Aunjelique Meraz is going to New York City for training with the MTV News team.

Meraz, a 20-year-old journalism major at Humboldt State University, was chosen as a finalist by MTV and Cox Communications for MTV's Choose or Lose: 20 Million Loud voter mobilization campaign. She will be going to New York later this month for training in preparation for covering the 2004 election for the youth of Humboldt County. Meraz will then compete with 16 other finalists from around the nation for a chance to cover the 2004 election for MTV.

"We are so excited to have such an articulate, charismatic news correspondent to represent the youth in Humboldt County during the presidential campaign process," said Keith Crossley, general manager of Cox Communications Humboldt.

Last month, about 50 young journalists auditioned at the Bayshore Mall to show Cox and MTV why they should be chosen as the election corespondent. Cox selected 10 local finalists, and then collaborated with MTV to choose Meraz.

"Opportunities like this don't always come about in Humboldt County," Meraz said in a news release. "For years my dream has been to work for MTV as a news correspondent."

Meraz will have the opportunity to create her own written and video news pieces related to voting and the upcoming presidential campaign for possible use on the Cox Community Access Channel 10 and MTV.

MTV launched Choose or Lose in 1992 as a social campaign informing young adults of the political process. Through the campaign, young people can voice their most urgent political concerns, compel presidential candidates to address those concerns and mobilize young adults to register to vote.

This year, MTV's Choose or Lose programming will include regular news segments, issue-based specials, candidate interviews, coverage of primaries and grassroots events and will culminate in an election night wrap-up.

"Personally, I believe that programming of that nature affects our youth as well as everyone else more than we realize," Meraz said. "To be a part of that makes me ecstatic."