ATLANTA — Millennials: They are the most in-demand generation in the work-force, the most educated, and in many ways, they are facing the most challenges. Around 1.4 million millennials, people born after 1981 and before 1997, now call Atlanta home. And from the BeltLine to Yik Yak, they are transforming Atlanta.
This Wednesday, Channel 2 will debut "Rise of the Millennials," an insightful Family 2 Family special on the issues that are important to this influential age group. The 30 minute special, hosted by anchors Fred Blankenship and Linda Stouffer, will also reveal why Atlanta and surrounding cities are racing to recruit them.
“The millennials are now the largest generation in the work force and enormously important to our economy,” says Tim McVay, General Manager of WSB-TV. “We hope ‘Rise of the Millennials’ will add insight and understanding into this generation of future leaders.”
For anyone who hears “millennial” and immediately thinks of a disengaged 20-something staring blankly at her iPhone, think again. This age group will be largely responsible for shaping our region’s future and culture. At the same time, millennials have faced challenges unique to coming-of-age in a post-recession economy, like under-employment, high student loan debt and difficulty becoming homeowners.
“Millennials have struggled to become financially independent and that’s why there is so much focus on them,” says Channel 2 Consumer Advisor Clark Howard.
In the special, Blankenship and Stouffer explore how financial challenges have made millennials look at the world very differently. One of those young people is Shawn Walton, a Morehouse grad who's unique teaching job is running a non-profit called We-Cycle, which connects underprivileged kids to bikes.
“We've understood that doing things for the love of money may not necessarily place you in the place of happiness or comfort,” Walton told Channel 2.
That doesn’t mean millennials aren’t a big economic driver in the region. “Rise of the Millennials” also takes us on an inside tour of the Buckhead office of one of America’s most influential and widely-used social media apps, Yik Yak (it’s probably on your teenagers’ phone right now). In a rare interview, Yik Yak’s creators, 25-year-old Tyler Droll and Brooks Buffington, reveal why they’ve chosen to keep the multi-million dollar company in Atlanta.
Metro Atlanta leaders are rushing to learn what makes millennials tick, how to market to them and how to recruit them. Between panels on millennial concerns conducted by the Atlanta Regional Commission to a new recruitment campaign, "Choose Atlanta," which is conducted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, "Rise of the Millennials" reveals that Atlanta recognizes the importance of listening to millennial voices.
“We've got to go with the tide,” Kate Atwood, of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce told Channel 2, “The world is changing, the paradigm is shifting, and so the winners will be the ones that get ahead of that and set that course.”
WHAT: "Rise of the Millennials," A Family 2 Family Special
WHO: Channel 2 Action News Anchors Fred Blankenship and Linda Stouffer
WHERE: WSB-TV – Channel 2
WHEN: March 30th at 8:00 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Channel 2 is throwing a digital party. A group of invited millennials will join WSB-TV for two in-house viewing parties hosted by Channel 2 anchors Jovita Moore and Craig Lucie. Before the show starts, Moore and Lucie will live stream on Facebook and Periscope to give viewers a more detailed preview on what's coming up. People can ask questions and participate in the live discussion on Periscope and Twitter via #ROTM. The entire show will also stream live on wsbtv.com, YouTube and Periscope. Fans can hang out with Channel 2 after "Rise of the Millennials" to ask questions and share their thoughts about the show.
Cox Media Group
