U.S. Public Diplomacy in 2018

Between leadership changes, amped-up efforts to fight disinformation, and a rebrand of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBC) to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), 2018 has been an eventful year in U.S. public diplomacy.

Per its congressional mandate, the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (ACPD)'s recently released annual report provides an overview of public diplomacy activities and budget allocation of the State Department, U.S. embassies worldwide and the USAGM. 

Notably, the ACPD analyzes the current state of U.S. public diplomacy and offers recommendations to the White House, Congress and State Department agencies spearheading policy and strategic planning, global media, educational and cultural programming, information programming, public affairs and disinformation. To the Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and the State Department's Office of Policy, Planning and Resources, the report emphasizes the importance of appointing experienced career officers, reviewing public diplomacy programs and structure, revising training programs and implementing new technologies. 

"Mission-focused leadership is crucial to the continued effectiveness of Public Diplomacy personnel and programming," the ACPD writes in its recommendation on leadership and training. "Strategic planning, research, and evaluation need to be continuously prioritized—and related skills taught—to create an institutional culture that expects and rewards evidence-based decision-making at every level."

Read the full report, "2018 Comprehensive Annual Report on Public Diplomacy and International Broadcasting," by the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, here. 

Photo by U.S. Department of State | United States Government Work