Wrestlers are putting out issue papers. Hip-hop coalitions are holding ?get out the vote? rallies. MTV stars are urging young fans to vote. Is pop culture a good tool to increase political participation among teens and young adults? To explore the issue, Connect for Kids enlisted help from five Children's PressLine New York correspondents.

Step One: Save the Date

Send out a “Save the Date” note to all of your local media outlets, announcing events that your organization will pursue in the coming year. Do this at the beginning of the year (or school year) to get your event onto calendars of future events. If you don’t already have an existing list of reporters, editors and producers who cover education, parenting or families in your area, this is a good time to create one. Make a list of all the TV and radio stations (including college and university-affiliated stations), local newspapers (including weeklies) and magazines and Web sites. Then call and ask for the name of the editor, reporter or producer who covers education, parenting or family issues. Also get telephone, fax and, if possible, e-mail addresses.

Rap-inspired math, spelling and science lessons are fast becoming music to the ears of kids in both urban and suburban settings. Superheroes like Grammar Man and CDs like De-U Records' "Multiplication Hip-Hop" aim to be the Schoolhouse Rock for a new generation. Join Rob Capriccioso as he takes a look behind the music.

Our year-end round up of reader's comments covers a lot of territory, from TV watching habits to bilingual education. Find out which stories sparked a response from our visitors. As always, we love to hear from you!

Developed as a financial education tool the Annie E. Casey Foundation documentary video, The Money Trap, highlights common financial predicaments that ensnare unwary, low-income consumers.

Will "Baby Einstein" videos help your baby's brain develop? Or will staring at the flickering screen sedate your squirming toddler and interfere with his or her development? We don't know the answers--but a new national study indicates that for good or ill, the current crop of babies and toddlers is swimming in a sea of media.

Even though it's almost 30 years old, the WDHS Student Video Program at Dearborn High School is still cutting-edge, giving kids the tools to harness new media in the service of creativity, learning, and really cool stuff. Rob Capriccioso reports.

After 11 years as the grown-up host of Nick News, Linda Ellerbee knows a lot about how to take on tough issues in ways that inform and engage kids. The long-time journalist shares her views with Rob Capriccioso.

Rob Capriccioso comments on a children's rights issue for the 21st century: the record industry's recent flood of lawsuits against kids (and adults) over downloading music from the Internet for free.

What do Junkfood John, Itchy Ritchie and Hairy Mary have in common? They were all buddies of Connect for Kids' Rob Capriccioso in his youth. Join him in pondering a collection of the ages.