About Rock the Trail

Photo by Yan Arief

Rock the Trail

Rock the Vote has partnered with WireTap magazine to support five young reporters as they Rock the Trail. Sponsored by AT&T, Rock the Trail is capturing today's politics through the eyes and in the words of young voters. Rock the Trail reporters deliver insightful and compelling blogs, articles and videos from the communities they live in, reporting on young people's top issues such as jobs, the economy and college affordability. Content will be posted on http://www.rockthevote.com, http://www.wiretapmag.org, http://www.BET.com, and will also be available for viewing on AT&T mobile phones. In addition, we will be working with washingtonpost.com to contribute unique perspectives complementary to the site's vast coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign.

Reporters were chosen by an advisory panel of distinguished journalists including: Jeff Chang, award-winning author of Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation, Sian-Pierre Regis, producer, BET News, Peter Rothberg, associate publisher, The Nation magazine and Jose Antonio Vargas, political feature writer, The Washington Post. Individuals will be chosen based on the creativity and originality of his or her application, and ability to write in a clear, concise manner.

Rock the Trail reporters will be paid a monthly stipend and supplied with a laptop, cell phone and video camera to rock the 2008 campaign trail. Reporters will interview candidates, elected officials, campaigners, young voters and Rock the Vote artists discussing everything from the Presidential race to mayoral elections and anything in between.

Rock the Trail is part of a yearlong alliance between AT&T and Rock the Vote to engage young people in the democratic process by bringing the election to them through their mobile phones.