PD commentary
Selection and commentary by PDC members and authoritative experts in the field
Sunday, August 19th 2012
Many years ago, The Economist newspaper (yes, in England, it’s called a newspaper, not a magazine) published an article about the best embassies in world capital cities.
I remember this issue because it cited the American Embassy on Grosvenor Square as the best of the foreign diplomatic operations in London. Now that’s pretty impressive, given that many countries – then and now – send their best and brightest to London.
The reason: the Americans had an outstanding record of identifying and building relationships with the Britain’s best and brightest – an uncanny record of targeting the next generation of British society’s leaders, whether in arts, politics, economics, journalism or any other field of endeavor important to the “Special Relationship.”
Read More
Wednesday, August 15th 2012
If you don't have a PAO in a given country, there is a hole in the policy debate.
The PAO (Public Affairs Officer) is the senior American with public diplomacy responsibilities on an embassy's Country Team. She or he is the person who awakens each morning wanting to know what the people are thinking. Absent a PAO, no one is effectively looking out for our strategic communication goals.
Read More
Monday, August 13th 2012
A few years ago, the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy at the State Department declared that the Marshall Plan “still stands as the greatest example in our nation’s history of public diplomacy done right.”
Who knows? Maybe Judith McHale was inspired by the fact that her own new office in the State Department was the same one George C. Marshall occupied as Secretary of State. Or, maybe the fact that she was speaking in Lexington, Virginia at the time had something to do with it. But she was right.
Read More
Friday, August 10th 2012
Thanks to some very fast work by our friends at Amazon.com, the Council's new book is already available in both paperback and as an e-book on their website. The book is also available through our printer Create Space on their website and will shortly be available on many international Amazon sites and at quality independent book stores around the U.S. Now there is no excuse not to buy a copy.
Read More
Wednesday, August 8th 2012
Mentoring U.S. State Department public diplomacy officers is one of the Council's more rewarding activities, and Nick Snyder shows why in the current edition of the State magazine. His article (see p. 27) reviews the Kathryn W. Davis Public Diplomacy Fellowship, which the Council has assisted for several years. The Council of American Ambassadors administers the fellowship.
Read More
