Local Voices/Global Perspectives
Challenges Ahead for U.S. International Media

U.S. Overseas Media:  A Call to Action 

The Public Diplomacy Council announces the release of its latest book, Local Voices/Global Perspectives: Challenges Ahead for U.S. International Media.  This volume presents the next administration and Congress with the case for retooling U.S. publicly funded international broadcasting in an era of interactive, online communications. “This anthology,” says one reviewer, “calls for urgent action if our nation is to be a force in the global marketplace of ideas dominated by a new generation.” 

Contributors to the anthology include:

• James K. Glassman, U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors Chairman
• Robert T. Coonrod, Public Diplomacy Council President and former Corporation for Public Broadcasting CEO
• Kevin Klose, NPR President
• Sanford J. Ungar, Goucher College President and former Voice of America Director
• Mark Helmke, Veteran U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee aide
• Brian Conniff, President of the Middle East Broadcast Networks Inc.
• Gary Knell, President and CEO of Sesame Workshop

Other eminent analysts in the anthology are Paul Blackburn, Nicholas J. Cull, Kim Andrew Elliott, Morand Fachot, Mark Maybury, Graham Mytton, Salameh Nematt, Adam Clayton Powell III, Walter R. Roberts, William A. Rugh, McKinney Russell, John Trattner, Jeffrey Trimble, Myrna Whitworth and Barry Zorthian.  The book is edited by Alan L. Heil Jr., former VOA deputy director.  

The series of essays and recorded roundtables cover challenges in international media facing the new administration and Congress.  These include: issues for audience research, the essentials of credible news and programming for a new era, options for structure and resources in 2009 and beyond, new media contributions to America’s dialogue with the world, and visions for government and private sector media in the years ahead.  Reviewers have termed the book a “must read” for specialists in overseas publicly funded and non-profit media. (See Page 2). 

The nonpartisan Public Diplomacy Council consists of 120 veteran professionals and scholars who advocate strengthening of the nation’s overseas information, cultural, and educational programs.  To order books, contact the Public Diplomacy Council, pdi410@gwu.edu / 805 21^st Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20052 / (202) 994-0389. 
 

Reviews

Local Voices/Global Perspectives 

“Blending a rich sense of history with a deep understanding of contemporary trends in technology, culture and international relations, this timely volume should be required reading for those who seek to chart a better and wiser course for public diplomacy in the next generation.”

—Geoffrey Cowan, former dean of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California, and former director, Voice of America 

“Local Voices/Global Perspectives offers a wealth of insights into the challenges facing America’s government-funded international media.  It presents a timely look at how these outlets can best serve the national interest in a digital era.  Policymakers and students of public diplomacy will find it a ‘must read’ as the country, through its media, seeks to achieve what the late NBC anchor and VOA director John Chancellor once counseled: ‘Our assignment is to bring the bright dream of a new day to the dark corners of the world.’”

—Lee Huebner, director, The George Washington School of Media and Public Affairs 

“This study arrives at a crucial time in the contemporary history of U.S. public diplomacy and international broadcasting.  My hope is that this publication will be embraced by those beyond research and academic circles.  Present and future U.S. policymakers should read every word before making decisions about the future of international communication.”

—Douglas A. Boyd, University of Kentucky and author of “Broadcasting in the Arab World: A Survey of Electronic Media in the Middle East” 

"In Local Voices/Global Perspectives, nationally-known broadcast executives and scholars challenge the new U.S. administration and Congress to re-think how America's government-funded media relate to the complex digital world of 21st century public diplomacy.  This anthology calls for urgent action if our nation is to be a force in the global marketplace of ideas dominated by a new generation.  It documents how hard-earned credibility on new and old media is essential to America's security if we are to build a new coalition of willing allies in a post 9/11 world."

—Scott Cohen, former senior adviser, Senate Foreign Relations Committee