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.

The State of Berlin offering stipends for artists to work abroad

Artists that have been based in Berlin for 3 years or more are being offered the opportunity to be inspired by living in a new culture, with funding from the state.... The project is envisioned as a cultural exchange programme and the length of time to spend in each particular country varies.

Tags: government pd, public diplomacy, europe, cultural exchange, art diplomacy, germany

Partial Victory Declared in Fight Over Censorship at Voice of America

Press freedom advocates and Ethiopian Americans are declaring a partial victory in their fight with the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), a U.S. government agency, over the censorship of the Voice of America radio programs to Ethiopia.

Tags: united states, government pd, public diplomacy, voice of america, bbg, censorship, ethiopia

Shaolin Restores Kung Fu Glory with Loan

Actually, the temple can enhance China's 'soft power' diplomacy and provides a more intriguing picture of the nation.....Although Abbot Shi Yongxin faces a great deal of criticism for commercializing the temple, he's bringing global attention to Chinese culture. Many famous Hollywood actors and American superstar athletes have visited the Shaolin Temple to learn from the kung fu monks.

Tags: china, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, tourism, hollywood, cultural influence, shaolin, kung fu

From Beijing to Villupuram, a radio station spreads its reach

Its popularity underscores the quiet success China's “soft power” push is having in unlikely locations. The Tamil station, which broadcasts every day from a modest 12th floor office, has more than 25,000 registered listeners ... in Tamil Nadu and the rest of India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore...

Tags: china, soft power, international broadcasting, public diplomacy, radio, sri lanka, china radio international

Obama Praises Four African Leaders As Democratic Models

Bruce Wharton... said that by inviting the four presidents to Washington, the Obama administration is highlighting the importance of "holding credible elections, building strong democratic institutions and fostering economic development."

Tags: united states, government pd, africa, barack obama, democracy, bilateral relations, investment, côte d’ivoire, niger, francophone africa, benin, guinea

The Cultural Underbelly of Public Diplomacy

Culture as an underlying force that shapes global public diplomacy remains curiously unexplored. Yet, every aspect of an entity’s public diplomacy...is touched by culture. Intercultural scholars have cautioned that to overlook culture’s influence is to remain vulnerable to its power. Conversely, with the benefit of cultural knowledge, one can more effectively harness that power.

Tags: united states, soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy

Bill Gates teams up with FC Barcelona to fight polio

Polio has all but been eradicated from the Earth, but not quite. So Bill Gates and the soccer club FC Barcelona are joining forces to push the effort past the goal line. They're calling it the "More than a Goal. End Polio" campaign...Barcelona plans to spread the message through in-stadium advertisements, announcements during matches, and via social media to the millions of followers worldwide.

Tags: united states, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, non-state pd, sports diplomacy, soccer, health diplomacy, bill gates

Netanyahu’s popularity reels as Israel protests take root

What started as two unrelated social actions over a month ago — a Facebook campaign against inflated cottage cheese prices (an Israeli staple) and a doctors’ strike — has blossomed into a nationwide, multipronged collective revolt unprecedented in recent Israeli history. The Arab Spring, it appears, is turning into a hot, hot Israeli summer.

Tags: middle east, arab spring, public diplomacy, public opinion, social media, israel, non-state pd, crisis coverage, facebook

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