A curated selection of public diplomacy-relevant news from a global cross-section of English-language media outlets, including independent, corporate-owned, and state-sponsored sources. The stories featured don't necessarily represent CPD's views nor have they been verified by CPD.
Sizing up U.S. diplomacy
The American Academy of Diplomacy estimates that the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development will need to increase their ranks by 4,700 employees between 2010 and 2014 in order to successfully carry out U.S. diplomatic initiatives. For instance, the public diplomacy staff, which seeks to influence foreign publics by promoting U.S. policies, culture, society and values, is currently 24 per cent smaller than in 1986.
UK Helps African Journalists Cover HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Using what they've learned spreading awareness of how diabetes plagues Appalachia, a team of Kentuckians is helping Zambian journalists broaden their coverage of the continuing HIV/AIDS epidemic in southern Africa. This unlikely international coupling is the offspring of a burgeoning relationship between the University of Kentucky's School of Journalism and Telecommunications and ZAMCOM, a non-profit training center for journalists in Zambia's capital city, Lusaka.
Can Israel Win The ‘Soft Power’ War In Gaza?
The government's decision to launch a political and media offensive before beginning the major military operation in Gaza was an important and necessary step...But based on past experience, to make this moral case and to counteract the images from Gaza, carefully considered and professionally implemented strategies are required. For years, Israel has been totally defeated on the "soft power" battlefields.
Israel launches well-coordinated PR blitz to garner support for Gaza action
Diplomatic officials said the purpose of the public diplomacy campaign was to give Israel as much diplomatic legitimacy for the operation as possible. The Foreign Ministry has been preparing for the offensive for a number of days, sending to its representatives background material on Hamas, talking points, and instructions to its representatives to return from holiday vacations even though their counterparts in many of the world's capitals were away for Christmas and New Year's.
In China, Media Make Small Strides
President Hu Jintao said in June that news coverage of emergency incidents should be more timely, authoritative and transparent, but he stressed the need to adhere to party propaganda. "If the media guidance is correct, it is good for the party, the country and the public," Hu said in a visit to the official People's Daily newspaper.
EU Spends £2bn Each Year on ‘Vain PR Exercises’
New research by Open Europe, a think-tank that supports EU reform, has found that so-called European "information" campaigns are one-sided and boast a budget that is bigger than Coca-Cola's total worldwide advertising account...EU and European Commission officials have stepped up "information" campaigns following a series of referendum rejections over the last three years.
Russia Profile Weekly Experts Panel: Russia in The Year 2008
Russia’s main losses are in the area of soft power. Russia continues to be viewed by Western nations as a corrupt power with no principles of its own, and the Kremlin’s strategy remains poorly understood. Part of this is not Russia’s fault, but the other part has to do with the Kremlin’s inconsistency and inability to explain its objectives.
Obama’s Election Poses A Challenge To The Europeans
Even if the left wing of the European left — like the most liberal of the US Democrats — voices concerns that Obama has selected a far too centrist Cabinet, a classical form of anti-Americanism is bound to recede in Europe. It is very unlikely that Europeans will take to the streets to denounce the “essence” of the US — what America is as much as what America does — as they have done during George W. Bush’s presidency and even during the Clinton years.
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