Saturday, January 15, 2005

Problem is PR, or the content? Posted here Saturday, January 15, 2005 at 10:10:58 AM     http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/nyregion/13profile.html A) PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 1. U.S. LACKING STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS - RICHARD HALLORAN (KOREA HERALD, JANUARY 13): America’s ability to persuade other nations "is in crisis," says a task force report from the Defense Science Board, "and it must be transformed with a strength of purpose that matches our commitment to diplomacy, defense, intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security." "Policies will not succeed unless they are communicated to global and domestic audiences in ways that are credible and allow them to make informed, independent judgments," the board says. "Messages should seek to reduce, not to increase, perceptions of arrogance, opportunism, and double standards." Those messages are carried in public diplomacy, through American Cultural Centers abroad and exchange programs that bring foreigners to the United States, and public affairs offices that address the foreign press. In addition, strategic communications include broadcasts by the Voice of America and information operations that can involve controversial psychological warfare. Missing from these efforts are "strong leadership, strategic direction, adequate coordination, sufficient resources (funds) and a culture of measurement and evaluation," the report says. ********