Social media users flock to "Hood Anchor Ye" for Atlanta news
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Carldez Goodley uses his "Hood Anchor Ye" persona to share Atlanta news to followers on Instagram and TikTok. Photo: Courtesy of Jefferson Cochran
Not everyone seeks out Axios, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution or local TV news stations to learn what's going on in Atlanta.
Why it matters: A new survey shows more Americans prefer social media platforms over television to get their news, and many Atlantans are turning to Carldez Goodley — better known as Hood Anchor Ye — to give them a play-by-play of what's happening in their neighborhoods.
Zoom in: Goodley's platform stands out for two reasons: his attire and his embrace of his Atlanta dialect while communicating with followers.
- Hood Anchor Ye dons a bathrobe, eyeglasses, durag and a hat with "Magic City" emblazoned on the front.
- He doesn't talk like a news anchor or use police jargon. While clutching a coffee mug and microphone, he drops in some expletives to describe what's happening, sends condolences to crime victims and their families and sometimes uses AAVE when interviewing witnesses.
- His straightforward way of speaking and the brevity of his videos keep his followers coming back for more.
The intrigue: He sometimes ends on a light note by inviting people to have drinks on him at Magic City, Atlanta's famous strip club.
What they're saying: Goodley, 31, told Axios his dive into full-time content creation wasn't intentional.
- It began as a joke, but he leaned into it more consistently after one of his videos went viral on TikTok.
- He posted his first video last year, but while he was watching the news, he made the decision to "just go out and start reporting stuff in a robe to make it look like I just hopped out of bed and went straight to the scene."
By the numbers: Goodley has amassed around 200,000 combined followers on Instagram and TikTok.
- "I don't really consider myself famous, but everybody knows me," he said. "I just look at it like I'm doing a service. If fame comes with it, it comes with it."
- He's now getting paid to do promotional videos, including with one law firm he advertises regularly.
How it works: Goodley told Axios he regularly gets messages from people informing him of incidents.
- When he shows up to an area, he stands outside the crime scene tape to report to his followers and even participates when law enforcement holds press conferences for other journalists.
Yes, but: He's not just focused on the doom and gloom.
- Last week, Goodley gave a child $100 when he saw that the seventh grader had A's and B's on his report card.
- He visited Atlanta City Hall earlier this month to speak with high school students and city staff about his social media work (yes, he wore his usual attire).
The bottom line: Goodley told Axios he thinks his content resonates because it's authentic.
- "If I'm bringing awareness or I'm bringing the news in the way the younger generation can understand, then that's what I'm trying to bring to the table," he said.