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.

U.S. Department of State Announces First International Sports Exchange With Athletes From Saudi Arab

Sports diplomacy builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power.” It embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools, including sports, to bring individuals together in order to foster a greater understanding of societal norms and cultures.

Tags: sports diplomacy, us department of state, smart power, people-to-people, basketball, sports exchange, sportsunited, wnba

French oyster farmers return favour to Japan

Twice in the past 40 years, French oyster farmers were saved by their colleagues on Japan's northern Pacific coast. After the March 11 tsunami, they decided it was time to return the favour. This week they kicked off an aid effort to help oyster growers who lost everything when the seabed quake sent a massive tsunami barrelling into Japan's north-east, destroying entire towns - and their livelihoods.

Tags: non-state pd, aid diplomacy, japan, france, disaster diplomacy, tsunami

Why Is Obama’s State Department Uneasy About Democracy?

Washington, especially Obama’s State Department, has a democracy problem. Too many see democracy promotion as a Bush-era priority, others see democracy as “cultural imperialism,” and still others see dangers, not opportunities.

Tags: united states, government pd, arab spring, us department of state, democracy, security

The Case for Water Diplomacy

Singapore’s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, told this water summit’s attendees that “water is a strategic necessity for Singapore” and so the country had “mobilized our machinery” in a holistic approach that includes investing in new technology and educating the public about water conservation.

Tags: government pd, new technology, asia pacific, water diplomacy, singapore, asia, water

U.S. Travel Group Begins $100 Million Agency Search

The U.S. Corp. for Travel Promotion, which bills itself as a partnership between the public and private sectors with the mission of promoting increased international travel to the U.S., is on the hunt for a global agency to help boost tourism to the country.

Tags: united states, nation branding, tourism, asia

Public Diplomacy for the 21st Century

In the 21st century, the democratization and diffusion of information is dissolving traditional barriers to power. People in every part of the world are clamoring to be heard and demanding a role in shaping their own future. This change is irreversible, unstoppable, and eminently desirable.

Tags: united states, middle east, arab spring, new technology, us department of state

The people formerly known as the audience

Thanks to the rise of social media, news is no longer gathered exclusively by reporters and turned into a story but emerges from an ecosystem in which journalists, sources, readers and viewers exchange information. Journalists are becoming more inclined to see blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media as a valuable adjunct to traditional media.

Tags: united states, social media, new technology, non-state pd, twitter, facebook, journalism, internet diplomacy, blogging

Jiang, dead or alive? China internet abuzz

It is the most popular subject on China's Internet that no one is allowed to talk about. After overseas media reported the death of former president Jiang Zemin, web-savvy Internet users in China are finding creative ways to jump the Great Firewall, the cloak of Internet security authorities use to disrupt or halt access to things deemed too sensitive for the Internet.

Tags: china, media, social media, new technology, non-state pd, internet diplomacy

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