We kept the media up to date by sending out press releases. These were written by electionWIRE interns whose communications skills became sharper and sharper as the project continued.
Here's a sample of the news that we sent out.

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

10/08/2010

Subject: Vibewire and YouTube’s ElectionWIRE Heads to the OutbackYoung reporters filling in the gaps
In the midst of a campaign flooded by empty slogans and photo-ops, the interests of Australia’s Indigenous communities have been almost entirely unheard.

 

ElectionWIRE’s reporters have taken up this challenge: armed with camera, microphone and laptops, they are heading to central Australia to report on the unreported. Over the next few days they will meet the local candidates and take the public pulse in downtown Alice Springs and surrounding communities.

As well as catching up with Indigenous candidates for the Greens, Barbara Shaw and Warren H Williams, electionWIRE reporters will look at the Federal government’s ongoing attempts to find a location for Australia’s nuclear waste, and look at why Energy and Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson, has faced resistance on this issue from Indigenous and environmental groups in central Australia.

“Our reporters are going to fill in the gaps left in this campaign by the party leaders and much of the mainstream media,” said Rachel Maher, Managing Editor of electionWIRE.

“Its barely three years since the Howard Government began implementing the controversial Northern Territory Intervention. Since then the Rudd government has reviewed the Intervention strategy and decided to continue with it, despite ongoing criticism within the Northern Territory and around the country.

“ElectionWIRE is going to kickstart the national conversation and investigate issues affecting central Australian communities. To do this, we are heading to the nation’s heart.”
Prime Minister Gillard was questioned about the silence on Indigenous issues on ABC’s Q&A program last night and we hope this prompts media scrutiny of the Indigenous affairs policies of all the major parties. In the meantime, electionWIRE’s team of young reporters will take up the stories neglected by politicians and the mainstream media.

 

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

Subject: Julia vs. Julia: Will The Real Julia Gillard Please Stand Up?

11 August 2010

There have been plenty of debates this election season but the best is still to come. Next week, Vibewire Youth Inc and YouTube are offering Julia Gillard an alternative forum in which to discuss the big issues. Vibewire is hosting our own leadership debate between not one, but two Julia Gillards.

Vibewire will be joining ranks with legendary Julia Gillard impersonators Jackie Loeb and &feature=PlayList&p=800603E5041B35C5&index=0">Julia Spillard (Gabby Millgate) to present a night of vigorous debate with Julia vs. Julia. The agenda will be set by young people across Australia who will pose questions of the Julias in person and via the web.

We’re all set to break records for the greatest number of Gillard impersonators gathered in one room. We’ve invited the Prime Minister to come along and moderate the debate: how could she refuse?

This event forms part of Vibewire’s election initiative. ElectionWIRE is a Vibewire-YouTube collaboration and provides a channel for young Australians to report on the federal election their way. Next week’s event will provide another forum for Australia’s youth to have their say.

“Julia vs. Julia provides young people with the chance to come together in a lighthearted and informal space and put forward their questions on the issues,” said Annie Le Cavalier, Director of Vibewire Youth Inc.

“We hope the event will draw attention to the youth perspective, often overlooked during election campaigns. And we invite any and all politicians to attend, real or otherwise.”

At the eleventh hour of an election campaign in which the only thing less inspiring than the policies has been the slogans, Vibewire is taking a night to watch Julia Gillard and Julia Gillard fight it out on the issues. Moderated by Julia Gillard, with questions posed by Julia Gillard, this is shaping up to be the must-see event this election. (Tony Abbott impersonators are most welcome to interject.)

We welcome any and all politicians to attend, real or otherwise – but the burning question is sure to be this – will the real Julia Gillard please show up?

This event will be held on Tuesday 17th August, from 6 – 9pm at the Loft, next to the UTS Tower Building.

 

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

Subject: electionWIRE on YouTube! Young Australian voices on the 2010 Election

22 July 2010

Vibewire Youth Inc and YouTube team up on electionWIRE to bring fresh video reporting to the Australian federal election

• electionWIRE on YouTube is calling citizen reporters to report the election their way.

It’s Election Time! The airwaves are buzzing with politics. Who will win? What do the parties and candidates represent? Who cares?

Today, Vibewire announces the launch of electionWIRE on YouTube, a dedicated channel for young Australians to have their say and to report the news of the Federal election their way.  

electionWIRE will feature video news, interviews, opinions and debate from a team of newly recruited and trained Vibewire Youthscape reporters,directed by a team of seaoned journalists and alongside citizen contributors from the YouTube community.  The new recruits are stationed across Australia, armed with cameras, guided by questions and ideas posted to the electionWIRE YouTube channel, and supported by a senior editorial team. The community can submit and vote on videos, suggestions and ideas that interest them most via the Google Moderator tool on the channel. Whether they’re talking about youth unemployment, immigration, the ETS, homelessness or health, electionWIRE reporters will be asking the hard questions and getting unpredictable answers.

“Young people can shape their world when given the opportunity. electionWIRE is an opportunity to showcase the voices of a new generation of reporters. We want young people to report the election their way, to tell the stories that matter to them and to join in the debate on YouTube,” said Annie Le Cavalier, Director Vibewire Youth Inc.

“Video is a powerful tool for democracy. These days anyone with a camera, an Internet connection and a YouTube channel can be a reporter. We’re thrilled to partner with Vibewire and provide the platform for electionWIRE news and perspectives from young Australians,” said Karen Stocks, Head of YouTube, Australia

To help get the nation involved, Vibewire is working with youth and policy networks including the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition and Left-Right Think Tank to provide assistance for any young person who wants to upload a video to electionWIRE. Content partners include The Centre for Policy Development and Express Media, who will complement the electionWIRE video coverage with articles and political analysis. The Vibewire team will also be on hand to provide budding citizen journalists with resources to develop their stories, including training videos and fact-sheets on everything from video techniques to the political system.

Australians are wired for a digital election. Through electionWIRE, user generated video will shape the game this time around. This is a new era in political debate and this time, young people are not just watching election coverage, they are creating it.

Report it your way. electionWIRE 2010 - Submit Now http://www.youtube.com/electionwire -- ENDS

Vibewire Youth Inc. We are an innovative non-profit youth organisation providing media, arts &
entrepreneurial opportunities and events for young people.
http://www.vibewire.org, http://twitter.com/vibewire

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