Updated Jan. 14, 2025
Mission: Politics IRL is a video series produced by GBH News that engages young voters in our local community. Each video in the series features young people meeting to discuss their different perspectives on important political and cultural issues. The project is driven by video participants and seeks to promote voter confidence and engagement.
Staff members:
- Alexi Cohan, lead producer
- Azita Ghahramani, senior politics editor
- Annie Shreffler, impact producer
- Lindsey Denault, editor
- Howard Powell, camera
- Lance Douglas, camera
- Dan Lang, camera
- Eddie Hickey, director
- Tisha Wilson, stage manager
- Steve Baracsi, technical director
- Dan Lesiw, audio
- Fred Young, lighting director
- John Bonner, camera operator
- Kathy McSweeney, camera operator
- Cullen Cockrell, VTR operator
Thanks to all the interns who have contributed to Politics IRL: Valentina Baez, Layla Chaaraoui, Olivia Ray, Meghan Hirsch, Chinanu Okoli and Elizangi Araujo.
How does it work?
GBH News is building a database of local voters aged 18-25 years through outreach, referrals, and crowdsourcing. Our aim is to include a wide variety of young voter voices from around the greater Boston region.
Video participants are matched with panelists who feel differently about a political issue and can have respectful debate and discussion. After an introductory interview, video participants are matched up for recorded conversations based on shared interests, age, political party and other factors. Video participants guide the discussion and come up with their own questions with light coaching from producers.
Interested participants may also recommend a friend, family member or colleague to participate in their panel. All participants are screened beforehand and have the chance to meet one another before the shoot.
Video shoots are scheduled by producers and take place at GBH News studios in Brighton. Shoots are lightly moderated and and last about 2 hours. Discussions may last up to 30 minutes, and are lightly edited. Videos are posted to the GBH News YouTube channel.
After publication of the video, producers will keep in touch with participants for feedback and future events.
How are we finding sources?
Everywhere! To participate you must be:
- A registered voter in the United States
- 18-25 years old
- In the Boston area or able to travel here
GBH News is reaching out to college clubs and organizations, as well as local and national nonprofits. Participants need not be affiliated with a political cause or organization, or be politically inclined in any way to participate.
How is the video edited?
Videos are shot live-to-tape and are lightly edited for time, clarity and accuracy. The lead producer and editor work with the approximate 30-minute conversation to bring the highlights and major talking points into focus, keeping the conversational flow. Edits are made for flow and timeliness, and never to change the meaning of what a video participant has said.
What if I want to be in a video?
Great! Reach out to lead producer Alexi Cohan via email at alexi_cohan@wgbh.org
What if I don’t want to be in a video, but I’m interested in the project or have a question?
We welcome all perspectives and interests to be part of this project and we appreciate any support you wish to offer, from sharing the video playlist to giving us feedback.
