Our MTV Host

Author: Mindy Wood
Issue: 2008 March

A lot of things are different about the election this year. In addition to our “first in history” choices for candidates is the phenomenal number of informed and concerned young voters. Parents of the young voting generation will likely be impressed this year by the turn out, but back home in Shawnee, none will be more proud than those who know Jill Penuel, 2004 Shawnee High School graduate and Oklahoma correspondent for MTV’s Choose or Loose program.

A senior at OU, Penuel is covering the beat from Norman as she follows the political race while keeping her eyes on which issues are important to first and second time voters in Oklahoma. MTV selected 51 young journalists to report on the race, posting their videos and articles to MTV’s news website.

The “young voter,” as the media has come to refer to the group of 18-20 year olds, is far more involved and attuned to what our country is facing than most people realize.

“I think the primaries are speaking for themselves,” says Penuel. “In Iowa the youth vote tripled since 2004. We are not blind to what is going on in the world. We have the most access to information. We’re probably online more than any other group, and the news is instant online. This election is a chance for my generation’s voice to be heard.”

Penuel said that in just three weeks of reporting she has gotten great response from the youth. “Bill Clinton came to OU to speak, and the line to get in to hear him looped around campus,” she said. “It was amazing to see. I am interviewing some young voters this weekend to discuss the primary. They have all been calling me and asking a lot of questions because they are excited to talk about their political opinions.”

According to Penuel, the issues are as diversified as the people she meets. “I think different issues are important to different people no matter how old you are. The war is an important issue. The number of people who know someone fighting in the Middle East is growing. It affects a lot of people."

“The economy is a growing concern for college students who are looking for jobs after graduation. A lot of young Oklahomans have to leave the state to find jobs, and of course the cost of college. I’ve heard a couple candidates talk about making tuition more affordable. That is important for the younger voters.”

Education is also an important issue to Penuel. “My mother [Vinita Penuel] has been a school teacher at North Rock Creek ever since I can remember. So when I hear the governor talk about teacher pay raises, that topic catches my attention.”

She believes strongly that every vote counts. “I hear so much, especially in Oklahoma, that their vote doesn’t matter, that it won’t change anything. Well if all those people would actually go vote, I bet it would change things.”

In elementary school Penuel wanted to be a writer, then in high school she got involved in drama and wanted to be an actress. “I kind of put my love of writing and my love of being in front of an audience together and got broadcast journalism. It looked like a fun job and it is. I really enjoy the field of study I picked,” said the Oklahoma native.

She attributes much of her success to her Shawnee background. “I really found myself at SHS,” said Penuel. “I used to be very shy and the drama department helped me come out of my shell. Before that I doubt I would have ever wanted to be on camera for a living.”

To students with big dreams, Penuel said, “My advice for younger people is to apply for schools, scholarships, contests, jobs or whatever interests you. Don’t be scared if you see something and think, Oh, I could never do that. I’ve applied for a lot of things in the past years—scholarships that I came close to getting and internships that never panned out. I got an email from a professor saying that MTV News was doing this. I looked it over and thought, Why not? Three weeks later I found out I was a finalist. Three weeks after that I found out I was picked! I still can’t believe it sometimes. I guess the saying is true, ‘It never hurts to try.’”

To keep up with Jill Penuel’s reports through November visit http://streetteam08.com and click on the Oklahoma link with her picture.

Shawnee Outlook