Public Diplomacy & Federal Communications: Challenges, Prohibitions & Considerations

Public diplomacy involves U.S. government activities to conduct U.S. foreign policy and promote U.S. national interests through direct outreach and communication with the population of foreign countries. Public diplomacy and international broadcasting activities, conducted by the Department of State, U.S. diplomatic personnel abroad, and U.S. international broadcasters such as the Voice of America, include providing information to foreign public through broadcast and Internet media and at libraries and other outreach facilities in foreign countries; conducting cultural diplomacy, such as arts exhibits and music performances; and administering international educational and professional exchange programs. This book examines the challenges, prohibitions and considerations of public diplomacy and federal communications with a focus on legislative proposals to amend prohibitions on disseminating materials to domestic audiences; an assessment of public diplomacy platforms that could help improve State Department plans to expand engagement; Congressional oversight of agency public communications; and federal government advertising.