FYI 2008 Launches at United Nations - USA TODAY, Associated Press, Think MTV co-host

Admin — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:12:00 -0500

Today we launched the 4th round of Film Your Issue Monday at the United Nations, co-hosted by USA TODAY, Associated Press and MTV.

The luncheon in the Delegates Dining Room, facing the east river of Manhattan, was an inspiring experience for all of us in the room, and an exhilarating start to the global competition that has grown from its modest beginnings, on a state level, four years ago.

The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations' Department of Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka, arrived as the official program was underway, joining Special Guests Christina Norman, president of MTV; Kevin Roach, Executive Producer of the Online Video Division of the Associated Press; Eric Falt, Director of the United Nations DPI; Ed Cassidy, a Vice President at USA TODAY; and Joe Trippi, political advisor to John Edwards and architect of Howard Dean's online presidential campaign.

The consortium of media companies and cause organizations uniting to outreach to young adults globally is unprecedented for this type of competition and initiative: The United Nations, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the NAACP, USA TODAY, The Associated Press, MTV, The Humane Society of the United States, the NRDC, Starz, The Human Rights Campaign, the National Association of Student Councils, AFI Silverdocs and AFI Screen Nation, International Documentary Association, MySpace, the award-winning PBS series P.O.V., the American Association of University Professors, the University Film and Video Association and the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

The theme of remarks by these important cultural leaders was the growing power of the internet to impact social consciousness and change the landscape as to how we all receive news — notably the younger generation; the growth and significance of user-generated content, and how the interplay of the internet and USC underscores the growing democratization of media and the power of the individual voice to impact change.

We are all experience a groundswell of change in media, news, politics, and where change comes from. It's an exciting time.

The vision of Film Your Issue is giving a global platform to young adults to share your issues, local to national, from your neighborhood and personal home, to your country or ethnicity. It's an opportunity to spotlight issues, give voice to your passions and concerns.

We focus for this round on 14 to 24 year olds because we feel that young adults need to be enouraged to participate in the public dialogue, in a way that older people have already experienced, or understand. Our hope is to expand the competition so that we give voice to everybody, to express their issue!

And as a sidebar: special thanks to Jackson Family Winery for the Atalon cabernet and Freemark Abbey chardonnay, and the UN catering for the chicken medallions, lasagna and other fine food. And thanks to The Alex Hotel for their hospitality.

And to USA TODAY, MTV, Associated Press and The United Nations Department of Public Information for co-hosting the launch event, and for AP for producing the launch film on FYI's 4th year.

FilmYourIssue Blog: FYI 2008 Launches at United Nations - USA TODAY, Associated Press, Think MTV co-host

FYI 2008 Launches at United Nations - USA TODAY, Associated Press, Think MTV co-host