Overview
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 years between elections that civic participation and engagement in government is most needed.
But many Generation Y, typically defined as between 18 and 31 years old, are unsure how best to approach the political system to make a difference. They want to have their voices heard on the important issues that will affect their futures, but they lack education about the opportunities for input into the policy formation process at all levels of government.
And at a time when we live in an increasingly multicultural social and political environment, the demand for effective, accurate communications is very high. That’s where Y Gen Out Loud comes in.
Our purpose is to give a voice to a culturally diverse 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 the main issues and events of the day. That is why Y Gen Out Loud promotes a staff of young reporters to educate peers on the important issues, and how their participation in the process is necessary for a thriving democracy.
Through investigative, comprehensive news content, our audience gains insight on the role of government in defining and shaping areas such as finance, technology, environment, innovation, social justice, cultural expression, public health, and education. And since Gen Y has a keen interest in the world around them, we also explore the cultural, economic, and political systems across the globe, putting into perspective new ideas and ways to address global challenges that affect this generation and beyond.
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 years, we have seen the financial collapse of many news media. 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.
