Public Diplomacy Council of America

📣 PDCA Awards seeking nominations! The PDCA “Awards for Achievement in Public Diplomacy” and “Award for Public Diplomacy Leadership by a Senior Officer” are now accepting nominations. 🏆Know someone whose work deserves recognition? Submit a nomination by March 31, 2026! 👇More information here: publicdiplomacy.org/2026_awards_fo… & here: publicdiplomacy.org/2026_award_for…

📣 Thank you to everyone who joined us on March 2 to celebrate Washington’s iconic cherry trees and the enduring U.S.–Japan relationship. We were honored to hear from our principal speaker, Masatsugu Odaira, Minister for Public Affairs at the Japanese Embassy and Director of the Japan Information & Culture Center (JICC). 🌸 We especially want to showcase our members who dressed on theme for the occasion, and we thank everyone for a meaningful First Monday Forum celebrating US-Japan friendship, culture, and the shared history and symbolism of the cherry blossoms. 📷 Photos by Bruce Guthrie and Judy Kang The March 2 program was cosponsored by PDCA, USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy, GWU Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication, Embassy of Japan, Japan Information & Culture Center, and USC Center on Public Diplomacy. @JapanEmbDC

PDCA’s April First Monday Forum: Trends In International Relations Studies: Opportunities For Public Diplomacy 📅 April 6, 2026 | 🕛 12 PM ET | 📍GWU Elliott School Room 505 + Zoom Join us on April 6 for PDCA’s First Monday Forum! We’ll explore how universities are positioning public diplomacy within IR programs—and what new opportunities this creates for research, teaching, and practice. This hybrid event will feature a virtual panel of three Deans whose schools are members of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs [APSIA]. Following the panel, we will hold an off-the-record conversation for our in-person audience with local members of APSIA schools, moderated by PDCA’s Academic Study Committee. The in-person event will conclude at 1:30 PM. The April 6 program is cosponsored by PDCA, the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy, and the GWU Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication. 📍 GWU Elliott School (1957 E St NW, 5th floor, Room 505, Washington, D.C.) 🥪 Light lunch for early arrivals (by 11:40 AM) 🎥 Also available via Zoom 🔗 In-Person registration: lnkd.in/eunvYBUt 🔗 Online registration: lnkd.in/eTzJmuxv #ForeignPolicy #GlobalAffairs #PDCA

🎙️A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake unlawfully served as head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media — voiding key decisions made during her tenure, including mass layoffs at Voice of America. 🔗Read the full story here: jurist.org/news/2026/03/u…

🔔 Does truth still matter in communications? And as AI evolves, what are the best practices for using it responsibly? On February 23, we hosted a timely and thought-provoking Zoom conversation exploring these critical questions—and more. Elizabeth Trudeau, former Acting Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs, and Dr. Don Kilburg, founder of Mind Leap Institute, LLC, examined the realities of 21st-century communication, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, and the evolving challenges the United States faces in engaging international audiences effectively and authentically. From safeguarding credibility to leveraging AI with integrity, the discussion offered practical insights for communicators navigating today’s complex global landscape. 🎥 Check out the full video on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/C2PEAeBGYdE

🚀 Today we launch our Instagram page — a space for visual content, public diplomacy, and community connection to come together! 🔗 Follow us here: instagram.com/pdcouncilofame… @PDCouncilofAmerica Your engagement is key to building PDCA’s social media presence! To those who already follow us, thank you, and to those who haven’t yet, we look forward to connecting! Make sure to follow our current accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn,X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube to stay up to date. Follow us here: 🔗 Facebook: facebook.com/share/1AjPs4f6… 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/public… 🔗 X: x.com/PDCouncil 🔗 YouTube: @publicdiplomacycouncilamerica?si=7fwuxVckLmJs6kbZ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@publicdiploma…

Have Americans lost the spirit of public service? Tell us below 👇 Christopher Datta, career FSO and former acting Deputy Chief of Mission in Southern Sudan, poignantly writes about the spirit of public service that America has lost and what must be done in this week’s member blog: publicdiplomacy.org/news_manager.p…

🔔 Don’t miss PDCA’s March FMF! “Japan’s Gift Of 250 Cherry Trees To Celebrate America's 250th Birthday—Grassroots Exchanges And Public Diplomacy” 📅 Mar 2 | 🕛 12 PM ET | 📍GWU + Zoom Join us on March 2 to celebrate Washington’s iconic cherry trees and US-Japan bilateral relations. Featuring Masatsugu Odaira, Minister for Public Affairs at the Japanese Embassy and Director of the Japan Information & Culture Center (JICC) 🔗publicdiplomacy.org/news_manager.p…

📰From the Foreign Service Journal Archives: “Diplomacy and the Press” by Henry B. Cox, January 1954 Interested in history? In 1954, Henry B. Cox wrote about the beginnings of public affairs and press relations in diplomacy, and he stressed that all Foreign Service Officers must both understand the importance of the press and be able to work with them. 🔗 #page=26" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">afsa.org/foreign-servic…

📣 Don’t miss it! “How the World Sees the US Matters” 📅 Feb 23 | ⏰ 12:00 PM ET | 📍 Zoom This online program will center on 21st century communications, US overseas engagement, and where we are falling short today. Featuring former acting Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs Elizabeth Trudeau and founder of Mind Leap Institute, LLC Dr. Don Kilburg, moderated by PDCA Co-President Karl Stoltz. 🔗 Register Here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… 💭 Check out this article by Dr. Kilburg on AI and Diplomacy here:linkedin.com/pulse/ai-diplo…

🔔 How the World Sees the U.S. Matters 📅 Feb 23 | ⏰ 12 PM ET | 📍 Zoom Join former Acting Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs Elizabeth Trudeau and Dr. Don Kilburg for a discussion on 21st-century communication, U.S. global engagement, and where we’re falling short. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

💭In the age of AI, how can we trust if photos we see online are real? Alan Kotok explains how to distinguish between the real and artificial in this week’s member blog: publicdiplomacy.org/news_manager.p…

🔔 Don’t miss PDCA’s March FMF! “Japan’s Gift Of 250 Cherry Trees To Celebrate America's 250th Birthday” 📅 Mar 2 | 🕛 12 PM ET | 📍GWU + Zoom Join us on March 2 to celebrate Washington’s iconic cherry trees and US-Japan bilateral relations. 🔗publicdiplomacy.org/news_manager.p…

🎙️ICYMI: Our February FMF spotlighted the Council of American Overseas Research Centers, supporting U.S. research & national security. Panelists: Heidi Wiederkehr (CAORC); Mary Jeffers (TALIM, Morocco); Amb. (ret) Edward Gnehm (ACOR, Jordan). Watch here: youtu.be/-NmUhXgpGHw

ICYMI, watch speakers from @USCAnnenberg and @NatAsianArt discuss cultural diplomacy, and the reflection of ancient heritage in today's globally celebrated Korean popular culture: youtu.be/aLsk4UHxnaww

🌍 “Foreign leaders and publics should know the United States is reliable and anchored in values – as opposed to an approach that takes a purely transactional or utilitarian approach to relationships.” - Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau Read more here👇 bushcenter.org/publications/t…

🔔 Don’t miss PDCA’s Feb First Monday Forum! Strengthening Public Diplomacy: CAORC & the State Dept. 📅 Feb 2 | ⏰ 12 PM ET | 📍 GWU + Zoom Featuring Larry Schwartz, Heidi Wiederkehr, Amb (ret.) Edward Gnehm, & Mary Jeffers. 🔗 members.publicdiplomacy.org/news_archive_h…

📣 $643 Million — that’s the amount planned for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, to include Voice of America, in the upcoming FY26 spending package. See the other key takeaways here: govexec.com/management/202…

Kari Lake says USAGM rapidly expanded broadcasts into Cuba, Venezuela & Latin America within hours of recent developments. PDCA’s Steve Herman analyzes the remarks & state of U.S. broadcasting, with response from Bill Wanlund: 🔗 publicdiplomacy.org/news_manager.p… 🔗 publicdiplomacy.org/news_manager.p…

👏🏻 Thanks for joining our second event in the Life After State series! This event featured a conversation with Dan Kramer, Fred Boll, and Amir Reza on how PD professionals can find their fit in higher ed. 💻 Watch the recording now on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/EPh7NWsHWrs