Based out of Missoula, the University of Montana journalism graduate is working for MTV as the roving state reporter for the cable network's national pilot program, “Street Team '08.”
Sloan and 50 other citizen journalists have been carefully selected by MTV and hired to cover the 2008 election.
Armed with state-of-the-art video cameras, video-recording cell phones, and laptops with sophisticated editing programs, the reporters hit the streets each week and publish their multimedia reports on the Web site www.Think.MTV.com.
“It's a fantastic experience and a really great job opportunity,” said Sloan, a recent graduate of UM's radio-television program. “It's a part-time job - I'm asked to submit a story a week and MTV furnishes the equipment.”
Getting out and finding the stories is the fun part - and provides a nice balance to her other job as a customer representative for DirecTV. The challenge, she said, is navigating the unfamiliar multimedia equipment and getting comfortable with podcasts and blogging.
Sloan said she's still gathering her courage to video-blog, where she talks directly into the camera and speaks her mind. In the meantime, she submits blogs and video interviews to the MTV site.
Although Montana isn't in the political limelight and the statewide primary isn't until June, Sloan said she keeps a close eye on the national political scene and finds a way to get a Montana angle.
“I had a great night on Super Tuesday with our Republican caucus,” she explained. “MTV gave all of the Street Team reporters Nokia cell phones that shoot video and directly link to the Web so it can go live. It was really cool.”
This week, while voters in Texas and Ohio decide between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Sloan plans to be bouncing between Obama and Clinton parties in Missoula on Tuesday night, talking with supporters of those candidates.
“Tuesday could be it - it could be the night someone gets chosen to be the Democrats' presidential candidate - but I'm hoping this will drag out until June so Montana could be a part of it,” Sloan said.
In the coming weeks, Sloan plans to hit the highway and travel across the state to get a broader sampling of Montana's young politicos and voters.
“I'm really looking forward to that,” she said. “There is a lot of youth involvement in Montana as far as political action goes, but also, there's quite a disconnect. I'm looking forward to hearing all those stories.”
So far, Sloan said she doesn't see any emerging themes in Montana, but as with the national political scene, there is a lot of buzz about the youth vote and change.
“I really do think young people see that and feel that, and there is a sense that young people know their vote can make a difference in this election process,” she said. “I hope this project will help drive more young people to vote.”
Once Texas and Ohio decide, Sloan said she will have a better idea how to proceed with her Montana coverage.
“I think one of the big issues will be to find out who we are - if we are a red or blue or purple state,” she said. “It's really hard telling right now.
“My goal is to get out and find more undecideds and get to know those Montana voters better.”
Grinning, Sloan said she can't believe she got the MTV job - her dream job.
As part of the new gig, she was flown to New York City for a four-day intensive training session with the other 50 reporters at MTV's headquarters in Times Square.
There, MTV news correspondent John Norris gave the Street Team '08 pointers on how to conduct interviews.
“It's been crazy fun,” Sloan said. “It's just amazing to me that I get to do this.”
“It's a perfect mesh - I've always wanted to do news, be involved with politics and stay in Montana,” she said. “I grew up in Havre, and I love Montana and I love living here in Missoula.
“This job is exactly what I pictured a really neat job would be - it couldn't be more perfect.”
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