opinion-makers
Public discourse drivers
Opinion-makers are people who shape public thinking—journalists, commentators, influential writers, and public intellectuals whose views reach wide audiences and sway how others understand issues.
The term often appears in discussions of media influence: The opinion-makers have already decided the election is over.
Sometimes used dismissively to suggest an insular elite out of touch with ordinary people.
Expert commentators on affairs
- commentatorsThose who analyze publicly
- columnistsRegular opinion piece authors
- analystsThose who dissect data
- editorialistsWriters of opinion pieces
thought-leaders · critics · spokespersons · advocates · persuaders · publicists · propagandists · lobbyists
Those shaping popular preferences
- trailblazersThose who open territory
- innovatorsCreators of novel things
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- visionariesThose who anticipate change
vanguard · avant-garde · bellwethers · fashionistas · hip · influential · cutting-edge · forward-thinking
News gatherers and writers
- editorsContent revisers and correctors
- broadcastersThose who transmit programming
- anchorsWeighted devices securing vessels
- correspondentsThose who exchange messages
reporters · newsroom · podcasters · bloggers · vloggers · press · television · radio
Founded organization or venue
- powerbrokersThose controlling political outcomes
- kingmakersThose who decide leadership
- oligarchsWealthy few who govern
- plutocratsRulers through financial power
tycoons · magnates · statesmen · dignitaries · grandees · mandarins · intelligentsia · cognoscenti
pundits
Expert commentators on affairs
- commentatorsThose who analyze publicly
- columnistsRegular opinion piece authors
- analystsThose who dissect data
editorialists · thought-leaders · critics · spokespersons · advocates · persuaders · publicists · propagandists · lobbyists · strategists
tastemakers
Those shaping popular preferences
- trailblazersThose who open territory
- innovatorsCreators of novel things
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
visionaries · vanguard · avant-garde · bellwethers · fashionistas · hip · influential · cutting-edge · forward-thinking
journalists
News gatherers and writers
- editorsContent revisers and correctors
- broadcastersThose who transmit programming
- anchorsWeighted devices securing vessels
correspondents · reporters · newsroom · podcasters · bloggers · vloggers · press · television · radio · publishers
establishment
Founded organization or venue
- powerbrokersThose controlling political outcomes
- kingmakersThose who decide leadership
- oligarchsWealthy few who govern
plutocrats · tycoons · magnates · statesmen · dignitaries · grandees · mandarins · intelligentsia · cognoscenti · luminaries
opinion-makersfollowers
People who support someone
consumers · audience · recipients · receivers · spectators
opinion-makerssilent majority
Presumed moderate, publicly mute multitude
ordinary people · nobodies · unknowns · common people · grassroots
opinion, opinions, opinionated, opine, opined, opines, opining, maker, makers