MTV’s Choose or Lose ’08 Extends Youth Election Coverage Across Media Platforms
New Weekly Show ‘Best of Choose or Lose’ Exclusively for Mobile
MTV/Knight Street
Team Reporters Speak-Out in the MTV Virtual World
New York, NY (October 9, 2008) – In an ongoing effort to bring America’s youth the best coverage of political issues, MTV’s Emmy-Award winning Choose or Lose campaign today announced it is extending its youth coverage across multiple new media platforms. Today through Election Day on November 4, 2008, users can watch the new, hour-long program, the “Best of Choose or Lose," exclusively on their mobile phones via MediaFLO USA’s FLO TV™ service, airing each Friday at 7pm EST. Additionally, MTV is now offering Street Team ’08 reports in a weekly podcast, which viewers can find on iTunes, and MTV’s Street Team ’08 citizen journalists are making appearances on MTV’s Virtual World to speak with young people about the political issues that are most important to them.
The Choose or Lose “Street Team ’08” represents a specially recruited group of 51 citizen journalists – one from every state and Washington, D.C. – who have been covering the 2008 elections from a youth perspective and tailoring their reports for mobile devices. Young people can now get the latest election coverage on a weekly basis on FLO TV, direct to their mobile phones, as the journalists report on politics, the economy, the environment, and all of the issues most important to young voters. To get the FLO TV service on your phone and watch live mobile TV, go to http://www.flotv.com or visit your local AT&T or Verizon Wireless store. FLO TV, which features a lineup of primetime, news, entertainment and children’s content from leading entertainment brands, is available to AT&T and Verizon Wireless subscribers in 58 major metropolitan areas nationwide. Fans can also check out and download the latest Choose or Lose reports on iTunes.
“Young people have already been a major force in this election. The Choose or Lose Street Team ’08 is a key way for our audience to access political news on the issues that are most important to them,” said Ian Rowe, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, MTV. “By giving young people multiple touch points to access this information- from Mobile TV to the Internet to the Virtual World- we’re creating an environment that keeps our audience informed and engaged, no matter where they are or what technology they use to access news.”
A number of Choose or Lose Street Team’08 reporters are making “live” appearances in MTV’s Virtual World, talking about politics with young people. 250 people signed on to chat with the New York Street Team ’08 reporter Sara Benincasa. On October 7, 2008, MTV’s Washington Street Teamer Cory Midgarden also hit the Virtual World for an in-depth discussion on the latest political issues. As we approach Election Day, please check http://ChooseorLose.com for announcements about upcoming appearances. Young people can check out all Street Team ‘08 citizen journalist reports now on http://ChooseorLose.com or on the MTV Virtual World THINK homepage.
Since the Street Team was formed, the members have contributed weekly, multi-media reports (short form videos, blogs, animation, photos, podcasts) that are distributed via a WAP site, MTV Mobile, Think.MTV.com and to the more than 1,800 sites in the Associated Press Online Video Network, with an aggregate reach of 61 million unique visitors. Carefully selected by MTV after an extensive nationwide search, the one-of-a-kind press corps is armed with mobile media like laptops, video cameras and cell phones, and charged with uncovering the untold political stories that matter most to young people in their respective states.
The “Street Team ’08” program is made possible by a Knight News Challenge grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The Knight News Challenge, at www.newschallenge.org, is an annual worldwide competition awarding $5 million for innovative ideas that use digital media to inform and inspire communities. The Knight Foundation plans to invest at least $25 million over five years in the search for bold community news experiments.
“Choose or Lose ’08” (http://www.ChooseorLose.com) is MTV’s Emmy-Award winning campaign to engage, inform and empower young voters on the political issues that matter to them most. First launched in 1992, the campaign has helped fuel several of the largest youth voter turnouts in US history, including in 2004, when it helped inspire nearly 22 million 18-30 year olds to register and vote.
Other elements of “Choose or Lose ‘08” include the recent special where MTV News and Kanye West teamed up to tell the stories of returning veterans in the powerful documentary “Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming.” In this one hour special, Kanye West, along with MTV’s Sway Calloway, gave recently returned Iraq war veterans the surprise of their lives by unexpectedly visiting their homes. The campaign also pioneered the MTV / MySpace Presidential Dialogue Series, which featured Senators McCain, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Governor Huckabee and Representative Paul taking unfiltered questions – in person and online, in real time – from youth nationwide; and “Choose or Lose Presents Clinton & Obama Answer Young Veterans.” On July 4th Choose or Lose presented exclusive 60-second video messages on MTV2 from presumptive Presidential candidates, republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Barack Obama. These messages paid tribute to the young men and women who have served in the nation’s armed forces.
All “Choose or Lose” content – plus more information on the candidates, issues, registering to vote and a spirited debate – can be found on http://www.ChooseorLose.com.
About Think.MTV.com
Think MTV (Think.MTV.com) is dynamic, multimedia-driven and enables youth to easily learn more about the issues that matter to them most, share their opinions – via uploaded online videos, podcasts and blogs – and connect with others to make a difference. The site is one of the only to reward members for positive actions taken online or off, serving up chances to hang out with socially conscious celebs, access to exclusive MTV events, exposure on MTV and other national media outlets, as well as grants, scholarships and more. Think.MTV.com was built and launched with the support and expertise of The Case Foundation, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Goldhirsh Foundation and The MCJ Amelior Foundation. For more information or to build a profile and become involved, visit Think.MTV.com.
About MTV
MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 26 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries—giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV has been the number one rated 24 hour ad-supported cable network P12-24 for 16 straight years. Online, MTV.com scored double-digit growth in 2007 and MTV launched 15 dynamic online communities and eight new virtual worlds. On the go, MTV Mobile is the #1 music brand in the wireless space – delivering 90% more streams than in 2006. And MTV’s successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Wanna know more? Come on in… http://www.mtvpress.com.
About MediaFLO USA Inc.
MediaFLO USA Inc. unleashes the power of TV for mobile consumers, combining the best content, an intuitive user interface and a superior multicast network to deliver a true TV experience. The award-winning FLO TV service from MediaFLO USA offers full-length simulcast and time-shifted programming from the world’s best entertainment brands, including CBS, CBS College Sports, CBS News, CNBC, Comedy Central, ESPN, FOX, FOX News, FOX Sports, MSNBC, MTV, NBC 2Go, NBC, NBC Sports, NBC News, NickToons and Nickelodeon. Based in San Diego, Calif., MediaFLO USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated. Further information is available at both www.mediaflousa.com and www.flotv.com.
MediaFLO and FLO TV are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.