Who needs good TV, the Youth want to Vote!
Posted on Jan 28, 2008 By Matt Goldberg“I’ve got some bad news for striking Hollywood writers: Election 2008 is a breakaway hit,” says David Carr of the New York Times in his January 14th article.
It’s the perfect storm. President Bush’s approval rating is almost non-existent. Thousands of young men and women are fighting a war most people don’t agree with. And to top it off, the economy is spiraling out of control.
Come November, this country will go to the polls to elect our new president, or shall I say vote for “change.” And on top of it all, there’s no new TV series or seasons anywhere in sight.
Its clear as day that the 18 to 29 year old demographic has a renewed interest in politics. In her BusinessWeek article, Michelle Conline dubbed the movement, “Youthquake.” There are many reasons for this renewed interest, and its certainly time for change, but I’m convinced that the writer’s strike is a big reason for it.
Presidential hopefuls have embraced this lull in TV programming to fully engross us through the use of mediums we understand. They’re using YouTube, Facebook, and late-night programming such as The Late Show with David Letterman to spread their messages.
And we are biting. Since returning to the air, programs like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report have almost exclusively catered their programming to primary election coverage. CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News are reporting bumps in viewership in upwards of 150% over the 2004 election period. CNN and YouTube even went so far as to join forces and produce youth centric debates with questions being submitted exclusively through YouTube.
Who needs scripted soap operas when the 2008 election has a Presidential hopeful to fulfill every character script and plot twist conceivable? The excitement surrounding the viability of having the first woman president is only countered by the equally viable fact that our next president could be black or Mormon. And millennials across the country are jockeying into position to be ready to not only vote for change, but to elect history at the same time.
With a break in the stalemate of the Hollywood writers strike no where in sight and the Election moving closer everyday, the stage is set for Generation Y to have a huge stake in the near future of this country. And this millennial is just one of thousands who have a lot to say.
Posted In: Politics
Comment by davilaluis on the January 29th, 2008 at 12:43 am
I think that young people have the great potential to change the outcome of this election. It goes beyond the media coverage and the general pundit comments. I think that this generation is truly interested in changing the world.
davilaluis.wordpress.com
Comment by Matt Goldberg on the January 29th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Davi-
You are right. I think I am just stressing that the writer’s strike is just helping get the word out even more, and bringing politics to the forefront of all of our minds. There is no question our generation is very focused on changing the world, its how I try to live my daily life. Thanks for the comments!
MSG
Comment by After Launch, Work-Life Balance Remains | Employee Evolution on the March 4th, 2008 at 5:01 am
[…] look at the clock, your schedule becomes increasingly erratic, and if not for a DVR (and of course, the writer’s strike) you miss some damn good […]