Rock the Vote and WireTap Magazine Kick Off “Rock the Trail” Reporter Contest
If you can’t take your eyes off the 2008 election, we want to hear from you. Rock the Vote in partnership with WireTap magazine is searching for aspiring or established reporters for Rock the Trail. Sponsored by AT&T, Rock the Trail will capture today’s politics through the eyes and in the words of young voters.
Beginning today and running through May 7th, U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 – 29 can enter the contest by completing an application at www.rockthevote.org/rockthetrail. Five Rock the Trail reporters will be chosen to cover one of the most exciting times in U.S. politics, interviewing candidates, campaigners, youth participants and Rock the Vote artists on everything from the Presidential race to mayoral elections and anything in between.
Entries will be judged by an advisory panel of distinguished journalists including: Jeff Chang, award-winning author of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation, Sian-Pierre Regis, producer, BET News, Peter Rothberg, associate publisher, The Nation magazine and Jose Antonio Vargas, political feature writer, The Washington Post. Individuals will be chosen based on the creativity and originality of his or her application, and ability to write in a clear, concise manner.
Throughout this election, Rock the Trail reporters will deliver insightful and compelling blogs, articles and videos from the communities they live in, reporting on young people’s top issues such as jobs, the economy and college affordability. Content will be posted on www.rockthevote.org, www.wiretapmag.org, www.BET.com, and will also be available for viewing on AT&T mobile phones. In addition, we will be working with the washingtonpost.com to contribute unique perspectives complementary to the site’s vast coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign.
Rock the Trail reporters will be paid a $500 monthly stipend and equipped with AT&T mobile technology including video capable phones in addition to laptops and video cameras to rock the 2008 campaign trail. Additional details about the contest and program, including entry guidelines are available at www.rockthevote.org/rockthetrail.
Rock the Trail is part of a yearlong alliance between AT&T and Rock the Vote to engage young people in the democratic process by bringing the election to them through their mobile phones.
About Rock the Vote:
Rock the Vote’s mission is to engage and build the political power of young people in order to achieve progressive change in our country. Rock the Vote uses music, popular culture and new technologies to engage and incite young people to register and vote in every election. And we give young people the tools to identify, learn about, and take action on the issues that affect their lives, and leverage their power in the political process. Rock the Vote is creative, effective, and controlled by nobody’s agenda but our own ? we tell it like it is and pride ourselves on being a trusted source for information on politics. We empower the 45 million young people in America who want to step up, claim their voice in the political process, and change the way politics is done. www.rockthevote.org
About WireTap:
WireTap is the award-winning news and culture web magazine by and for young people interested in social change. WireTap informs young audiences in their own voices, creates a space for reflection and discussion, attracts young readers alienated from politics, connects information to action, and inserts the perspective of young people into the crowded media landscape. Together with our syndication partners, WireTap reaches a combined audience of 2 million readers.
About AT&T:
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world’s most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation’s leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.
About washingtonpost.com:
washingtonpost.com is an award-winning news and information destination that delivers world-class reporting and innovative multimedia content, creating a truly interactive news experience. Using the latest technology and tools, washingtonpost.com encourages participation and content customization across all platforms, allowing readers to engage with washingtonpost.com anytime, anywhere. Winner of four consecutive Edward R. Murrow Awards for Overall Excellence for Non-Broadcast Affiliated Web site, washingtonpost.com is owned by Washingtonpost. Newsweek Interactive, the online publishing subsidiary of The Washington Post Company. (NYSE: WPO)