MTV is Looking for a Few Good Vloggers
MTV is looking to hire vloggers in all 50 states to cover the campaign. This is a great opportunity to shape the youth narrative in the 2008 election cycle.
Ideal candidates will have their fingers on the pulse of issues that are important to young people in their states and be passionate about politics and the possibilities of new technology. Strong writing and reporting skills are a must. A distinctive voice and an authoritative point of view? Even better.
We'll load you up with some production gear and bring you to MTV's headquarters in New York City for orientation. In return, you will be expected to work in a paid, part-time capacity to file video, written or photographic stories weekly throughout the election year. Your pieces will be posted online and spread to mobile devices — and the top stories will be broadcast on MTV, MTV2, MTVU or MTV Trés each week.
Requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years old by December, 2007.
- You must reside in the state you are covering from January to November, 2008.
- You must have the time and ability to travel within your state and file at least one video, written or photographic story per week.
Apply Here. The deadline is September 21st.
2008 Youth Vote in Context
The following charts and graphs are meant to contextualize the unique role that young voters played in the 2008 election, and their increasingly important role in a winning electoral coalition:
2008 Youth Electoral Map

2004 Youth Electoral Map

Youth Vote Partisan Advantage: 2000 - 2008

Youth Vote Historical Support: 1976 - 2008

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Whoa
This could actually be pretty fucking rad. I feel too aged to apply, but I'll be keeping an eye on this. If they can really get 50 (or more) people doing this, the odds are at least five or ten will be truly awesome.
Editorial
It all depends on how heavy the editorial hand of MTV is, but I agree. There's enormous potential.
Cross-posting
There may be some copyright issues involved here -- I'm sure what MTV pays them to produce, MTV will push to hold the rights to it -- but one could maintain the raw files and cross-post to things like, oh I don't know, The Future Majority or their own personal website. (This is where knowledge of proprietary rights of content producers, which I don't have, would come into play.)
www.mattortega.com
Yeah
It's hard to see how MTV could realistically try to hold on to all the content with a decentralized production apparatus. If they're smart, they won't try.
I don't doubt there will be some editorial control over what gets posted on an official site, let alone broadcast on the network; but if they're paying people to get good at vlogging, there's going to be a lot of spillover no matter what.
I applied
I applied this morning just for the hell of it.
www.mattortega.com
Busy Busy
You are a multi-tasking mo-fo. When do you sleep?
Let me know if you get the gig.
Sleep?
I find time between election cycles.
I'll be sure to keep you posted.
www.mattortega.com