Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS1042
2008-07-23 04:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
DEMOCRACY VIDEO CHALLENGE
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UNCLAS ATHENS 001042
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIRC KPAO OIIP OPRC OEXC ECON GR
SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY VIDEO CHALLENGE
REF: A) STATE 75800, B) 07 ATHENS 1864
UNCLAS ATHENS 001042
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIRC KPAO OIIP OPRC OEXC ECON GR
SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY VIDEO CHALLENGE
REF: A) STATE 75800, B) 07 ATHENS 1864
1. (SBU) Embassy Athens and Consulate General Thessaloniki are
interested in supporting the Democracy Video Challenge. In addition
to the representational events at which local winners will be
selected, as suggested REF A, we can envision promoting the contest
through our youth-oriented website Mosaiko.gr, as well our six
American corners. It may also be possible to enlist one or more
Greek "communication sponsors " for the contest. We could, for
example, approach SKAI TV, which hosted YouTube debates among the
candidates in the September 2007 Greek general elections. This was
the first application of this American-style campaign technique in
Europe. Although it met with limited success, as we reported REF B,
such experiments are certain to continue here, and we would like to
support them.
2. (SBU) Given the very broad guidelines of the contest, it is hard
to predict how young Greeks will choose to complete the sentence
"Democracy is... " Greeks are generally very proud of living in the
"birthplace " of democracy. At the same time, polls show a high
degree of disillusionment with the established quasi- "two-party"
political system here, especially among youth, who voted
disproportionately for the alternative SYRIZA or "Coalition of the
Radical Left" party led by 30-something MP Alexis Tsipras last fall.
Another theme of Greek responses might be the new voting system for
choosing University rectors, which caused widespread controversy and
in some cases violence on campuses across the country this spring.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIRC KPAO OIIP OPRC OEXC ECON GR
SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY VIDEO CHALLENGE
REF: A) STATE 75800, B) 07 ATHENS 1864
1. (SBU) Embassy Athens and Consulate General Thessaloniki are
interested in supporting the Democracy Video Challenge. In addition
to the representational events at which local winners will be
selected, as suggested REF A, we can envision promoting the contest
through our youth-oriented website Mosaiko.gr, as well our six
American corners. It may also be possible to enlist one or more
Greek "communication sponsors " for the contest. We could, for
example, approach SKAI TV, which hosted YouTube debates among the
candidates in the September 2007 Greek general elections. This was
the first application of this American-style campaign technique in
Europe. Although it met with limited success, as we reported REF B,
such experiments are certain to continue here, and we would like to
support them.
2. (SBU) Given the very broad guidelines of the contest, it is hard
to predict how young Greeks will choose to complete the sentence
"Democracy is... " Greeks are generally very proud of living in the
"birthplace " of democracy. At the same time, polls show a high
degree of disillusionment with the established quasi- "two-party"
political system here, especially among youth, who voted
disproportionately for the alternative SYRIZA or "Coalition of the
Radical Left" party led by 30-something MP Alexis Tsipras last fall.
Another theme of Greek responses might be the new voting system for
choosing University rectors, which caused widespread controversy and
in some cases violence on campuses across the country this spring.
SPECKHARD