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.
Ghana Prepares to Welcome Obama
Local restaurants, drinking spots, intersections, a huge reggae hit, even a hotel — all have been named or renamed after Obama. His face is prominent on colorful print fabrics that are worn as clothing and that decorate shop stalls.
Urumqi Unrest: China’s Savvier Media Strategy
Similarly, on the Internet, over the airwaves, and in the written media, Chinese propaganda officials utilized new and more sophisticated tactics to overcome early impressions that the authorities were to blame for the carnage and to paint a more nuanced picture.
South Africa: Dance of the Gods
he six-member Manipuri Dance Troupe, sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (New Delhi) and the Indian Cultural Centre of the Consulate General of India (Durban), is touring South Africa, and will be performing at the Festival this week. The purpose of their tour is to promote Indian culture in South Africa.
Rebranding Africa
Quietly, modestly — but also heroically — Ghana’s going about the business of rebranding a continent. New face of America, meet the new face of Africa.
Fulbright-mtvU Fellows Promote “Power of Music”
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and mtvU, MTV’s 24-hour college network, announced on July 8 the four 2009 winners of the Fulbright–mtvU Fellowships, established in 2007 to promote “the power of music” as a global force for mutual understanding.
In America? Smith-Mundt Means No SMS Updates on the President’s Ghana Speech For You!
If you're an American, you cannot sign up for SMS updates to what surely will be an excellent speech by the President - nor could you sign up for the previous much anticipated and lauded speeches - because the Smith-Mundt Act prevents American public diplomacy activities from reaching sensitive and impressionable American eyes and ears.
World Sport Chicago Partners with Boxing Ambassadors to Send Chicago Youth to Ireland
World Sport Chicago has partnered with the Chicago Youth International Boxing Ambassadors and the Chicago Park District to establish a youth boxing exchange program with Ireland. Yesterday, the twelve Chicago-area amateur fighters left for Ireland to represent Chicago both as some of its most talented fighters and as a great cross section of Chicago’s cultural and ethnic diversity.
Don’t Just Watch
Marc Lynch: "Rather than sitting back and enjoying their momentary reprieve, Arab leaders should be taking advantage of the current calm to work aggressively to overcome their paralysing internal disagreement and revitalise collective Arab action."
Pages
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.