Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SAOPAULO394
2008-07-24 11:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Sao Paulo
Cable title:  

REQUEST FOR DVC WITH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEDIA

Tags:  OIIP KPAO HO 
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VZCZCXRO5170
OO RUEHRG
DE RUEHSO #0394/01 2061109
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241109Z JUL 08
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8410
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 9541
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 8795
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE PRIORITY 4159
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAO PAULO 000394 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/S-WHA (CBARONE); WHA/PDA (JRUSSO)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO HO
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR DVC WITH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEDIA
REPRESENTATIVES - ELECTIONS 2008

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAO PAULO 000394

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/S-WHA (CBARONE); WHA/PDA (JRUSSO)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO HO
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR DVC WITH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEDIA
REPRESENTATIVES - ELECTIONS 2008


1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: PAS Sao Paulo requests a one-hour Digital
Video Conference (DVC) with the Democratic and Republican Party
media representatives in relation to the 2008 Presidential Elections
with a specific focus on electoral coverage of the internet and
internet-based social networks, strategies of each candidate in
using the internet, online coverage made in the U.S. and new
information resources for voters, case examples from the last
election and what has changed in relation to previous election
campaigns.


2. TIME FRAME: One-hour and a half program on September 10, 2008,
at 9:30 a.m. EST.


3. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM: Post would like to share the expertise
of U.S. election media representatives with Brazilian journalists,
journalism students, managers of communication institutions,
advertising professionals and opinion makers in the Sao Paulo media
market to help raise awareness and educate audiences on the
important role media representatives play during U.S. presidential
election campaigns.

MSP goals addressed are Enhancing Mutual Understanding through civic
awareness and participation on this important issue.


4. AUDIENCE: The audience will consist of 400 representatives from
the Sao Paulo press corps attending the event plus approximately 1
million internet users participating via web throughout all of Latin
America.


5. PROPOSED TOPICS: The speakers should be able to discuss
specifics of the U.S. election system for election coverage on the
web for the 2008 presidential elections. The speakers should have
current and inside information on the current status of the front
running candidates, history of past presidential elections and an
expert knowledge of journalism on the web, production of content
generated by users, technologies and tools that contribute for
online journalism.


6. TYPE OF SPEAKER REQUIRED: Post requests media representatives
from Democrat and Republican Parties


7. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT: Simultaneous translation into Portuguese
will be provided.


8. NAMES AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MISSION PROGRAM OFFICER AND
RESPONSIBLE FSN:

Mission Program Officer:
Acting IO-APP Officer Mark E. Kendrick
E-mail: KendrickME@state.gov
Office phone: (55-11) 5186-7234 ext. 7234
Fax: (55-11) 5186-7299
Cell phone: (55-11) 9250-7101

Responsible FSN:
IO Assistant- Najla Kubrusly
E-mail: kubruslyn@state.gov
Office phone: (55-11) 5186-7235
Fax number: (55-11) 5181-1368
Cell phone: (55-11) 9497-9469


9. FUNDING SOURCE: Post will provide fiscal data to cover
expenses.


10. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: The MediaOn event is an annual
international seminar on online journalism and journalist from all
over Brazil, Latin America and Africa will be in attendance. The
main topics for this edition will be: electoral coverage on the web
(exploring the fact that this year is also a municipal election year
in Brazil) and social networking sites. The event is organized by
Terra Networks Group and Instituto Cultural Itau, with whom the U.S.
Mission in Sao Paulo has an excellent working relationship, and is
supported by CNN and BBC Brazil.

It is evident that changes in communication technology may play an
important role in influencing electoral behavior. The Internet may
enhance voter information about candidates and elections, and in
turn stimulate increased participation. The Internet has become a
potent political tool in terms of campaigning, fundraising, and
civic engagement. Brazilian audiences often look to U.S. internet
sources for models of efficient use of the internet- election
politics is no exception. Not surprisingly, Brazilian media sources
have noted that 33 percent of younger U.S. voters have gotten
political news and information from social networking sites.
Especially for presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, the net
has been a boon to fundraising. More than $100 million, or 40
percent of his money, has come from online contributions. Seminar
attendees have a high interest in learning more about this internet

SAO PAULO 00000394 002 OF 002


phenomenon and also how campaigns use social networking sites to
attract traditionally hard-to-target teens and young adults to sites
such as MySpace, Hi-5, Bebo and Facebook.

Story