Category: Events

Tehran acknowledges the power of Twitter and Public Diplomacy?

~ Matt Armstrong

An interesting week long seminar advertised by the International Center for Journalists with interesting sponsors [emphasis mine]:

Modern communication course to be held in Tehran

Posted on: 13/07/2009
Basic Journalism
Country: Iran

Tehran’s Imam Sadiq University will hold a training course on "modern thinking in theories of communication sciences" from August 1 to 7, media news.ir reported. Registration is being accepted on a rolling basis.

The week-long course will feature topics including: Islam and communication sciences, philosophy and communication and political [communication] and public diplomacy.

The course is sponsored by the students’ branch of the Basij force, the Mowlana Foundation, and the Centre for Media Studies and Research in Tehran.

Do you think they’ll cover Twitter or other social media platforms?

Anyone have details on the Mowlana Foundation? @Orbitus and I would like know.

Event: International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy

~ Matt Armstrong

International_Symposium_on_Cultural_Diplomacy_2009_brochure_Page_01 An interesting weeklong event on cultural diplomacy will held in Berlin at the end of this month (27-31 July, 2009).

The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy: The Role of Soft Power in the International Environment

The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy 2009 will bring together a diverse group of participants from across the world for a weeklong program of lectures, social events and panel discussions that will look at the role of soft power in contemporary international relations. The speakers during the week are experts and leading figures from politics, academia, and the private sector.

The following are a selection of the speakers for the Symposium:

  • Jorge Sampaio, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Former President of Portugal (1996-2006)
  • Joaquim Chissano, Former President of Mozambique (1986-2005), Former Chairperson of the African Union (2003-2004)
  • Dr. Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Former President of Latvia (1999-2007)
  • Cassam Uteem, Former President of the Republic of Mauritius (1992-2002)
  • Dr. Vasile Puşcaş, Romanian Minister for European Affairs
  • Ints Dālderis, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Latvia
  • Borys Tarasyuk, Member of Parliament and Former Foreign Minister of the Ukraine (1998-2000, 2005-2007)
  • Dr. Erkki Tuomioja, Member of Parliament and Former Foreign Minister of Finland (2000-2007)

Further information about the Symposium can be found here.

The program brochure, including the timetable, can be found here (2.12mb PDF).

I’d like to be there but won’t be unless somebody decides to fund my trip. Any takers?

Event: 8th Annual Information Operations Forum

~ Matt Armstrong

Next weekend I’ll travel to London for the 8th Annual Information Operations Forum. According to the organizers, the conference will have its usual diverse audience:

1st Information Operation Command (Land), Air Mobility Command, British Army, Bundeswehr, CJTF HOA, CSIR, Canadian Department of National Defence, Canadian Forces, DEU PSYOPS Centre, DSTL, Danish Army, Defence Academy of the UK, Department of Defence, FFI Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, GCHQ, HQ JFC Naples (NATO), HQ Multinational Corps Northeast, HQ Soviet Forces in Afghanistan, HQ USAF, HQMC (PP&O), JIOWC/J3J, Joint IED Defeat Organization, London Metropolitan Police, NATO, Netherlands MoD, Norwegian Defence CIS centre, OTCOPN – MoD NL, RAF Waddington, Royal Air Force, Royal Danish Defence College, Royal Military College of Canada, Royal Netherlands Army, Singapore Armed Forces, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, U.S. Air Forces Africa, U.S. Marine Corps, UK MoD, USAF, US Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), US Army Special Operations Command, US European Command, US Special Operations Command, US State Department, US Strategic Command, USSOCOM, Ukrainian MoD

I’m looking forward to a number of the presentations, including Chuck Eassa’s (“Information Operations To Support Peace-Time Activities”) and Thomas Nissen’s (“Examining The Importance Of IO-Related And Supporting Functions”). Check out the agenda for Day One and Day Two. Also, for your reading pleasure, the event’s website (scroll down the page) includes some downloadable reading material.

Event: Striking a Balance: A New American Security

~ Matt Armstrong

The Center for a New American Security’s Third Annual June Conference is next week. I wish I could attend but you should consider. The speakers include: Judith A. McHale (“Public Diplomacy: A National Security Imperative”), General David H. Petraeus, Thomas E. Ricks, George Packer, Ambassador Samir Sumaida’ie

Useful details:

Event website: here

Date:
June 11, 2009 – 8:00am – 7:00pm

Location:
Willard InterContinental Hotel
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Grand Ballroom
Washington, DC 20004

RSVP:
Event Registration: Click Here
Or RSVP by phone: 202.457.9427

Event: 8th Annual Information Operations Europe

~ Matt Armstrong

8th Annual Information Operations Europe
Delivering Effects through Influence Activity

June 22 – 24, London

The human terrain has proven hugely important in current conflicts and the capabilities required to influence an audience have seen major developments in recent years. The employment of private sector expertise and new media tools such as online social networking have opened up new opportunities for the IO community, yet the challenges of developing a coherent and culturally astute message remain. Messages must also be coordinated in an often complex, coalition environment and the issue of Measurement of Effect still represents a significant obstacle to progress.

Continue reading “Event: 8th Annual Information Operations Europe
“ →

Event: New frontiers in science diplomacy

~ Matt Armstrong

New Frontiers in Science Diplomacy
1 – 2 June 2009

By bringing together experts from the UK and international scientific and foreign policy communities, this two day meeting will examine the role of science as a source of soft power in foreign policy. The first day will discuss various international perspectives on the meaning, value and tools of science diplomacy, as well as identifying barriers to science diplomacy and how they may be overcome. The second day will then examine the role of science in achieving two key foreign policy goals: maintaining international peace and security, and promoting economic and social development and well being.

Where:

The Royal Society
6-9 Carlton House Terrace
London SW1Y 5AG

Email for information: discussion.meetings@royalsociety.org

More information is at http://royalsociety.org/event.asp?id=8409&month=6,2009

Event: Public Affairs in a Global Information Environment

~ Matt Armstrong

My company, Armstrong Strategic Insights Group, LLC, is sponsoring an invitation-only event titled “Public Affairs in a Global Information Environment” next week. It will be a small, off the record discussion about ongoing and crisis communication in the modern global information environment. The half-day event will be chaired by former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James K. Glassman.

The focus of the discussion will be the keynote by and conversation with Swedish Director-General Mats Ekdahl, formerly of Sweden’s National Board of Psychological Defense. Mr. Ekdahl will discuss “Psychological Defense”, “Media Preparedness”, and Public Diplomacy. His bio is here.

Attending this event are representatives from across the Government and the private sector, including the Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security, think tanks, academia, Congress, and the media.

Mr. Ekdahl will also be on a panel at InfoWarCon titled “Homeland Psychological Defense”.

Event: InfoWarCon April 23-24

~ Matt Armstrong ~ 2 Comments

Next week is InfoWarCon, a conference to discuss “theoretical and practical changes and uses of Information Operations/Information Warfare, Cyberwar, Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy.” Giving keynotes are LTG Thomas F. Metz, Director, JIEDDO, (title: “IO: The Great Enabler") and the Honorable James Glassman, former Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (title:"Can a ‘Conversation’ Win the War on Terror?").

The conference is two days, April 23-24, and in Washington, DC. Check their website for registration details. The panels promise to be interesting. Check them out below:

Continue reading “Event: InfoWarCon April 23-24
“ →

Event: Online Symposium on P.W. Singer’s Wired For War

~ Matt Armstrong

Over at CTLab next week, I’ll be in an online discussion built around about Peter W. Singer’s outstanding book, Wired for War. Read the CTLab announcement:

CTlab’s second symposium in its 2009 series starts next week, on Monday, 30 March, and will run for four days, until 2 April (or until participants run out of steam, which might take longer). The subject: Peter Singer’s new book, Wired For War: The Robotics Revolution and  Conflict in the 21st Century (Penguin Press: 2009).

This is going to be an exciting booklab, on a work that’s been getting broad exposure, in an out of the blogosphere. Peter Singer, a Brookings Institution Senior Fellow for Foreign Policy, and Director of its 21st Century Defense Initiative, will be participating on day 1. Proceedings will be compiled and indexed on a separate page for ease of reference, here.

Confirmed participants include:

  • Kenneth Anderson (Law; American University)
  • Matt Armstrong (Public Diplomacy; Armstrong Strategic Insights Group)
  • John Matthew Barlow (History; John Abbott College)
  • Rex Brynen (Political Science; McGill University)
  • Antoine Bousquet (International Relations; Birkbeck College, London)
  • Charli Carpenter (International Relations; UMass-Amherst)
  • Andrew Conway (Political Science; NYU)
  • Jan Federowicz (History; Carleton University)
  • John T. Fishel (National Security Policy; University of Oklahoma)
  • Michael A. Innes (Political Science; University College London)
  • Martin Senn (Political Science; University of Innsbruck)
  • Marc Tyrrell (Anthropology; Carleton University)

Quite a few of our guest participants are active on the web, as well. Many participate in theSmall Wars Council, and write online about highly topical security issues. Blogs represented:

Event: 8th Annual Information Operations Europe

~ Matt Armstrong ~ 3 Comments

An upcoming event of interest: 8th Annual Information Operations Europe: Delivering Effects Through Influence Activity
June 22 – 24, 2009 · Le Meridien Piccadilly, London, UK

Discussions of note:

Cartography Of Strategic Communications

  • The 21st century Info-sphere
  • Strategic Communications, Information Operations, Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
  • Legacy definitions and the search for an improved solution
  • Conclusions and recommendations

Professor Phil Taylor
Director, Institute of Communications Studies
Leeds University

A New Concept For Strategic Communications

  • Coordinating disparate assets and organisations in NATO
  • Suggestions for other bodies

Mark Laity
Chief Strategic Communications and Special Advisor to SACEUR
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, NATO

Using New Media As Part Of An Influence Strategy: Operation Trident

  • Operation background, aims and target audience
  • Coordinating messages across different media
  • Employing new media to reach an audience: Lessons Learned

Detective Chief Superintendent Helen Ball
Head of Trident
London Metropolitan Police

The event website is here.

Admin Note: in DC

~ Matt Armstrong ~ 3 Comments

I’m in DC this week for Tuesday’s Smith-Mundt Symposium so posting will remain light and shallow this week. Pre-raceevent carbo load at Matchbox in Chinatown Monday night.

Smith-Mundt Symposium Banner

Other notable happenings this week:

Event: The media and public diplomacy

~ Matt Armstrong

The relationship between the media and public diplomacy today is one that is under-discussed. At one time, like foreign aid, U.S. media was integral to the practices that became known as public diplomacy. They were mutually dependent and supporting of each other. The Smith-Mundt Act was a means to extend U.S. media overseas, to broadcast where the American media could not. The Marshall Plan likewise continued this with the Informational Media Guarantee to further assist U.S. media products to reach overseas. Privatizing international broadcasting was to be done wherever and whenever possible according to the Act and public statements by the legislation’s backers.

Is the media a global diplomat? Possibly, but are we talking about their communication of the United States to overseas audiences or how they report global affairs to the U.S. market? It would seem the latter is the focus of the USIP event below. Will they discuss how public education about the U.S. role, if not standing, in the world is incompletely reported? I’m sure Jim Glassman will note how little Americans and Congress actually know what is being done overseas in America’s name. The news, especially foreign coverage, used to be considered a public service but now it is a profit center and there’s very little profit in global affairs, especially when the real cost of maintaining foreign bureaus has increased. Noam Chomsky noted the retreat from international coverage twenty years ago. Today, reporters like Lara Logan and the groups like the Pew Center report this trend only gotten worse.

If it is media as global diplomat, as a means to engage non-US audiences, either within the U.S. or abroad (which itself a separate slate of questions), then is this the right panel to be answer the question?

The United States Institute of Peace is hosting a "leadership summit" titled Media as Global Diplomat. The discussion will be moderated by Ted Koppel and the discussants include

  • Under Secretary of State Jim Glassman
  • Mika Salmi, President of Global Digital Media of MTV Networks
  • Edward Djerejian, Co-Founder of the Baker Institute
  • Marvin Kalb, Edward R. Murrow Professor of Practice
  • Dennis Ross, Counselor and Ziegler Distinguished Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Location: USIP Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Time: 9a – 3p

RSVP for the event here.

I hope the issue of American media’s retreat from covering global affairs comes up as well as the issue that the Government can’t tell the media everything it is doing overseas in America’s name and with America’s money.

I don’t know if I’ll be in town, but I’ll be there if I am.

See also:

Smith-Mundt Symposium Update

~ Matt Armstrong

A few quick announcements and reminders related to the upcoming Smith-Mundt Symposium.

  • A media advisory and a PDF with the bios of the panelists and moderators may be found at the Symposium’s media page.
  • A roundtable with “traditional” and new media in advance of the Symposium will take place January 6. For more information, including to be invited, go to the Symposium’s media page.
  • Registration is currently closed. Any new registrations will be placed on a wait list. This is unfortunate and unexpected, however nearly 200 have registered for this event. Members of Congress and the media are will be automatically registered and not placed on a waitlist.
  • If you registered and will not be attending, please contact me ASAP so the invitation can move to somebody else.
  • The electronic library for registered attendees will go online about January 1. Be sure to have a discussion forum username to access these files. To register for the Symposium’s  discussion forum, click on “Register” in the top right corner of any page of the 2009 Smith-Mundt Symposium site. You do not need to re-register if you are already registered at the MountainRunner blog.
  • Free Wi-Fi will be available for live blogging.
  • If you are interested in the Symposium, you will be interested in my op-ed published in the Washington Times Friday, December 19 on Smith-Mundt (comments should go either at the Washington Times website or an this post).

Lastly, a refresh on the event details:

What: 2009 Smith-Mundt Symposium

When: Tuesday, January 13, 2009. Check-in and continental breakfast begins at 7. The event starts promptly at 8a and ends at 5:30p. Lunch will be served. A hosted reception will immediately follow the close of the Symposium at 5:30p.

Where: The Reserve Officers Association at the corner of First Street and Constitution Avenue N.E. on Capitol Hill.

Parking and other information may be found below, courtesy of the State Department (unofficially so don’t hold them responsible for errors or omissions or accidental semblances of favoritism):

Continue reading “Smith-Mundt Symposium Update
“ →

Smith-Mundt Symposium Update

~ Matt Armstrong

There are over 150 people registered to attend the Smith-Mundt Symposium on January 13, 2009, in Washington, D.C. Due to space limitations and my desire to keep people comfortable for the long day, the 165th person and after will be placed on a waiting list.

This is about four times one estimate we had several months ago. This event is much more popular than I think anyone had anticipated.

If you registered and are not able or do not plan to attend, please contact me so I can adjust the count accordingly.

Members of Congress, including aides and staff, do not need to register and may attend by showing ID at the door. However, I do ask that you register so I can anticipate attendance. The same is true of media.

By the way, for the live blogger in you, there will be free wi-fi at the Symposium.

Last update: there will be a hosted reception immediately following the Symposium in the entry atrium of the event location, the Reserve Officers Association. Since the day’s agenda is too tight to allow networking or socializing the ideas, why not do it over free drinks to avoid the rush hour traffic?

Go the Symposium’s website and pose questions, examples, etc in advance of the event.

Questions or comments? Email me.

Smith-Mundt Symposium Update

~ Matt Armstrong

Here is a brief update before the January 13, 2009, Smith-Mundt Symposium.

First, over 90 people have registered with seven weeks to go before the event. Many of the “usual suspects” have still not registered and a couple of communities are under-represented. I’m working on both issues.

Second, the day is admittedly long and packed leaving little time for networking or socializing ideas. Because of this, a reception will now immediately follow the Symposium.

Third, a community of interest forum is online to discuss Smith-Mundt issues. Go and participate.

That’s it for now.

Registration is now open plus other announcements

~ Matt Armstrong

Registration for the Smith-Mundt Symposium – A Discourse to Shape America’s Discourse – is now open. Registration is free, open to the public, and required to attend the event on Tuesday, January 13, 2009.

The Symposium will be held at the Reserve Officer’s Association across the street from the Senate and House office buildings in Washington, D.C.

For details on this event, see http://mountainrunner.us/symposium/about.html.

There is also a discussion forum built specifically for this event: http://mountainrunner.us/symposium/. From here you can register to attend the Symposium as well as discuss the Smith-Mundt Act and suggest and discuss questions for the different panels. This site will host the electronic library to be available to registered attendees prior to the Symposium.

To register for the Symposium, go to http://mountainrunner.us/symposium/ and click on Registration in the menu bar near the top. Even if you cannot attend the Symposium, because you are reading this you will probably find the discourse at the website interesting and your contribution will increase the value for everyone.

Send any questions, comments, or issues, including registration problems, to Matt Armstrong at blog@mountainrunner.us.

Event: International News Coverage in a New Media World

~ Matt Armstrong

A joint Broadcasting Board of Governors and GWU Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communications event:

The Broadcasting Board of Governors and the GWU Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communications in commemorating the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights for a discussion of:

  • International News Coverage in a New Media World: The Decline of the Foreign Correspondent and the Rise of the Citizen Journalist
  • Experts will examine the dramatic shift of traditional media away from foreign reporting, the growth of web-based citizen journalists, and their effects on coverage of international news and human rights issues.

Date: December 10, 2008
Time: 11:30 am – 1:15 pm
Location: George Washington University, Jack Morton Auditorium
  805 21st Street, NW
  Washington, DC 20052

Schedule

11:30 – 11:50
Light Lunch

12:00 – 12:15
Welcome and Remarks by James Glassman, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (invited)

12:15 – 1:15
Panel Discussion

Moderator:
Steve Roberts – J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University

Panelists:

* Sherry Ricchiardi – Senior Writer, American Journalism Review and Professor, Indiana University School of Journalism
* Patrick Meier – Research Fellow, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
* John Donvan – Correspondent, Nightline ABC News (invited

RSVP: pubaff@bbg.gov or (202) 203-4400

Should be an interesting discussion. Very related to the Smith-Mundt discussion of informing Americans of what is going on overseas, as well as granting oversight by Americans into what is being said and done in their name and with their (our) money.

See also: