Listen now to the character of TheScoop08's proposed agenda. "More than 50 aggressive and passionate student journalists representing nearly every state will each contribute regularly to TheScoop08 through Election Day 2008. For example, a reporter might be assigned to a particular candidate to cover in-depth ('Candidate Correspondent'), to a compelling and complex issue ('Policy Correspondent'), or to a modern and innovative beat (e.g., 'Democracy Correspondent,' who would trace this election's historical value in comparison to past contests, or 'Rhetoric Correspondent,' who would write features analyzing the candidates' words)."
TheScoop08 hopes to sponsor a pre-primary debate for the candidates, plus exclusive interviews, "as campaigns are searching for better ways of reaching millions of students at once." A look at the almanac reveals that in the 2006 election, young people (defined as people aged 18-29) voted 61 percent Democratic, 39 percent Republican. In 2004 it was 54 Democratic, 45 Republican; in 2000, the vote was split, 48 Democratic, 46 Republican.
What especially attracts attention is the arrant boldness of the venture. At least Henry Luce and Briton Hadden waited until they were 23 to launch their revolution. And the idea is engrossing. A Rhetoric Correspondent to check every speech by Hillary Clinton or Mitt Romney, a Democracy Correspondent outside the door of Barack Obama, a Policy Correspondent listening in to the late-night contributions of Rudy Giuliani. All under the guidance of Scoop editors at high schools and colleges across the nation.
For more details, go to www.thescoop08.com.