New Media, The “Youth Vote” And Generation “We”

The "audacity of hope"...It's a powerful potion for all ages, not just Generation "WE." I wrote about "marketing hope" awhile back on this post Inconvenient Truth Meets Digital Earth and am in a bit of deja vu, balancing equal parts challenge and roll up the sleeves pragmatics... I wonder what category I ended up in via Facebook’s “largest online rally in … [Read more...]

Media Simulations Where Kids Cast Their Vote: Silly or Sage?

I vote sage. But you probably figured that. Sunday's Kids Pick the President Nickelodeon News special fell off my radar...even with Linda Ellerbee’s encouragement to get in the practice of voting, “because the next four years affects your future as much as any adult.” (ahem, maybe more, kidlets!) Truth is, I missed posting yesterday because kids were … [Read more...]

Got 5 Friends? Google Maps + Celebrities Rock the Vote

Got 5 minutes? Watch this video. Got 5 friends? Tell ‘em to register NOW to vote. Some states close their voter registration in less than 72 hours, as early as October 4th. (deadlines for each state here) Other states have ‘postmark by’ dates. Some let you register later if you show up in person. Don’t get shut out. Register NOW. Go to … [Read more...]

Want Change? Obama or McCain, It’s In The Bag

Leave it to our consumptionist culture to create a “Make A Change” designer handbag with a cause-marketing twist. A portion of the proceeds go to Rock the Vote, but I dare say at $95 a pop, teens are not the target market here. Any over-spent millennials with student loans out the wazoo want to fork out $95 to help your peers Rock the Vote? I say give it to … [Read more...]

Do Youth See Politicians As Puppets?

As MyDebates.org gives kids a MySpace forum for Social Studies classrooms to attempt to instill a civic sense of  ‘how it all works’ with “Who won? Who lost?’ Who made the stronger case?” it makes me ponder if we're perhaps asking kids the wrong question entirely. I'm all for teaching kids how to watch a debate, and giving media literacy … [Read more...]