December 21

VIDEO

Edward Bernays on Propaganda and Public Relations

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Mrs. Goli Ameri, to Speak on Public Diplomacy at UCLA - Press Release, IAC-UCLA

Why is there no Voice of America for Americans? – global voices, one world: “Professor Monroe Price has a fascinating piece on how public diplomacy in the Obama era might look like. He draws on the notions of hospitality as a key value in rethinking the role of public diplomacy in an era that is global and networked. Arguing that public diplomacy is in some serious need of innovation, he reimagines public diplomacy as not just speaking, but also listening. Seen through a more reciprocal, interactive lens, things like the Smith-Mundt Act, which forbids transmission of U.S. sponsored international broadcasting within the United States no longer makes any sense and the intransparency of internet filtering practices need to be reconsidered. The traditional model of public diplomacy, based on the international broadcasting paradigm, of states to states, seems archaic in the light of new technologies. … Why is there a Voice of America for the rest of the world, but no Voice of America for Americans? How would a Voice of the World for Americans look like?”

Guide of the Week: Improving US Image - Free Government Information: "The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently identified Improving the US Image Abroad as one of 13 urgent issues facing the next President and Congress. …There appear to be two librarian-produced guides that look helpful in this area: Government Publications on Islam (University of Colorado at Boulder Government Publications Library, 2008) Public Opinion Sources (Univ. of California--Berkeley, 1999) Last updated 5/9/2006. The Islam guide provides a few links to efforts in American 'public diplomacy' as well as hearings and studies about current thinking and opinion in Islamic countries. UC Berkeley's guide on public opinion sources provides information on current and past public opinion trends at home and abroad. It has a mix of print and electronic resources."

Traveling Through — Travel groups merge to push industry forward - Stephanie Mlot, Frederick News Post: "’America needs travel now more than ever -- to create jobs, stimulate economic growth and further the vital public diplomacy interests of the United States,’ Caroline Beteta, CEO of the California Travel and Tourism Commission, said.”

Niger's Human Rights Groups Take the Government to Task – Tanat, Issikta: “[T]he U.S. has provided $23 Million funding and public diplomacy programs to Niger, in part, to help government officials identify corruption and combat it, through the ‘Threshold Program’ signed on March 31, 2008.”

Shoe-Inspired Mid-East Art Renaissance Continues - Princess Sparkle Pony's Photo Blog I keep track of Condoleezza's hairdo so you don't have to:

PHOTO: A Jordanian protestor holds up a picture of U.S. President George W. Bush with a shoe fixed on it, during a demonstration in support of Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi in Amman, Jordan, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008. Dozens of protestors gathered to demand the release of Al-Zaidi, who threw his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush during a news conference in Iraq on Sunday, Dec. 14. (AP Photo/Nader Daoud)

Propaganda program funds used in "questionable manner" - SusanG, Daily Kos: A Defense Department project, supposedly designed to support U.S. troops, was used instead to channel millions of dollars to personal friends and allies of its chief. The "America Supports You," or ASY, program was led in a "questionable and unregulated manner," according to a Department of Defense Inspector General report.