Groundbreaking Event Allowed for National Online Participation, Real-Time Questioning and Instant Polling Feedback
MTV to Exclusively Premiere “A Presidential Candidate Dialogue with John Edwards” On Air Tonight at 7 p.m. ET
Archive of Entire Event Available On MySpace (www.myspace.com/election2008) and MTV’s www.ChooseorLose.com
Today, MySpace and MTV kicked off the first in a series of Presidential Candidate Dialogues at the University of New Hampshire with John Edwards. In the first-of-its-kind online and in-person discussion, Edwards was asked questions submitted by online viewers live, via MySpaceIM, MTV’s www.ChooseorLose.com, and from the live audience on youth-oriented topics ranging from urban violence, stem cell research, the environment, the war in Iraq, college funding and arts education. In total, nearly 2,300 questions were posted by online viewers in just one hour’s time. The discussion, which was webcast live on MySpace (www.myspace.com/election2008) and www.ChooseorLose.com, was the opening in a series of one-on-one Presidential Candidate Dialogues hosted by MySpace and MTV that will take place over the coming months with leading presidential candidates. The intimate dialogue included 300 students from the University of New Hampshire, was translated live into Spanish for online viewers, simulcast in English on MTV Radio and XM Radio, and was the first-ever Presidential forum to be broadcast live on mobile phones, via MTV Mobile.
For the first time in history, online viewers were able to immediately respond and give their feedback to the answers Edwards provided with a new online polling tool powered by Flektor. Online viewers used the simple ratings meter to indicate their approval or disapproval of Edwards’ responses. Throughout the entire event, the “popular vote” function let viewers compare their opinions against those of the entire viewing community.
Options for approval ratings included:
• Answered question(s)
• Understands reality
• Good idea
Options for disapproval ratings include:
• Dodged question(s)
• Out of touch
• Wrong ideas
“This is the beginning of a new generation of democratic participation,” said Jeff Berman, SVP of public affairs at MySpace. “We proved today that presidential town-hall discussions can now take place in America’s living rooms, classrooms and dorm rooms.”
“Today, America’s youth were introduced to an unprecedented level of access to a top Presidential candidate,” said Ian Rowe, VP of Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, MTV. “We’ve indelibly changed how candidates and voters interact, and we’re excited to work with MySpace to facilitate more of these groundbreaking dialogues -- which offer young people an amazing way to decide who our next President should be.”
The television broadcast of the event will air tonight, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. ET exclusively on MTV. The webcast of the event is archived and available online on MySpace at www.myspace.com/election 2008 and www.ChooseorLose.com.
The Presidential Candidate Dialogue with John Edwards was moderated by MTV News Correspondents Gideon Yago and SuChin Pak, as well as WashingtonPost.com political reporter Chris Cillizza. Industry-leading pollsters John McLaughlin and Geoffrey Garin oversaw the real-time polling data and audience questions that were submitted via MySpaceIM and MTV.com.
The interactive Presidential Candidate Dialogue events, each an hour in length, feature one leading presidential candidate in a live, candid discussion with America’s youth. Held on college campuses nationwide, the Presidential Candidate Dialogues will include major Republican and Democratic Presidential candidates over the coming months.
Photos and an EPK are available upon request.
About MySpace
MySpace, a unit of Fox Interactive Media Inc., is the premier lifestyle portal for connecting with friends, discovering popular culture, and making a positive impact on the world. By integrating web profiles, blogs, instant messaging, e-mail, music streaming, music videos, photo galleries, classified listings, events, groups, college communities, and member forums, MySpace has created a connected community. As the first ranked web domain in terms of page views(a), MySpace is the most widely-used and highly regarded site of its kind and is committed to providing the highest quality member experience. MySpace will continue to innovate with new features that allow its members to express their creativity and share their lives, both online and off. MySpace’s international network includes localized community sites in the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Latin America, Denmark, Norway, Finland and the United Kingdom. Fox Interactive Media is a division of News Corp. (NYSE:NWS)(NYSE:NWS.A)(ASX:NWS)(ASX:NWSLV).
(a) Among the top 2000 domains comScore Media Metrix, August 2007. For more information on comScore Networks, please go to http://www.comscore.com.
About MTV Networks
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 130 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services. The network also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.