Gen Z, the 2020 Election and the Fourth Estate: An Interview with Former CIA Analyst Kent Harrington

In 2016 in the first national election Generation Z could vote in we were exposed to how large of a role the fourth estate plays in the outcome amp160Prior to the 2016 election Gen Z saw America only through the lens of one presidency amp160Whatever we thought of President Obamaamp8217s policies he influenced our belief that we have a chance to make it in this country regardless of our individual identities amp160We experienced a dramatic leap forward in available information not all of it valid or true due to the digital and technological advances that took place from 20082016President Trump39samp160campaign to amp8220Make America Great Againamp8221 invited higher levels of isolation division and confusionamp160 He has incited a lack of trust in the Fourth Estate making it almost impossible to feel well informed on political issues and causing even greater division and overall disengagement between both Democrats and Republicansamp160 Americans now seem more ready to speak than listen creating a screaming competition judged on volume rather than the quality of their ideasHarringtonamp8217s message to Gen Z voters who are entering the political sphere is to ignore the clutter and seek the facts amp160amp8220Take your own perspective on where you want to go and where you want your country to go and then start looking for the information you needamp8221 he advises amp160Heamp160also notes how decades ago broadcasters were required to educate viewers about public policies and issuesamp160and to act in the public interest amp160amp8220There was legislation that happened during the early 20th century that literally required radio stations and broadcast television stations to devote time every day to public serviceamp8221 he explainsamp160 amp8220While broadcasters are still renting the airways and the airways are still a public property those regulations no longer existamp8221Itamp8217s apparent that Gen Z values authenticity and has no problem identifying the policies we believe in but we need to channel that same value into a proactive quest to seek out information from a variety of sources that validate our policy interests amp160Historically young people are the strongest at communicating opinions yet we are the weakest demographic when it comes to voting in the pollsamp160 Generation Z can change this narrative Harrington believesWe may not study history or understand civics the way our parents did amp160In elementary school we learned about the 911 attacks and the Columbine shooting as history lessons not as a realtime horrific reality like many of my Millennial peers amp160Our experiences of war are slim except when we were livetweeting during the capture of Osama Bin Laden amp160By high school we had seen samesex marriage rise from a state level issue to a national victory yet the majority of Gen Zers cannot tell you the name of their local Congressional representative or the location of their nearest voting stationHarrington shares that the Fourth Estate is especially imperative when information is civically important so they need to rethink how they engage with diverse market groups amp8220The big media outlets whether itamp8217s the traditional broadcast networks or the new webbased incarnations of mass media have to be thinking about the same things theyamp8217re considering when advertisers come inamp8221 he saysamp160 amp8220They need to think to themselves amp8216How do I reach this specific target groupamp8217amp8221Although weamp160spendamp160most of our time online it seems like we still are not being informed about the civic positions and political issues that impact America amp160In looking ahead to the 2020 election we must understand that everyone will be playing a large role prior to any votes being cast amp160Media companies need to make sure they are offering a diverse program mix and using platformagnostic communication channelsSimultaneously we needamp160to make sure we are actively listening to a diverse range of policies and positions while individually seeking multiple sources of information from various media outlets amp160Harrington says that media companiesamp8217 failure to do their job in the 2016 election dramatically shifted our nation backwards amp160amp8220This is a problem for every generation but in particular generations that are getting most of their media and political information from the web through the tech companies and via social mediaamp8221 he asserts amp160amp8220These companies own the flow of informationamp8220Media companies need to stop propagating hate speech by saying amp8216Oh weamp8217re trying our best and weamp8217re going to do betteramp8217 and commit to avoiding the serious consequences if they do not do betteramp8221 he concludesClick the social buttons above or below to share this story with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

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Gen Z, the 2020 Election and the Fourth Estate: An Interview with Former CIA Analyst Kent Harrington

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