MTV and ZYNC from American Express announced the creation of a nationwide search to fill a pioneering job opportunity to serve as the first-ever MTV TJ ‘Twitter Jockey.’ One lucky candidate will be hired to become a brand-new face and voice for MTV across social media platforms, including MTV.com, to expand the two-way dialog between MTV and its global audience.
MTV and ZYNC will launch “Follow Me: The Search for the first MTV TJ,” www.zync.mtv.com, in which 20 social media enthusiasts compete head-to-head in Twitter challenges. The search will culminate with a live televised finale on 8/8, when the MTV viewing audience will choose the winning candidate from the final five who will land his or her dream job.
The MTV TJ position is a modern-day re-imagining of the pioneering MTV VJ. While the MTV VJ had a one-way dialog in reporting music and pop culture-related news to the audience, the MTV TJ will actively engage MTV’s hyper-social audience — answering their questions, amplifying their interests, doling out behind-the-scenes information, cool links and exclusive media across MTV.com, Twitter, Facebook, blogs and in 30-second sponsored on-air interstitials. The TJ will be based at MTV’s HQ in NYC.
MTV is mining social media networks, including posting the job via MTV’s Twitter and Facebook pages, to identify and select 18 candidates that are active in social media and have a unique voice and passion for music and pop culture. Starting 6/16, MTV will begin announcing the 18 candidates at www.zync.mtv.com. The public will also have an opportunity to nominate their choices via the ZYNC Card Facebook page (www.facebook.com/zync), for the two remaining candidate slots.
