulation, net worth estimations from Forbes, and employment and financial data reported by companies themselves. For TV Reporters, we measure “TV Appearances” using a great service called “TV Eyes” which lists the number of times a reporter appears on-air or is mentioned in major local, national, and international news outlets. Are all of these numbers exact? Probably not. But we feel confident that it is as good an effort at ranking as anyone has attempted. As we grow, we expect a constant flow of communication from individuals and the companies for whom they work to make the data more exact — it is in the best interest of companies and media figures, after all, to provide accurate information.

Categories

Media Moguls are individuals who either own, personally or through family members, a controlling stake in a major media company OR also hold an executive position at that company.  Their rankings are determined based on: estimated Company Valuations, estimated Personal Net Worth, estimated Number of Employees, Online Buzz of proper name, Blog Buzz of proper name, and Twitter Followers (if applicable). You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

TV Reporters are individuals who report news stories on-air for a television network. Their rankings are determined based on: appearances/mentions on television as compiled by the media monitoring service TVEyes, ratings of that network or program, Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name, and Twitter Followers (if applicable). You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

TV Pundits are individuals who either A) serve as in-house analysts or commentators OR  regularly serve as guest analysts or commentators. Their rankings are determined based on: appearances/mentions on television as compiled by the media monitoring service TVEyes, ratings of that network or program, Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name, and Twitter Followers (if applicable). You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

TV Anchors/Hosts are individuals who serve as the primary host or anchor on a given television program. Their rankings are determined based on:  Television Ratings for that anchor’s timeslot, Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name,and Twitter Followers (if applicable). If an anchor/host’s show airs in multiple timeslots, full credit is given for total viewers of all airings. Note: in some cases television ratings have been adjusted for individuals who appear on programs that only air once per week, or are part of a larger ensemble cast. You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

TV Executives are individuals who oversee the day-to-day operations and major creative decisions of a given television program. Their rankings are determined based on: Television Ratings of their show, Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name, Online Buzz of show affiliation, Blogs Buzz of show affiliation,and Twitter Followers (if applicable). If a member of TV Execs manages multiple shows, or manages a show airing in multiple time slots, full credit is given for total viewers of all airings. Note: in some cases television ratings have been adjusted for individuals who appear on programs that only air once per week, or are part of a larger ensemble cast. You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

TV Titans are individuals who hold top management positions with a major broadcast or cable media entity. Their rankings are determined based on: Television Ratings for the individual’s channel or network or networks, Number of Employees,  Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name,and Twitter Followers (if applicable). You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

Print/Online Reporters are individuals who publish content according to editorial assignments through a recognized media entity. Their rankings are determined based on: Print Circulation of their associated publication, Unique Online Visitors to the site of their associated publication, Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name, and Twitter Followers (if applicable). You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

Print/Online Columnists are individuals who publish columns according to a regular schedule through a recognized media entity. Their rankings are determined based on:  Print Circulation of their associated publication, Online Ratings of their columns as determined by Technorati, Unique Online Visitors to the site of their associated publication, Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name, and Twitter Followers (if applicable). You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

Radio Hosts are individuals who serve as the primary host, announcer, or commentator on a given radio program. Their rankings are determined based on: Radio Ratings of the host’s program, Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name,and Twitter Followers (if applicable). You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

Newspaper/Online Editors are individuals who hold the position of editor-in-chief or a comparable top editorial position for a given newspaper or online publication. Their rankings are determined based on: Print Circulation of their associated publication, Unique Online Visitors to the site of their associated publication, Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of media affiliation, Online Blogs Buzz of media affiliation, and Twitter Followers (if applicable). You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

Magazine Editors are individuals who hold the position of editor-in-chief or a similar top editorial position for a given print magazine. Their rankings are determined based on:  Print Circulation of their associated publication, Unique Online Visitors to the site of their associated publication, Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name, Online Buzz of for their Magazine Title, Blogs Buzz of Magazine Title,and Twitter Followers (if applicable). You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

Magazine Titans are individuals who hold top management positions with a major magazine publishing entity. Their rankings are determined based on: Print Circulation of their associated publication, Number of Employees,  Online Buzz of proper name, Blogs Buzz of proper name, Online Buzz of media affiliation, Blogs Buzz of media affiliation,  and Twitter Followers (if applicable). You might at times see an individual ranked higher than any of their individual metric rankings — keep in mind that our algorithm weights some metrics more than others.

Metrics

Twitter Followers – This metric is an individual’s total number of Twitter followers, if applicable. (Individuals who do not use Twitter will not be penalized.)

Google Buzz of Name - This metric is the number of relevant hits yielded by a Google search of an individual’s name. Irrelevant hits, such as those for similarly-named individuals, are filtered out. For instance, the Google Buzz metric for James B. Stewart, the writer and reporter, filters out hits for Jimmy Stewart, the actor, and for James Stewart, Jr., the motocross racer.

Google Blog Buzz of Name – This metric is the number of relevant hits yielded by a Google blog search of an individual’s name. Irrelevant hits, such as those for similarly-named individuals, are filtered out. For instance, the Google Blog Buzz metric for James B. Stewart, the writer and editor, filters out hits for Jimmy Stewart, the actor, and for James Stewart, Jr., the motocross racer.

Google Buzz of Affiliation or Title – This metric is the number of relevant hits yielded by a Google search of a television program, print publication, or online publication. Irrelevant hits, such as those for similarly-named titles, are filtered out. For instance, the Google Buzz metric for Vanity Fair, the Condé Nast magazine, filters out hits for the Thackeray novel of the same name.

Google Blog Buzz of Affiliation or Title - This metric is the number of relevant hits yielded by a Google blog search of a television program, print publication, or online publication. Irrelevant hits, such as those for similarly-named titles, are filtered out. For instance, the Google Buzz metric for Vanity Fair, the Condé Nast magazine, filters out hits for the Thackeray novel of the same name.

Ratings of Columns - This metric is the ratings of this individual’s columns published, either exclusively online or through a publication’s website, over the past 180 days as determined by Technorati.

Print Circulation – This metric can be one of two things. For newspapers, this metric is the total average paid circulation per week. For magazines, this metric is the total paid and verified circulation per issue.

Unique Online Visitors – This metric is the estimated number of visitors to an online publication’s website in the past month, as determined by online reporting site Compete.com.

TV Airtime (through TVEyes) -This metric is the total number of times an individual appears or is mentioned on air in the previous week on a selection of U.S. cable channels, local network affiliates, and international television news operations. These statistics are reported by the media monitoring service TVEyes.

Time slot Ratings - This metric is the total viewership of the program, as extrapolated from Nielsen-reported television ratings.Note: in some cases television ratings have been adjusted for individuals who appear on programs that only air once per week, or are part of a larger ensemble cast.

Network Ratings - This metric is the total viewership for all programs managed by a given television executive, as extrapolated from Nielsen-reported television ratings. In the case of broadcast networks, we are using Prime Time network ratings. Cable Networks, however, we are using the average total day rating. Note: in some cases television ratings have been adjusted for individuals who appear on programs that only air once per week, or are part of a larger ensemble cast.

Radio Ratings - This metric is the average total number of listeners for a given radio program as extrapolated from Arbitron’s radio listenership ratings that are publicly available or self-reported.

Company Valuations - This metric is the estimated total valuation of all media companies in which an individual owns a significant stake. Non-media companies owned by an individual are not counted; however, any media company in which the individual holds a partial stake is counted at full value.

Personal Net Worth – This metric is the estimated net worth of an individual, including media, non-media holdings, and other components of personal wealth.

Number of Employees – This metric is the estimated total number of people employed under an individual, whether at an entire media company, a network, an individual publication, or a television show.