It’s Election Day! Peabody Awards recognized two public service campaigns that made a difference in 1992: MTV’s “Choose or Lose” and “Rock the Vote,” both of which focused on engaging young voters. The latter enlisted musicians such as Marky Mark (aka Mark Wahlberg), En Vogue, R.E.M., and Megadeth to reach a previously disenfranchised group.
Video killed the radio star when #MTV premiered on this day in 1981. Over the years, its programming—from 1992’s “Choose or Lose” campaign to “MTV Unplugged” (1994)—shaped a generation of youth while catching the eye of the Peabody Board of Jurors.
Citations: http://www.peabodyawards.com/tag/mtv
In its short life, MTV has variously been praised and vilified for its influence on musical taste, fashion, movies, television, and advertising. In 1992, MTV turned its attention to increasing the political awareness of its viewers and promoting their participation in local and national elections. The result was Choose or Lose, a multimedia campaign which contributed to the largest turnout among young voters since 1972.
Read full winner’s citation here: http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/choose-or-lose-campaign
In its short life, MTV has variously been praised and vilified for its influence on musical taste, fashion, movies, television, and advertising. In 1992, MTV turned its attention to increasing the political awareness of its viewers and promoting their participation in local and national elections. The result was Choose or Lose, a multimedia campaign which contributed to the largest turnout among young voters since 1972. While it is impossible to credit MTV as solely instrumental in this regard, there is no doubt that the amount of airtime devoted to voter registration and voter information, and the powerful and compelling messages presented in that effort had a discernible impact. For enfranchising a previously disenfranchised group, a Peabody to MTV: Music Television for Choose or Lose.
