We updated the layout of the website to simplify navigation and put emphasis on our own content
By Theo Kalomirakis
After having spent most of my life in the US, gr2me represents my desire to rediscover Greece and reconnect with it. Initially the site was created to introduce the international audience to Greek cinema and its talented filmmakers. Shortly after that we expanded the focus of the site to include Greek history, travel, food, music, and more. These new categories featured content primarily from third parties, including respected cultural organizations like the Benaki Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Geographic, and skilled musicians and documentary creators. It was rewarding to host such diverse, quality video content. But this approach made it hard for the site to establish its own identity. A few months ago, we started looking into redefining our mission.
At its heart, gr2me has always focused on my desire to connect more personally with my roots. We were already achieving this through our original productions, a category that I hold dear: short videos about various aspects of Greek life created by talented young filmmakers. These videos help me reconnect with the Greece I longed to experience. They provide insights into Greek life that are rarely highlighted in travel brochures. They feature lesser-known travel spots, initiatives that showcase Greek innovation, overlooked parts of Greek history, and individuals who stand out for their creativity and passion for life.
In our effort to concentrate only on the content we create ourselves, we made the decision to remove all material created by others. It was a tough choice, which also meant losing half of our existing content. However, in the long run, we believe that gr2me’s brand identity and focus will be enhanced.
Our journey with gr2me has been one of constant discoveries and reorganization. We recently made substantial changes to the look and the content of the site. We unveiled the new design this week. Gr2me now contains fewer categories but the material in them will be all our own. Our team of young editors and social media managers lead the effort to create unique content for gr2me, sharpen its focus and help spread its message around the world. It is an exciting process which we hope will make the site more exciting and relevant to the millions who love Greece as much as we do.