The Center on Public Diplomacy hosted an end-of-the-year open forum on "Journalism and Democracy: A View from Paris - What role does--and should--journalism play in democratic societies?" Our special guest for the discussion was Geraldine Muhlmann.

The USC Center for Public Diplomacy and the Trojan Debate Society are hosted an Eastern European champion debate team for deliberation and discussion regarding whether current Bush administration efforts at public diplomacy were sufficient for a continued American leadership role in Eastern Europe.

The debate was moderated by the director of the Center for Public Diplomacy, Joshua Fouts, and the director of the Trojan Debate Society, Gordon Stables. Question and answer session followed the debate.

The USC Center on Public Diplomacy held a special event in conjunction with the Eisenhower Series College Program, "The Changing Role of the U.S. Military: The Defense Department and U.S. Public Diplomacy." The Center hosted a public diplomacy discussion with senior colonels of the United States armed forces.

Join Annenberg faculty, students and staff for a talk with Dr. Matthew A. Baum on "Dominating the Information Market: Key Challenges for Public Diplomacy in the New Media Age."

Matthew A. Baum is Assistant Professor in the departments of Political Science and Communication Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. His research and teaching interests are concerned with public opinion, new media, and foreign policy. In particular, he has focused on the ways that media coverage and public opinion can influence the use of military force.

Annenberg professor Jerry Swerling and students held a discussion with Anthony Gooch, European Union Spokesman to the United States. Mr. Gooch discussed challenges of the Public Diplomacy between the European Union and the U.S.

Diane Winston, Annenberg's Knight Chair in Media and Religion, discussed "Kingdom of Heaven," Ridley Scott's forthcoming film on the Crusades.

Panelists confirmed thus far include John Aberth, a Castleton College historian who looks at depictions of the Middle Ages on film; Reuven Firestone, a Hebrew Union College medievalist who studies cross cultural understandings of holy war; and Aymen Khalifa, a cultural consultant who works with filmmakers to address cultural, political, lifestyle and religious issues.

USC School of International Relations' Peace & Conflict Studies Program and the USC Center for Religion & Civic Culture hosted a free film screening and discussion of "Hotel Rwanda."

The screening took place on Monday, April 11 at 7:15pm at Norris Theater.

There was be a panel discussion of the film on Tuesday, April 12, 12pm at Doheny Library Intellectual Commons (2nd floor).

Annenberg professor Craig Carroll, faculty, students, and staff held a public relations forum on "PR and Communications Management in Europe" with Dr. Betteke van Ruler.

Professor Betteke van Ruler is the Director of the Amsterdam School of Communications Research at the University of Amsterdam. Dr. Van Ruler is also the co-editor of Public Relations and Communication Management in Europe (2004).