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Chasing the Candidates
"Youth Radio is getting no callbacks on the formal requests, but I'm in daily contact with the Kucinich campaign. "
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to this Commentary!
By
Javier Armas
It’s hard to be a young journalist in a campaign year. How can you compete with the pack journalism when all the news outlets are covering every inch of the campaign?
Youth Radio’s newsroom is scrambling for interviews like everyone else, putting in letters and phone calls to all the campaigns. I decided a while ago I wanted to interview a presidential candidate. How hard could it be? Youth Radio was happy to sign me up to chase one down.
My assignment: Dennis Kucinich. I called the campaign to see if I could get an interview. I was worried some intern would put me at the end of a long media list, and wouldn’t care about my angle…the success Kucinich is having with the hip hop generation.
But to my surprise, I got a call back from the campaign in just a few days. Next thing I know, I’m invited to a VIP event in San Francisco!
Although Kucinich was the real celebrity at the event, the organizers treated me like a celebrity too. I couldn’t believe it. They were so excited to have me there. They never even asked any questions about my credentials.
Watching panelists respond to the burning political questions of the audience, I decide I have to make my move. I boldly ask the media organizer about getting a one-on-one with Kucinich. Instead of laughing in my face, she’s instantly enthusiastic about setting up the interview. She tells me I am number one on her media list over every other outlet. I’m shocked. This made covering a campaign look easy.
Meanwhile, back at Youth Radio, the newsroom is trying to get interviews with all the OTHER major candidates.
Youth Radio is getting no callbacks on the formal requests, but I’m in daily contact with the Kucinich campaign. Maybe it’s because just like young journalists struggling to get access to the candidates, Kucinich is struggling to get mainstream media to pay attention to him. Within a week, BAM! I get my interview.
I’m invited to the upscale Commonwealth club in SF. I walk into a press conference with a whole array of local political figures. The room is full of professionals with suits, media figures and directors of NGO’s. I feel a little of place to say the least.
But the campaign team makes me feel right at home, pulling me away from the pressroom early to set up for my one-on-one. I try to stay calm preparing for my precious 10-minute interview with the candidate.
When my turn comes, I take Kucinich back in time to his childhood to get a glimpse into the candidate’s political upbringing. As a kid, his family didn’t have much money. At one point, they even lived out of a car.
KUCINICH (on tape)
When you’re growing up and you move from place to place, there’s on one hand a sense of insecurity, on the other hand, a sense of excitement about the world. Things are changing so quickly, so in a way I became very adaptable to change. On the other hand I came to understand how tough people had it.
JAVIER
Just like a lot of young people search for an identity for themselves without seeking permission from authorities, Kucinich sees his campaign in a similar light. He doesn’t care that the mainstream media is ignoring him.
KUCINICH (on tape)
Because frankly, I don’t seek their approval. My candidacy arises from the hopes of people for a government that’s relevant. For a government that’s authentic. Now America’s youth – they want the same thing. They’re striving and demanding authenticity. Now it’s easy to marginalize anyone who isn’t in a position of power, but when young people start to show up at the voting booth, it changes the whole direction of America
JAVIER
Kucinich says if he becomes president, young people will be invited into the White House to give suggestions. I wonder if he will also encourage young reporters into the White House press corps. Just like young voters who feel left out of the process, young journalists are looking for an equal playing field too.
Now that the candidates keep dropping out of the race, down from 9 to 4, and Youth Radio keeps struggling to get more interviews, I just hope Kucinich stays in, so my tape will be really worth something.
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