Introduction
In this blog, I will be discussing and investigating the world of Generation Z politics. The main focus will be to cover topics from the Canadian perspective, with a few exceptions such as if an international current event corresponds with issues of concern. Gen Z is often described as technologically absorbed; the generation that grew up with the internet and smartphones and social media. But we are also the first generation to live in a world surrounded by the bombardment of terrorism; we do not remember 9/11, some of us weren’t born or even conceived yet. I plan to look into the perspectives, ideas, and issues of this generation; how what we believe is similar and different to the generations of our parents and grandparents. As a result, my main audience and focus will be connecting to people of the 15-24 age demographic. But it would be amazing to connect with the older demographics so that they can understand the views of the younger members of society.
In recent years, Gen Z has been categorized as an activist generation like the Boomers were in the 1960s. Particular concerns of this generation include climate change, gender, sexuality and race equality, and government reform. I plan to dive into these topics by asking my peers questions on their concerns and their reasoning, as well as interviewing professors and politicians on their stances.
Rationale
The importance of this topic can be found in the stereotyping of Generation Z; older generations don’t understand the way Gen Z sees the world and why they care about certain issues. It’s also important because this generation is bombarded with so much political information that it becomes hard to filter the fact from opinion. With more people of this generation becoming eligible to vote each year, it’s important for them to understand the way the electoral system works and what platforms parties are running on. It’s best to be educated on politics, especially as a young person, as the subject enters so many aspects of our daily lives. For example, it’s reflected in decisions as a consumer, to know what the companies you support are doing to support your beliefs.
Core Angles
- Survey students on voting
- ask if they voted: why or why not, if they did who did they vote for
- this will give me a better perspective of the views and ideas held
- Compare and Contrast
- Boomers, Millenials, Gen X views compared to Gen Z
- Expert Opinions
- discuss Gen Z with a faculty member of political science, and sociology
- get opinions, see if they have recomendations on stories and other people to talk to
- Talk to Kamloops MP or electoral candidates from other parties
- did they try to engage young, new voters?
- did they speak to the concerns of Gen Z?
- Discuss current events that are central to Gen Z views and ideas
Media Outline
- Informative Text Story (with photos)
- General overview of who Generation Z is and what their largest concerns are and include what makes them different from older generations.
- Take photos of situations, organizations that represent the generational concerns.
- Fits the format as it will be a good way to introduce main ideas and set the tone of the blog
- Audio Interviews
- Discuss the federal election with Gen Z.
- Ask students if they voted, why they did or didn’t vote, who they voted for and why.
- Highlight which federal parties had platforms that addressed Gen Z issues of concern (as narration, for context)
- Fits the format as it gives more focus on the generational demographic by asking questions, and highlights the topic of young voters (voting typically isn’t as important to the younger generations).
- Editorial Slideshow
- Pick a current event on the local/ national level that alines with the concerns of Gen Z and give my opinion on it.
- Do research and dive into the subject to be well informed before picking an angle; connect it to something of personal experience or interest (to gain worthy photos and graphics).
- Fits the format as there are multiple ways to use a current event in a editorial style (images, statistical graphics, video sections) that can be connected with related topics of the blog.
- Investigative Video
- Focus on the topic of Gen Z engagement in politics.
- Interview MP and/or other local politicians and ask what they have done to reach out to young voters; if they believe their (and their party’s) strategies are effective.
- Interview political science professors for opinions/ research on whether Gen Z is having an impact on current politics, and if politicians are engaging the generation in the ‘right ways’.
- Interview Gen Z (students) to see if they feel ‘heard’ by politicians and if they feel their issues are being represented in Canadian politics (local, provincial, federal).
- Fits format as it will investigate the representation of Gen Z issues (a main theme) and present the research gathered in a condensed form that’s easy for all to understand.