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.

US international broadcasting requires independence and consolidation

A government agency cannot realistically be a news agency. One politically appointed manager might be committed to independent journalism, but the next might order the manipulation of content to support the policies of the president who appointed him or her. In this regard, the new mission statement of the BBG is not helpful.

Tags: international broadcasting, public diplomacy, voice of america, bbg

Beijing makes its voice heard: CCTV expands in the U.S.

CCTV America, from its studio in Washington, D.C., is part of Beijing’s outreach of telling its own story through its own voice. The expansion has been dramatic and expensive. They are covering stories of Chinese interest that are not covered by Western media or not covered in a way the Chinese want.

Tags: china, international broadcasting, government pd, public diplomacy, cctv

Background Briefing on 2013 State Department-USAID Budget

20 years ago when the Berlin Wall fell. Twenty years have gone by, several countries have graduated into market democracy, into the international institutions – the EU, NATO – and we felt it was time to sort of normalize the assistance for those countries in the regular budget so that we no longer have a separate carve-out.

Tags: united states, government pd, public diplomacy, us department of state, usaid

Will Hollywood ever conquer Bollywood?

The WikiLeaks cables show that governments really do think along these strategic lines about the entertainment industry. They call it soft power. Let's hope that they don't forget that someone – Hollywood, Bollywood, or Chinese – is supposed to be making the next generation of classic films at the same time.

Tags: china, united states, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, film diplomacy, bollywood, hollywood

The British Museum’s Hajj exhibition takes visitors on a journey

In partnership with Saudi Arabia's King Abdul Aziz Public Library, artefacts from forty collections illustrate the basic elements of the Hajj... At a time when there are many misconceptions about Islam and people are quick to get their information about Muslims from TV, the British Museum's Hajj exhibition is a good place to learn what Islam is really about.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, islam, britain, exhibitions

Chinese artist brings five decades’ worth of clutter to London exhibition

The Barbican in London opened its doors to reveal five decades' worth of possessions accumulated by the mother of the Chinese conceptual artist Song Dong. Jane Alison, senior curator at the Barbican, said that Waste Not was "so personal and poetic … it helps us to understand the reality of Chinese history and culture in the 20th century in a way that newspapers can't".

Tags: china, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, non-state actors, britain

Hollywood bows to China soft power

For some industry insiders, the trio personify a growing partnership between Beijing’s aspirations to export what it calls “soft power” – a sugarcoated version of China and its myriad social problems – to the West and Hollywood producers, who are bending over backwards to get a piece of the world’s fastest growing film market.

Tags: china, united states, soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, film diplomacy, hollywood

Public opinion about the U.S. and China

The man expected to be China's next president, current Vice President Xi Jinping, is meeting Tuesday with President Obama at the White House. Richard Wike, Associate Director of the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project, answers questions about public opinion at home and abroad regarding China and the United States.

Tags: china, united states, public diplomacy, public opinion, national image

Pages

Stay in the Know

Public Diplomacy is a dynamic field, and CPD is committed to keeping you connected and informed about the critical developments that are shaping PD around the world. 

Depending on your specific interests, you can subscribe to one or more of CPD's newsletters >.

Visit CPD's Online Library

Explore CPD's vast online database featuring the latest books, articles, speeches and information on international organizations dedicated to public diplomacy.