YouTubers interview Angela Merkel

“I am a little nervous, I have to say”, reveals Ischtar Isik. She is one of the four YouTubers who have the opportunity to interview Angela Merkel on 16 August. The other three are MrWissen2go, AlexiBexi and It’s Coleslaw. All four together have around three million subscribers. They announced the interview date on their channels and asked their followers to post questions. They will select some of those questions to put to the Federal Chancellor.

The topics addressed on the four YouTube channels differ greatly. They only have one thing in common, namely that none of the four discuss predominantly political topics. Nonetheless, it is still hoped their interview with the Chancellor will spark young people’s interest in politics. YouTube is an important medium for young people in Germany: According to the 2017 Bravo/YouGov study 58 percent of young people consult YouTube for information on political issues.

Who are the four YouTubers?

The production company organizing the interview, Studio 71, selected AlexiBexi, It´s Coleslaw, Ischtar Isik and MrWissen2Go, because “they have different backgrounds, to ensure that viewers feel represented by one of the four participants.”

It´s Coleslaw (22) alias Lisa Sophie, talks about everyday issues on her channel, for example experiences learning to drive or taking the train. She is studying Political Sciences and Psychology and works as a journalist. 

www.youtube.com/user/ItsColeslaw

Ischtar Isik (21) has Aramaic roots. She has been running a typical beauty channel on YouTube since she was 15, offering fashion and makeup tips to her mostly female fans.

www.youtube.com/user/isipisi5

AlexiBexi’s (28) real name is Alexander Böhm. He publishes technology test reports as well as explanatory videos in which he answers his viewers’ questions. He has a Bachelor’s in Directing and works as a video producer.

https://www.youtube.com/user/AlexiBexi

Mirko Drotschmann’s (31) YouTube alias is MrWissen2Go. He offers his fans a weekly news overview and explanatory videos on world history. He studied History and works as a journalist. He is the only one of the four selected YouTubers to also explain political topics on his channel, such as the process of the Federal elections.

www.youtube.com/user/MrWissen2go

Critical questions wanted

In 2015 LeFloid was selected to hold the first YouTube interview with the Chancellor. Under the hashtag #netzfragtmerkel he asked questions his fans had posted in advance. Among the topics at the time were the NSA bugging scandal and same-sex marriage. LeFloid was later criticized for asking questions that were too nice.

Now these four YouTubers have the opportunity to do a better job. To help them, the interview concept was changed: MrWissen2Go wanted the questions to be put live to Angela Merkel and not chosen in advance. Each YouTuber has ten minutes to question the Chancellor. 

The most common questions to date under the hashtag #DeineWahl:

• Why is not more money being invested in the education system? 
• Why is there no basic income for all?
• What refugee policy will Angela Merkel pursue in future? 

Livestream on 16 August from 1 p.m.: www.youtube.com/c/deinewahl

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