SUE DAVIS DESCRIBES HILL REPORTING
By Zack Perskin

As Sue Davis explained the ins and outs of political journalism to the Georgetown Summer Journalism Workshop, she was able to give the students a little taste of what it is like reporting on Capitol Hill. In essence, Sue Davis brought her work to the table and discussed how the political environment of America is changing.

“The You Tube element, the Facebook element, both have given a different demographic to American politics,” Davis said July 30.

In the eyes of Davis, the youth of America will have its generational election in 2008. Davis said politicians recognize this and are using You Tube and Facebook to get young voters.

Also, Davis said how many celebrities come to Capitol Hill, but these icons do not get the status on the Hill as they would in the streets below.

“The celebrity impact does not have much influence over politicians as much as it does the populous,” Davis said about celebrities frequently showing up at the Capitol to talk about their favorite issues.

The influence celebrities have in general over politics is more to get citizens to see causes than for politicians to actually do something about those causes, she said.

Davis said politics have changed significantly with each generation and celebrity status has helped. Celebrity appeal, in Davis’ eyes, does not sway how a politician makes a choice about a law or bill being passed. But she said celebrities might influence how American citizens make a decision.

THE AMERICAN YOUTH VOTE
By Zack Perskin

A survey of young voters shows that today’s teen voters are more likely to vote for a left wing candidate in the 2008 election because of the current administration’s work both domestically and abroad, especially in the War on Terror.

The informal survey by Georgetown University journalism students asked questions that show how teens view politics in their lives, how they become informed about politics, and if they will express their views during election time 2008.

Results show that more teens who vote consider themselves liberal or moderate due to opposition to the current Republican administration in the White House. One of the most influential issues coming from the current administration is the War on Terror.

“For better or worse,” says Stephanie Smith, 20, of Washington, D.C., “war is a part of life.”

“We need to get out of there (Iraq),” says Mike Chanos age 16 of New York City.

“It is an international problem,” says Mei Mu, 16, a Japanese citizen studying at Georgetown.

Politically, the War on Terror resembles the Vietnam War in the eyes of youth voters. The highest percentage of teens voted during the Vietnam War when 18 through 20 year olds were given the right to vote in 1972. The number of eighteen year olds voting in 1972 was only a little over 50 percent. Over 35 years the youth vote has bounced up and down, and in 2008 experts predict that number might be close to the 1972 record.

“If we don’t get our voting rates up, we will be losing a lot of power and chances to change the way this country is run, from whatever way your political persuasion is,” says Mary McClelland, national field director of Young Voters Strategies.

Sue Davis, a political writer for Roll Call, told the Summer Journalism Workshop at Georgetown how politicians are all trying to use the Internet to attract young voters.

“The YouTube (www.youtube.com) element, (and) the Facebook (www.facebook.com) element are both being used by politicians such as Clinton and Obama to get the youth vote,” says Davis.

Democratic candidates Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama have great support among young voters because the two candidates use campaign strategies relating to these young people. This is evident in their various advertisements on www.youtube.com. (Clinton, and Obama.)

Celebrities like P. Diddy, Dave Chappelle and Kanye West have tried to motivate younger voters on Election Day along with organizations like Rock the Vote. But celebrities alone can’t convince teens to vote.

“We have witnessed a mutual cycle of neglect where young people don’t vote because no one is paying attention to them. No one is paying attention to them because they don’t vote,” said McClelalland.

“They’re (youth voters) informed,” says Smith. “They need to do what’s right.”

In recent elections the number of youth voters have increased and changed to more liberal views. The youth vote was split between then Vice-President Gore and President Bush. In 2004 the vote shifted to 56 percent of youth voters in favor of Senator Kerry and 41 percent in favor of President Bush (New york Times).

The survey conducted by the Georgetown University Journalism Workshop showed that the American youth vote leans to the left and that a wide range of issues motivate them to vote from the War in Iraq to domestic policy. However, many teens admitted to not being informed enough to make these decisions. The survey results show that teens are interested enough in the issues to talk about their views and express what they know about the political world, but not always motivated enough to go out and vote.

The more teens become involved in politics, the more they will vote, and the louder their voice will be heard. As the voice of America’s future, the teen vote will likely affect the next generation’s political life.