How a Hicksville native is captivating the community using nostalgia

Social media has really changed the look of journalism, and Blake Grossman is a perfect example of that. The 24-year-old Hicksville native may look like a typical “influencer,” but his background in journalism has helped him build his following.  Grossman may have the look of a content creator but his videos are a take on modern-day journalism as he reports on all the “abandoned” spots on Long Island as well as giving an insight into pop culture and nostalgia.  However what makes his videos stand out is the research Grossman does beforehand to provide not just entertainment, but accurate information on the history and current events of whatever is the subject of videos – whether it is the Broadway Mall or LIRR strike. This tried and true Long Islander is hoping to keep sharing stories from across the area to his over 67,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok.  “I think journalism is content creation,” Grossman said, “It’s always been, at least since the dawn of video, standing in front of a camera and talking about what’s happening.”