Launch of Inaugural Democracy Photo Challenge

July 9, 2010

Department of State and its partners have expanded the global Democracy is conversation on July 7 with the launch of the inaugural Democracy Photo Challenge. The contest asks people around the world to complete the phrase "Democracy is..." through digital photos submitted online. The Democracy is...conversation leverages social networks and creative challenges to engage people around the world to share, consider, debate, and learn from diverse perspectives on democracy, ultimately reflecting the voices of all of the world's citizens.

Photo entries will be accepted at http://www.democracyphotochallenge.america.gov/ from July 7 through midnight GMT July 28, 2010. Democracy is… partners worked with Google'sPicasa Web Albums team to create the contest platform, the first of its kind, specifically to power the Democracy Photo Challenge. An independent jury will select 36 finalists, and the public will choose 12 winning photos through a global online vote beginning August 19, the International Day of Photography and continuing through midnight GMT August 26.

The winners will be announced on the United Nations' International Day of Democracy, September 15, 2010, with the winning photographs exhibited at the UN in New York and in other venues.