The MTV generation with their short attention spans, their preference for short skirts, their funky music and distaste for anything serious is a demographic that needs to be addressed in this election. (I know not everyone 18-24 fits in this description; however, there are quite a few registered voters whofall into that category).
I called a friend of mine this morning on my way to work to talk about the presidential race (she’s undecided too!), and she was trying to explain to me a recent special they aired on MTV on the “bling” each presidential candidate had. (Since I don’t have television, I live vicariously through the recaps of others.) She was a bit fuzzy on the details, but $500 ties and expensive cowboy boots seemed to be included in the show’s content. She was a little concerned (as am I) that MTV is not focusing on the “meat” of the issues, but rather what each candidate wears.
My friend should be concerned. I was watching MSNBC earlier and they were speaking with Gideon Yago, a news correspondent with MTV. He had some startling facts and figures about the demographic mostly catered to by his television station:
**8 in 10 in the 18-24 age group plan to “definitely” vote. (Only 42% of registered voters between 18-24 yrs old voted in the 2000 election)
**75% of eligible voters under the age of 25 are registered to vote (highest percentage ever in an election year)
**There are more eligible voters in the 18-24 demographic than at any other time in history.
Those are some dangerous numbers! More people in the demographic than ever before, more people in that demographic registered to vote than ever before, and more expressing an interest to vote than ever before.
Where is that entire generation turning for their news? Is it the “Daily Show” and Jon Stewart? Is it the MTV News Briefs at 10 minutes to the hour every hour? Yes, I know that the local and national news and specials like the debates can be tedious and boring to watch, but try it! You may like it! You may learn something too!!
Also, for those, like my friend Melissa and I, searching for the candidates’ opinions on certain issues…check out the website MSNBC.com has up comparing the candidates on specific “hot button” issues. You select which point of view you agree with the most on each issue, and at the end of a series, it will tell you which candidate you seem to be leaning towards. It tells me I am leaning towards Kerry….could have fooled me.
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