Who, or what, has been the most influential for the year 2020? Time magazine has announced its shortlist for the Person of the Year.
Editor in Chief of Time, Edward Felsenthal, appeared on the “Today” show Thursday morning to announce the finalists who editors said had the most influence over the world.
President-elect Joe Biden was chosen because of his historic win, as Felsenthal described the presidential race.
President Donald Trump was chosen despite not being re-elected, but remains in control of the Republican party, Felsenthal said. Trump was Time’s Person of the Year in 2016.
Movement for racial justice was chosen as Felsenthal cited the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor inspiring what he said were some of the largest protests the country has seen with as much as 10% of the population in some areas marching for justice.
Dr. Anthony Fauci and front line workers were chosen saying that the coronavirus pandemic was a once in a century story and that Fauci and medical workers “stood up for science.” Felsenthal also acknowledged the health care workers who slept in their cars and worked endlessly to save lives as COVID-19 continues to spread.
Watch the announcement of the shortlist below:
TIME Editor-in-Chief @efelsenthal reveals the shortlist for @TIME’s Person of the Year. #TIMEPOY pic.twitter.com/2zRaZoh7o4
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 10, 2020
Time has selected its person of the year starting with the Jan. 2, 1928 issue when the publication named Charles Lindbergh the Man of the Year for 1927.
The first woman to be featured was Wallis Simpson who was named Woman of the Year for 1936. The Man or Woman of the year moniker was changed to the gender-neutral Person of the Year title in 1999 with Jeff Bezos’ honor.
Not all people chosen have been for their positive influence on the world, including Adolph Hitler in 1938.
The publication calls the choices made each year are “in no way an accolade, nor a Nobel Prize for doing good. Nor is it a moral judgment. The two criteria are always these: who had the biggest rise in fame; and who did the most to change the news for better or for worse.”
The Person of the year for 2019 was climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The person selected will be announced Thursday at 10 p.m.
Cox Media Group
