Just when we thought we are overdosed with reality shows, MySpace and Mark Burnett announced that they are teaming up to launch INDEPENDENT, a groundbreaking political reality show. The show will find the nation’s next great politician through an online, offline, on-air multimedia campaign expected to launch in early 2008.
INDEPENDENT is an interactive television series that will engage and empower young Americans to participate in the political process at an unprecedented level. The show is a reality-based competition where America will select a candidate whom they feel will best reflect the voice of young Americans.
“INDEPENDENT represents a giant leap in the re-democratization of American politics,” said Chris DeWolfe, CEO and co-founder of MySpace. “MySpace puts political power back in the hands of everyday people and INDEPENDENT takes it to a whole new level,” added Tom Anderson, President and co-founder of MySpace.
“Through this new network television series and the partnership of MySpace, we’re going to discover in a big way, what America really thinks, and bring to light the issues that are closest to those who now finally have a chance to be heard,” said Mark Burnett.
Rather than the traditional reality competition series where contestants are holed up in an isolated bubble, the contestants on INDEPENDENT will be out in the public each day, interacting with supporters, protestors, activists, and everyone in-between. Through an interactive town-hall environment, they will receive feedback from the viewing public both within the network television series and online through the MySpace community.
In INDEPENDENT, the winner will receive an award of one million dollars that they cannot keep. What they do with that million dollars is subject to a list of options, all political in nature, but the choice the winner makes will be greatly influenced by the MySpace community and the viewers of the network television show.
Originally posted on April 25, 2007 @ 9:40 am