MTV Targets Younger Voters

HOUSTON--Television reporters have been as common as houseflies on the convention floor here. Charles Bierbauer, Connie Chung, Peter Jennings--each weaves through the crowd, a familiar face doing a familiar job.

And then there's Ted Nugent.

MTV brought the Damn Yankees rock star on as a guest. And according to MTV News Director Dave Sirulnick, Nugent turned heads and won smiles from conventioneers "young, old, middle aged, middle young."

It's been part of a successful week of attention-grabbing for the cable network's "Choose or Lose" drive aimed at getting young people interested in politics. At Tuesday's taping of MTV reporter Tabitha Soren's news reports, there were almost as many photographers in attendance as MTV staffers.

"The overall reaction, I think, has been very strong," Sirulnick says. "People seem to know why we're here and what we're trying to accomplish."

Call it advocacy television. MTV Vice-President Linda Corradina does--to a certain extent. MTV reporters are objectively covering the convention's daily events, she says, but the organization has a well-defined purpose.

"The goal is just to see how many people we can get out there voting," Corradina says.

This is the first time MTV has undertaken convention coverage, Corradina says. It's also the twentieth anniversary of the amendment lowering the voting age to 18, and Soren believes MTV can make this young crowd care about politics.

"They listen to us so intently about Madonna," says the 24 year-old reporter. Soren, a New York University graduate, says that with the help of MTV, young Americans should look at politics and think "exciting, sexy...rock and roll, for want of a better term."

In 1988, MTV dove into the politi- cal arena with its "Rock the Vote" campaign, aseries of public service announcements featuringrock stars that encouraged young Americans to hitthe ballot boxes with the same enthusiasm theybring to dance clubs and record stores.

This year, the cable music network has awell-established nightly news show, and isequipped to launch a full-scale conventionoperation, Corrdina says. MTV puts together apackage every night, highlighting conventionevents and explaining the basics of the politicalprocess--what's a delegate, what's a caucus,what's a primary.

It offers "very straightforward answers toobvious question that young people might have,"Corradina says. That differentiates MTV from thebig four network whose, coverage "assumes you'vebeen keeping up," she says.

MTV assignment editor Anne Hartmayer thinks thedifference run far deeper than that. "Our verynature is different," she says. "The way werepresent it for our audience."

Their reporters, including Nugent and "Naughtyby Nature" star Tretch,are an integral part of that different, vivaciousapproach. The Democratic Convention's rovingreporters were rapper MC Lite and rock star DaveMustane of Megadeth.

Not to mention Soren, the permanent reporter onMTV's political beat. She's relatively new to MTV,Corradina says, which gives her a "nice freshperspective."

On Tuesday afternoon, shortly after 1 p.m.,Soren sits in the seats of the Astrodome'sdesignated Radio TV area, high above theconvention floor. Powerful electric fans blow coolair into the shadowy seating section. Cheers fromthe floor session--eerily distant--waft past thesilvery rafters. A few feet ahead, bright lightsfocus on a row of stand-up spaces, where cameracrews from MTV, FNN, Comedy Central and othernetworks prepare to film their reporters.

Soren's attire is a far cry from typicalreporters' garb: she wore black pants, black bootsand a floppy printed blouse with floppy sleevesand rufles. (Her unprofessional appearance got herstopped by a security guard at the Astrodomeentrance; the guard gave her a special once-overwith a hand-held metal detector.)

She sits scribbling in a reporter's notebookand rehearsing her delivery of the copy she hadwritten: Hi, I'm Tabitha Soren MTV News."

Two Duke University students with a cameratraverse the passage way behind the seats, timidlyapproach and remind her that they interviewed herat the democratic convention last month. They'vehad an easier time getting around the Astrodome,they say, than they had in Madison Square Garden.

"It helps to have been to one," Soren tellsthem with a smile. "This is only my second, too."

But Soren has the routine down, expertlylifting herself into the elevated director's chairin the tiny workspace, only a few feet square. Herfeet dangle from the ends of the chair. Close by,iterns and production assistants sit cross-leggedamidst coils and wires.

Again and again, Soren recites her now nearlymemorized copy--"Thanks, Kurt. Optimism filled theAstrodome last night... "When she stumbles overthe lines, she shuts her eyes and grimaces, thenstarts over.

After a complete take--"Yesss!" Sirulnickgasped--Soren sighed, relieved. "God! Please shootme if I write something that long for tomorrow,"she said.

Tuesday brought interviews with Marvin Bush,the president's youngest son, and with Tom Brokaw,NBC anchor. The next two days would bring moreinterviews, more stand-ups, more reports.

After MTV crews finish filming each day,editors screen the tape at their hotel and edit itat a local facility, Corradina says. The spots airon MTV news each evening.

Corradina says MTV has tried to give equalattention to Democrats and Republicans. Criticismthat the music television network is giving theDemocrats more play, she says, isn't really fair."That's only because we went to the DemocraticConvention first," she says.

The Democrats have also proven more accessibleCorradina says. Democratic nominee Bill Clintonagreed to appear on an MTV forum, while PresidentBush denied a similar request.

It doesn't matter how young Americans casttheir ballots, Corradina says. She and Other MTVofficials only hope they decide to vote. And Sorenthinks they will.

"I think the turnout should be higher this timearound," Soren says. But she's not certain MTVdeserves exclusive credit: "I think it's onlytelevision when it comes down to it."

This year has seen a merger of campaigning andentertainment. As television shows skip across theline from art to public affairs and back again,they risk losing sight of their purpose andsacrificing focus.

Corradina is certain that won't happen withMTV. "We're still...music television," she says."Our lead story tonight will be on Def Leppard.

This year, the cable music network has awell-established nightly news show, and isequipped to launch a full-scale conventionoperation, Corrdina says. MTV puts together apackage every night, highlighting conventionevents and explaining the basics of the politicalprocess--what's a delegate, what's a caucus,what's a primary.

It offers "very straightforward answers toobvious question that young people might have,"Corradina says. That differentiates MTV from thebig four network whose, coverage "assumes you'vebeen keeping up," she says.

MTV assignment editor Anne Hartmayer thinks thedifference run far deeper than that. "Our verynature is different," she says. "The way werepresent it for our audience."

Their reporters, including Nugent and "Naughtyby Nature" star Tretch,are an integral part of that different, vivaciousapproach. The Democratic Convention's rovingreporters were rapper MC Lite and rock star DaveMustane of Megadeth.

Not to mention Soren, the permanent reporter onMTV's political beat. She's relatively new to MTV,Corradina says, which gives her a "nice freshperspective."

On Tuesday afternoon, shortly after 1 p.m.,Soren sits in the seats of the Astrodome'sdesignated Radio TV area, high above theconvention floor. Powerful electric fans blow coolair into the shadowy seating section. Cheers fromthe floor session--eerily distant--waft past thesilvery rafters. A few feet ahead, bright lightsfocus on a row of stand-up spaces, where cameracrews from MTV, FNN, Comedy Central and othernetworks prepare to film their reporters.

Soren's attire is a far cry from typicalreporters' garb: she wore black pants, black bootsand a floppy printed blouse with floppy sleevesand rufles. (Her unprofessional appearance got herstopped by a security guard at the Astrodomeentrance; the guard gave her a special once-overwith a hand-held metal detector.)

She sits scribbling in a reporter's notebookand rehearsing her delivery of the copy she hadwritten: Hi, I'm Tabitha Soren MTV News."

Two Duke University students with a cameratraverse the passage way behind the seats, timidlyapproach and remind her that they interviewed herat the democratic convention last month. They'vehad an easier time getting around the Astrodome,they say, than they had in Madison Square Garden.

"It helps to have been to one," Soren tellsthem with a smile. "This is only my second, too."

But Soren has the routine down, expertlylifting herself into the elevated director's chairin the tiny workspace, only a few feet square. Herfeet dangle from the ends of the chair. Close by,iterns and production assistants sit cross-leggedamidst coils and wires.

Again and again, Soren recites her now nearlymemorized copy--"Thanks, Kurt. Optimism filled theAstrodome last night... "When she stumbles overthe lines, she shuts her eyes and grimaces, thenstarts over.

After a complete take--"Yesss!" Sirulnickgasped--Soren sighed, relieved. "God! Please shootme if I write something that long for tomorrow,"she said.

Tuesday brought interviews with Marvin Bush,the president's youngest son, and with Tom Brokaw,NBC anchor. The next two days would bring moreinterviews, more stand-ups, more reports.

After MTV crews finish filming each day,editors screen the tape at their hotel and edit itat a local facility, Corradina says. The spots airon MTV news each evening.

Corradina says MTV has tried to give equalattention to Democrats and Republicans. Criticismthat the music television network is giving theDemocrats more play, she says, isn't really fair."That's only because we went to the DemocraticConvention first," she says.

The Democrats have also proven more accessibleCorradina says. Democratic nominee Bill Clintonagreed to appear on an MTV forum, while PresidentBush denied a similar request.

It doesn't matter how young Americans casttheir ballots, Corradina says. She and Other MTVofficials only hope they decide to vote. And Sorenthinks they will.

"I think the turnout should be higher this timearound," Soren says. But she's not certain MTVdeserves exclusive credit: "I think it's onlytelevision when it comes down to it."

This year has seen a merger of campaigning andentertainment. As television shows skip across theline from art to public affairs and back again,they risk losing sight of their purpose andsacrificing focus.

Corradina is certain that won't happen withMTV. "We're still...music television," she says."Our lead story tonight will be on Def Leppard.