Dometi Pongo and Yoonj Kim are the faces of MTV News’s flagship video series “Need to Know.” Their objective is to cover what matters most to our audience, from pop culture to nationwide protests, while providing in-depth analyses. Pongo also hosts MTV’s True Life Crime, covering untimely, unsolved deaths while taking care to humanize each subject. The show recently released its second season. His background in hip-hop and investigative journalism speaks to his unique ability to contextualize daily news stories within the greater socio-political landscape. Kim also hosts the MTV News series “HOLD UP!” and “The Pop Factor,” which utilize her acumen for investigative and entertainment journalism to reach young audiences through a clear, intersectional lens.
In 2021, many of the most widely viewed and shared episodes of “Need to Know” extrapolated the political underpinnings of major pop culture events, examining the margins where social movements and entertainment meet. One segment looked to South Korean history for answers about how the breakout Netflix thriller Squid Game subverts global capitalism and financial angst. Another piece unpacked the significance of Rihanna being named a national hero in Barbados, as the republic severed ties with the British monarchy that first colonized it nearly 400 years prior. Though these subjects may seem vastly different at first glance, they are rooted in the discourse happening every day among young people and online. “Need to Know” shows the interconnected nature of the culture young people consume and the lives we lead, never shying from bridging complex themes.
“Need to Know” has produced 715 episodes in total and amassed nearly 15 million views. Looking to the future, “Need to Know” will continue its mission to amplify young voices and to shed light on the issues of greatest concern to our audience. We hope to set an example for the solution-oriented, coalition-building discourse we’ll need to advance social justice, dismantle white supremacy, and protect our planet.
