TIME’s Person of the Year 2024 Shortlist
People worldwide are waiting to see who'll be named 'Person of the Year'.
In 1928, during a quiet news period, the editors of TIME magazine couldn't find anyone to write about.
Instead, they decided to profile someone whose influence had been felt the previous year.
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Charles Augustus Lindbergh, who had completed the first solo transatlantic flight in 33 hours and 39 minutes, was the perfect candidate, and he was named 'Man of the Year'.
In 1937, Wallis Simpson became the first 'Woman of the Year', but it wasn't until 1999 that TIME made the title gender-neutral.
Over the years, the announcement of 'Person of the Year' has occasionally sparked controversy. However, TIME has explained that the title holder is not necessarily a good person or a hero, but rather someone who had significant impact on the world.
The person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year, for better or for worse.
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Infamous covers include controversial figures such as Adolf Hitler, whose cover featured the headline "From the unholy organist, a hymn of hate", and Joseph Stalin, who received the title twice.
The selection process is secret. According to TIME, very few people in the newsroom know who the 'Person of the Year' will be, and the announcement is made public before the issue goes to the printers.
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TIME has published its shortlist for 2024:
Kamala Harris
On July 21 2024, Joe Biden announced the end of his presidential campaign and endorsed Vice President Harris. From that moment, Harris began a 107-day presidential campaign with the hope of becoming the first female president of the USA.
Donald Trump
Trump is a controversial figure in American politics who made a political comeback by winning the 2024 election.
He has reshaped the American electorate, activating young male voters who propelled him to a decisive victory that saw him win the popular vote for the first time and turn every swing state red.
He is now the oldest president in US history and the first convicted felon to hold the office.
Trump was previously named 'Person of the Year' in 2016, after winning the presidency for the first time.
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Mark Zuckerberg
One of the founding fathers of social media, Zuckerberg, was put under a microscope in 2024.
Zuckerberg and other tech CEOs faced questioning during a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the impact of social media on young people. During the 2024 election cycle, election, state, and local officials were concerned about the spread of misinformation on Facebook.
He is estimated to be the fourth richest person in the world, with a net worth of $210 billion.
Joe Rogan
The host of 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast has been the top podcast on Spotify for the fifth year in a row and averages 11 million listeners per episode.
In 2024, Netflix aired his stand-up special 'Joe Rogan: Burn Your Boats'. Rogan also released a three-hour interview with Trump, who he later endorsed. Some voters say that this podcast influenced their decision.
Elon MuskThe tech billionaire continues to make headlines for various reasons, not all of which are positive. From SpaceX to buying the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the richest man in the world has now also stepped into the political arena in 2024.
He endorsed Trump during his presidential campaign, and after his victory, the President-elect announced that Musk would co-lead a new commission, the Department of Government Efficiency.
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Kate Middleton
This year has been tough for the British Royal family as they struggled with health issues. The Princess of Wales has sparked a significant conversation about privacy and health for public figures after she was hospitalised for "planned abdominal surgery" in January.
Conspiracy theories took over the internet, and Middleton addressed all rumours, announcing she had been diagnosed with cancer. In September, she shared that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment.
Claudia Sheinbaum
In October, Claudia Sheinbaum became Mexico's first female president and the first Jewish leader during the country's 200-year independence.
Sheinbaum turned her focus to fighting for the poor during her campaign and has taken office at a time when Mexico faces serious issues with their economy and rising organised violence.
She also responded to Trump's plan to impose a 25% tariff on products imported from Mexico to the US by indicating that Mexico would retaliate with tariffs against the US.
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Yulia Navalnaya
Yulia Navalnaya was married to Russia's leading dissident Alexei Navalny. After Navalny died in prison, and she has publicly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of killing him.
She has vowed to continue her husband's work, has met with world leaders, like Biden, and has been dubbed the First Lady of the Russian opposition.
Benjamin Netanyahu
The Israeli Prime Minister has been one of the most influential and controversial world leaders in 2024.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defence minister and the Hamas military chief on allegations of crimes against humanity.
Defying criticism of his war on Hamas, the terrorist organization that killed 1,200 people in an attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Netanyahu continued his military assault on the Gaza Strip this year, even as the death toll there rose to 44,056, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Jerome Powell
As the chairman of the US Federal Reserve since 2018 he has been steering the USA's economic ship.
President-elect Trump nominated him for the role, even though he repeatedly criticised the Federal Reserve during his first term in office.
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Main image courtesy of TIME Magazine