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 
 
¶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