Author: Matt Armstrong

Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy “Seen on the Web” (#47)

~ Matt Armstrong

Quotables, Seen on the Web, and Essays (#47) was compiled by Donald Bishop, Bren Chair of Strategic Communications, Marine Corps University.

1. FAKE NEWS . . . 2. THE U.S. ELECTIONS . . . 3. CONGRESS . . . 4. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY . . . 5. BROADCASTING . . . 6. PUBLIC AFFAIRS . . . 7. MARINE CORPS . . . 8. SMITH-MUNDT ACT . . . 9. HYBRID WARFARE . . . 10. SOCIAL MEDIA . . . 11. INTERNET ACCESS AS A HUMAN RIGHT . . . 12. RUSSIA . . . 13. ISLAMISM . . . 14. CHINA . . . 15. NORTH KOREA . . . 16. AFRICA . . . 17. BOOK FAIRS . . . 18. STUDY IN THE U.S. . . . 19. HISTORY . . . 20. IDEAS, CONCEPTS, DOCTRINE . . . 21. FOREIGN SERVICE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY OFFICERS Continue reading “Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy “Seen on the Web” (#47)
“ →

There’s a new #1 “R”… as in longest tenure

~ Matt Armstrong
Milestone near Richmond Park, Greater London area, UK
Source: Matt Armstrong, taken in East Sheen near Richmond Park.

Milestones are important. They were to reassure travelers that they were on the right path, how far they had gone, and how far they had to go. Living in London, I find it surprising how many milestones, many of which are hundreds of years old, are hiding in plain sight. They do not, however, tell us how we are doing.  Continue reading “There’s a new #1 “R”… as in longest tenure
“ →

Loy Henderson: supporter of public diplomacy, but perhaps not jazz

~ Matt Armstrong
Loy Henderson
Source: Wikipedia

In the world of U.S. public diplomacy, jazz is often portrayed as an “instrument” of “soft power”, and presumably of “public diplomacy”. The music is democratic by nature. It communicates, as does all music, but it has a particular way of “freeing” the listener to transport and convey messages. It is an art form that inspires. The Public Diplomacy Council recently co-hosted an event on this.
Continue reading “Loy Henderson: supporter of public diplomacy, but perhaps not jazz
“ →

Diplomacy’s Public Dimension: Books, Articles, Websites #79

~ Matt Armstrong

March 9, 2016
 
Intended for teachers of public diplomacy and related courses, here is an update on resources that may be of general interest.  Suggestions for future updates are welcome.
 
Bruce Gregory
Adjunct Professor
George Washington University
Georgetown University
BGregory@gwu.edu
Bg243@georgetown.edu
  Continue reading “Diplomacy’s Public Dimension: Books, Articles, Websites #79
“ →

Lippman on the Media

~ Matt Armstrong

Walter Lippmann was an astute political philosopher, journalist, and economist. He (rightly) viewed competent journalists as critical to democracy, while ignorant journalists, and ignorance of journalism, was a threat to democracy.

Men who have lost their grip upon the relevant facts of their environment are the inevitable victims of agitation and propaganda. The quack, the charlatan, the jingo, and the terrorist, can flourish only where the audience is deprived of independent access to information.

Walter Lippmann, Liberty and the News, 1920

The journalist, Lippman believed, was the interpreter between policymakers and the public. While the people had the right to know about national policies, defense policy, he singled out, should not be shaped by public opinion.

Continue reading “Lippman on the Media “ →

1949: “You’ve told us why the Voice, but you haven’t told us what it is”

"INP Kept Busy 'Untwisting' News of U.S."
~ Matt Armstrong ~ 3 Comments

In August 1949, George V. Allen wrote an article for the Washington Star newspaper responding to a frequent question of the time: why were Voice of America programs not conveniently heard inside the United States. Allen was the best person to answer the question as the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, and thus the “owner” of VOA and the rest of what we today would call “public diplomacy.”

Continue reading “1949: “You’ve told us why the Voice, but you haven’t told us what it is” “ →

VOA in 1967

~ Matt Armstrong

Source: http://www.ontheshortwaves.com/VOA_Stamp.html

In May 1967, The New York Times reported that the Voice of America was:

  • Broadcasting using 35 transmitters inside the United States;
  • Broadcasting using 57 transmitters outside the United States;
  • Broadcasting in 38 languages, although one-quarter of the total output was in English; and,
  • Rebroadcast by 3,000 radio stations using taped programs, adding 15,000 transmitter hours each week.

Continue reading “VOA in 1967
“ →

No, We Do Not Need to Revive the U.S. Information Agency – endnote edition

~ Matt Armstrong

Cheshire cat queries Alice

You know you’ve heard it. Whether it was at the office, at school, or a social setting (how erudite of you!), you heard someone bemoan the loss of the United States Information Agency. Perhaps that someone was you. In my experience, these laments are really a coded acknowledgment that the U.S. lacks a strategy, an organizing principle, and empowered individuals to operate in an information-driven world. Continue reading “No, We Do Not Need to Revive the U.S. Information Agency – endnote edition
“ →

Commentary: Democracy is not just another ideology; freedom is not just another point of view

~ Matt Armstrong

At the recent public meeting of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, Public Diplomacy Council President, and Senior Fellow at the University of Southern California, Adam Clayton Powell, III, offered his comments on the direction of BBG media. His words are a must read, whether in the context of journalism in general but particularly in the area of foreign affairs reporting.  Continue reading “Commentary: Democracy is not just another ideology; freedom is not just another point of view
“ →

From the past: FBIS and World War II

~ Matt Armstrong

In late 1940, many in the U.S. Government harbored concerns about foreign governments using radio to send propaganda and instructions to covert operatives. The State Department was concerned about “anti-American propaganda being short-waved hourly to Latin America.” The Department of Justice wanted to know whether “Axis agents in the United States received direction and guidance from Nazi short-wave programs” and wanted to stay on top of “the growing aggressiveness of Japan as reflected in her radio broadcasts.” 

Continue reading “From the past: FBIS and World War II “ →

Diplomacy’s Public Dimension: Books, Articles, Websites #76

~ Matt Armstrong

September 2, 2015

Intended for teachers of public diplomacy and related courses, here is an update on resources that may be of general interest.  Suggestions for future updates are welcome.

Bruce Gregory
Adjunct Professor
George Washington University
Georgetown University
BGregory@gwu.edu
Bg243@georgetown.edu Continue reading “Diplomacy’s Public Dimension: Books, Articles, Websites #76
“ →

Thoughts about CBS Evening News going to VOA’s Steve Herman for Bangkok bombing coverage

~ Matt Armstrong

This was originally published as an exclusive to email subscribers on August 18. It appears here following requests to forward that email and that I post it here. It remains my personal opinion.

Last night’s CBS Evening News threw to VOA’s Steve Herman to provide on-the-scene coverage of the Bangkok bombing. VOA’s video coverage of the site was broadcast by CBS with the text ‘Voice of America’ visible on the screen (a text bug, rather than VOA’s normal graphic bug). This was not a copy from the VOA website (or more precisely, the BBG affiliate system used by some 2,800 news media users around the globe where broadcast quality / HD content is available for worldwide) as CBS threw to Steve Herman by name, and Steve concluded the story by throwing it back – by name – to the CBS anchor.  Continue reading “Thoughts about CBS Evening News going to VOA’s Steve Herman for Bangkok bombing coverage
“ →

Swimming the English Channel – the report

~ Matt Armstrong ~ 2 Comments

The track of our boat (courtesy: cspf.co.uk)

The crossing was amazing! All of the pent up adrenalin that had been building for weeks, the cold water training, and then, finally, after a delay of a day, we were told the evening of Wednesday July 29 that our team was slotted to start our swim at 830 the next morning. We were a group of swimmers that workout together at the local athletic club’s pool. One of our number thought it would be great to swim the Channel, though none of had thought about swimming in, let alone through – the Channel. We then found Aspire, a great charity that helps people paralysed by spinal injuries, would facilitate our crossing and we raised more than £10,000 for the cause.  Our international group had Frenchmen, Kiwis, one German, a Canadian, and me, the token American (and the only one with actual open water race experience). Continue reading “Swimming the English Channel – the report
“ →