March 5

"It is not about propaganda, but to articulate what we are for and to correct misperceptions or inaccuracies."

--A senior U.S. official, regarding the USG's message machine in Afghanistan and Pakistan; image from

BELOW IMAGES

From Medical Library's Contagious Exhibit Sure To Go Viral, Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Analysis - US hones message machine in Afghanistan, Pakistan - Sue Pleming, Will Dunham, Reuters AlertNet: "In an area where conspiracy theories are a growth industry, the Obama administration is trying to overhaul its message machine in Afghanistan and Pakistan while using new tools to fight extremism. The Taliban, al Qaeda and others have for years sought to dominate the air waves and Internet by getting anti-American propaganda out quickly while the U.S. government's public relations efforts lagged behind as messages were cleared back in Washington.

Controlling that 'narrative' is now a focus rather than an afterthought, say senior U.S. officials, from quicker responses to counter what is seen as misinformation to using technology such as a mobile phone-based message system, social networking and other new media. ... The State Department budget this year for Afghanistan and Pakistan communications projects is about $250 million, according to a department document from January, although there are pots of money in the Defense Department and other U.S. agencies, too. Media specialists in the U.S. government bristle at the term 'pro-American propaganda,' saying the goal is more subtle, with U.S. funds used to empower Afghans and Pakistanis to be at the forefront of challenging extremist messages. ... U.S. funding for exchange programs has also been hiked to try to improve people-to-people ties. A group of Pakistani journalists was in the United States this week as part of that program. ... The State Department has also helped fund a social networking system in Pakistan, paying for the first 24 million messages last year. Now more than 120 million message have been sent and at least 8,000 new people sign up daily... . Some media experts are skeptical that the revamped U.S. media approach will be enough to turn around public opinion in countries where U.S. motives are seen with suspicion, and previous campaigns have not been sustained. 'This is a war of perceptions. The U.S. is losing that war through inaction and poor actions. You are not winning when the people don't know it,' said Matt Armstrong, a public diplomacy consultant who blogs on the issue at www.mountainrunner.us."

Too much information: High-level talks on fish fillets at an international flash point - Al Kamen, Washington Post: "Speaking of the State Department, the inspector general's report on the agency's public affairs operation found serious problems with morale, staffing, communication and leadership in the 175-person bureau. Some components -- for example, the 'dysfunctional' Agency for International Development office -- have too many vacancies, the report said. On the other hand, the public diplomacy office seems to be somewhat overstaffed. One employee, the report found, works about 90 minutes a day. Another 'employee cited a three-page memorandum that the office director issued to all staff on the proper use of the office coffee pot,' according to the report, first obtained by the Associated Press's Matt Lee. Assistant Secretary P.J. Crowley was dinged for failure to communicate 'his strategic vision' to all hands and for 'inadequate oversight.' Key deputy Philippe Reines, who worked for Hillary Clinton in the Senate, in the campaign and now at Foggy Bottom, 'has important access' to her 'but needs to communicate information transparently to' Crowley and others in key positions. What! You want more communication? Be careful what you wish for. So now, on Clinton's five-country swing through Latin America, Reines is in constant, breathless twitter mode, communicating important information -- about his and her every move and thought. Transparency? He's sending out scores of photos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/statephotos) -- they appear to be from an iPhone -- on Clinton's meetings, landings, arrivals, events, the plane itself and things important to us all, including a photo of his place card at one meeting and another of the cookies he was having for breakfast."

Department of State Program Enhances Understanding, Appreciation for America Appreciation for America and Americans Among Youth From Islamic Countries - press release, PR Newswire:

"InterMedia was contracted by the Evaluation Division in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State to complete a five-year evaluation of an innovative high school student exchange program -- the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program -- established in the aftermath of September 11. Since 2003, more than 3,480 students from 25 countries with significant Muslim populations -- Afghanistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, Palestine, Malaysia and Yemen among the best-represented -- have taken part in the program, which provides scholarships for secondary school students 15-17. Students spend up to a full academic year in towns and cities throughout the United States to attend high school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and to share their customs and culture with Americans. The evaluation found the YES program enhanced their leadership skills and their understanding of and appreciation for American culture."

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Requestfor GrantProposals(RFGP): One-time Competitive Grants Program-Competition A-Academic Programs Department of State - govpulse

Validity of Israeli-Palestinian proximity talks in doubt – Xinhua, People's Daily Online: "In the coming days the Middle East will host important visits by key international players as the United States hopes to get Israeli-Palestinian peace talks back on track. The star-studded lineup includes U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Before they cross the Mediterranean, U.S. special envoy George Mitchell will make the journey this weekend. While the others will be in town to give their backing to renewed peace negotiations, it is up to Mitchell to enable that process to begin. While the U.S. is delighted that it received the backing to finally get the peace ball rolling once again, analysts are not convinced indirect or proximity talks are the best way forward. 'This is a backward step. Why are proximity talks needed when the parties are already talking directly?' said Bill Rugh, a former American ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. ... 'It sounds to many people like another stalling tactic on the part of the Israelis. It is of no use to the Obama team,' added Rugh, who is currently the Edward R. Murrow visiting professor of Public Diplomacy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University."

Levantine: Semites and Syrians - Paul Rockower, Levantine: "Syria has been making some serious overtures to Israel via the Guardian. Syria announced its willingness to make a gradual peace. Sounds good to moi. Always easy to say from sunny California. Gideon Levy thinks it doesn't matter, because, in his opinion Israelis don't really want peace with Syria. I still think that Israelis could be convinced with a little serious Syrian public diplomacy."

A voice for the helpless - Felicity Kay, Jerusalem Post: "With $80 million spent on toys and 57 hospitals dedicated, all on behalf of 'Jewish mothers' or 'the people of Israel,' the countess Esther de Pommery could teach the Israeli government a thing or two about hasbara (public diplomacy).

De Pommery regularly travels the world, seeking to help disadvantaged youth and women with her donations, with the aim of increasing Israel’s standing in the eyes of the world. However, her latest project – a documentary about Ronit Bitton, an Israeli woman who has fought a long battle to keep her son in Israel rather than with her estranged non-Jewish husband in Belgium – is taking her philanthropy to a new level."

Martisor Exhibition opens at NATO hq - Financiarul: "‎The Brussels-based NATO hqs. hosted the exhibition called Martisor – The Spring Trinket, staged by Romania’s Permanent Delegation to NATO in partnership with the Valentele Umane (Human Values) Foundation. The event is part in the actions aimed at the promotion of Romania’s folkloric values and traditions, abroad. The exhibition opened on Tuesday and for two days, the visitors could admire a wide range of Romanian traditional products such as, spring trinkets, pottery from several regions of the country, folk costumes, Easter eggs painted in a Bukovinan style, and they were offered CDs and arts albums presenting some jewels of Romania’s places, folk music and traditions. ... [A]ttending the inaugural ceremony were outstanding NATO personalities such as NATO Military Committee’s president Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, the NATO General Secretariat deputy assistant for public diplomacy Stefanie Babst, and that for economic, regional and multilateral business Aurelia Bouchez."

Public Diplomacy Interactive - Katharine Keith, A World Not Our Own: A Public Diplomacy Blog: "PD Interactive is a virtual space, launched by the Public Diplomacy Corps (PD Corps), where people can connect and share ideas about public diplomacy.

We hope you'll use this this network as a resource to connect with counterparts around the world and tackle important issues. The best way to do this is by joining groups relevant to your interests, such as the Cultural Diplomacy group, or the group on Iran. If you don't see a group that fits your interests, we encourage you to create one!"

New Association of Public Diplomacy Scholars Website - Public Diplomacy Interactive, - Paul Rockower, Public Diplomacy Corps: "The Association of Public Diplomacy Scholars is proud to announce the relaunch of the APDS website (http://www.uscapds.org/). Big thanks to Peter Tran of Mice and Pen Media for his terrific design work."

Blog assignment #5 -- Global health - Rosa Kim, Intro to Public Health student blog: " A decade ago, lack of resources was the biggest public health concern. However, today, thanks to var[i]ous donations, there are enough money and resources; however, due to uncoordination, the money is directly towards high-profile disases than public health.

The world now emphasizes conquering of the common diseases in developing countries with various reasons: moral duty, public diplomacy and self protection."

RELATED ITEMS

Newsweek's Iraq cover 'looks mighty like' propaganda - Michael Hastings, True/Slant: "I saw Newsweek’s latest cover today, subtly headlined: “VICTORY AT LAST.”

My first reaction was to grab the nearest taser, jam it down my throat, pull the trigger, and hope that my bodily fluids would conduct the 10,000 volts of electricity to instantly fry my brain so I wouldn’t have to read the accompanying story. Sadly, I couldn’t find a taser. ... It’s the V word in this particular headline that brings it up to the level of delusional, Goebbels-esque, myth-making. I think you can clearly make the case that since 2008 the U.S. military has had success in Iraq, but victory is a word that even U.S. government officials are smart enough not to use." Image from article

The harrowing media news from Iran - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Zimbabwe: Propaganda in Quest to Conquer History –Reason Wafawarova - AllAfrica.com: The history that is being written by the West on Zimbabwe right now is a conquered history -- a history shaped by falsehoods and gross propaganda at the expense of reality.

The documentary "Mugabe and the White African" is one such adulterated propaganda designed to create a history favourable to the character of remnants of the colonial legacy -- portraying white Zimbabweans as defenceless victims of the vindictiveness of black independence in Africa. The documentary is moulded alongside such documentaries like "The Last King of Scotland", a one-sided demonisation piece of act that was directed at Uganda's Idi Amin.

Georgian opposition slams Hollywood film about Ossetia war as propaganda - Russia Today

N.Korean Eatery Serves Food with Dash of Propaganda - The Chosun Ilbo, The Pyongyang Korean restaurant in the icy Russian seaport of Vladivostok serves up kimchi "with a helping of North Korean propaganda on the side," the AP news agency reported Tuesday. AP said staff were all from Pyongyang, as was the anti-American rhetoric. Kim Song-oh, the owner, told the AP reporter, "We hate America... We want the South and North to be together and America shouldn't meddle, it should go." However, service came with a smile, and Kim -- who spoke some English -- politely said "Nice to meet you," several times during the conversation.