November 8, 2006
For Immediate Release
For an interview:
Amy Brockman
(801) 863-8793
MTV Icon Gideon Yago to speak at UVSC
MTV key correspondent and reporter Gideon Yago, will be speaking November 15, at 12 p.m. in the Ragan Theater. Yago is speaking in support of UVSC’s Global Engagement week. Yago is the face of current events to millions of young adults. As a news correspondent, he writes and delivers the network’s daily “10-to-the-hour” news segments along with other developing documentaries.
Yago's presentation will include his experiences of his first hand coverage of the war in Iraq. He has traveled to Kuwait City to film “Diary of Gideon in Kuwait,” part of MTV News’ extensive coverage of the conflict. He was in the Middle East fall of 2003 to report on how life has changed for young Iraqis and American soldiers still stationed there in “Diary of Gideon in Baghdad.”
To a generation that is extremely savvy about media biases and influences, Yago explains complex issues in an unbiased, informative format. He presents a hip view of politics and other newsworthy events around the world.
“Gideon has been covering the war and has a hands-on perspective of what is happening over in the Middle East,” said Amy Brockman, Associated Students of UVSC (ASUVSC) vice president for academics. “He is the same age as many college students and can connect with our generation on political issues.”
Yago has been involved with multiple political campaigns to educate and register young voters. He promoted young adults interest in the 2000 and 2004 presidential election. He has also interviewed some of the country's foremost leaders, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Ralph Nader, Senator John Kerry and President George W. Bush.
Yago was chosen as one of six college students from around the country to report on the 2000 presidential election for MTV's “Choose or Lose,” with no credentials in either television or journalism, Yago reported on the McCain and Bush-Cheney campaigns. He was so successful that after he graduated Columbia University with a degree in European History, MTV hired him full-time as a news correspondent.
In addition to MTVNews.com, Yago's writing has appeared in “Spin,” “Vice” and “Nylon.” In 2002, “Teen People Magazine” named him one of the “25 Hottest Stars Under 25.” He currently lives in New York City.
# # #
College Marketing Contact:
Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
Written by:
Rodney Hansen
(801) 863-7205
*