About Us
Y Gen Out Loud is a news organization that provides a platform for members of Generation Y, typically defined as between 18 and 30 years old, to bring their voices to the nation’s political and public policy conversations. Through independent, non-partisan journalism, Y Gen Out Loud nurtures accurate, informative, and interactive news content that educates and inspires civic participation among its young audience.
During the 2008 election cycle, millions of young voters were actively engaged in the electoral process. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, the youth turnout rate was at about 23 million, or 52 percent. This was an increase of 3.4 million voters, or 5 percent from 2004. This bloc accounted for 18 percent of voters, up 11 percent from 2000.
While voting is always to be encouraged, it should be noted that elections are only one aspect of civic participation. After the elections comes the hard part of deciding how best to address the issues raised in the campaigns. It is in the four years between elections that civic participation and engagement in government is most needed. Generation Y, just ushered into the political system, must be educated and informed of the opportunities for input into the policy formation process.
Y Gen Out Loud’s purpose is to give a voice to a generation struggling for importance and relevance in the political arena, using a format that appeals to Generation Y. This generation, in particular, looks to their peers for information about politics and government. They want to know what others their age are thinking and saying about the events of the day. That is why Y Gen Out Loud relies on its staff of young reporters to educate their peers on the important issues, and how their participation in the process is necessary for a thriving democracy.
A September 2008 report from the Media Management Center at Northwestern University suggests that the 2008 presidential election provided the perfect opportunity for news organizations to gain the attention of Generation Y and foster their continued interest in serious news. Unfortunately, in the past few months, we have seen the financial collapse of many news organizations. This comes at a time when the younger generation needs reliable, nonpartisan reports about the facts of the day to actively and intelligently participate in their government.
Under the current situation, industry observers are raising the idea that foundations and the general public should fund journalism. In the January 28, 2009, New York Times, David Swensen, the chief investment officer at Yale, and Michael Schmidt, a financial analyst, wrote in an opinion piece that nonprofit status would “transform newspapers into unshakeable fixtures of American life, with greater stability and enhanced independence that would allow them to serve the public good more effectively.”
To help serve the public good more effectively, Y Gen Out Loud has been formed as a nonprofit in the State of Texas, and is designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
