America’s standing in the world has suffered a severe setback in recent years, according to leading cultural commentators. The new U.S. President, Barack Obama, now has a chance to improve America’s image. The talk is of public diplomacy initiatives, cultural ambassadors, new international exchange programs, and more – in short, the USA is being urged to launch a cultural offensive. Ifa offers this selection of international press articles focussing on these developments.

Selected News 2009

Public Diplomacy 2.0: Where the U.S. Government Meets "New Media"
The Heritage Foundation, December 8, 2009

The Importance of 'Democracy Promotion'
The Huffington Post, November 17, 2009

Where's the value added here?
MountainRunner.us, November 16, 2009

China leads surge of foreign students into US colleges
The Christian Science Monitor, November 16, 2009

Chinese culture plays more visible role in promoting understanding between China, U.S
Window of China, November 14, 2009

Student Exchanges between China, US Set to Rise
China Daily, November 12, 2009

Obama adds star power to arts panel
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 11, 2009

International letdown
The Washington Times, November 10, 2009

The Backlash Against Cultural Diplomacy
The Huffington Post, November 9, 2009

Culture's Purpose and the Work of Cultural Diplomacy
American University Washington, D.C., November 4, 2009

J-1 Programs – Why Companies Host
Immigration Daily, November 3, 2009

A Modest Proposal: Make the Pentagon Our Very Own Ministry of Culture!
Huffington Post, October 27, 2009

State Department’s structure hinders public diplomacy
MountainRunner.us, October 22, 2009

How Helpful Is Cultural Diplomacy? Very Helpful!
The Huffington Post October 8, 2009

Did Anti-Americanism Torch US Olympic Bid?
Layalina Productions, October 8, 2009

Exchange we can believe in
JuneauEmpire.com, October 7, 2009

Guest Post: Foreign Based Reporters in America are an Underutilized Public Diplomacy Resource
MountainRunner.us, October 2009

New Leaders Appointed by President Obama to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
President's Committee Arts and the Humanitis, October 2009

USIA: Gone but not Forgotten
Layalina Productions, October 6, 2009

US Diplomacy Lost in Translation
Layalina Productions, September 30, 2009

PD Tomorrow: How to Make It Work, if We Want It to Work
WhirledView, September 30, 2009

USIA: Gone but not Forgotten
Layalina Productions, October 6, 2009

The Field: Where Foreign Policy Succeeds or Fails 
WhirledView, September 23, 2009

David Pogue on Twitter as a tool of cultural diplomacy
Nieman Journalism Lab, September 22, 2009

How Helpful Is Cultural Diplomacy? 
The Huffington Post, September 21, 2009

Alhurra Targeted for Review by State Dept. Inspector General
AlterNet.org, September 18, 2009

As The Peace Corps Turns 50, What Now?
National Journal.com, September 17, 2009

Holbrooke: Why Are We Being Out-Communicated by the Taliban?
The Washington Independent, September 17, 2009

U.S Embassy Launches Youtube Channel For Indonesian Viewers
BERNAMA.com, September 17, 2009

Public Diplomacy: sure bureaucracy is a problem but so is absent leadership
MountainRunner.us, September 17, 2009

Deconstructing the Interactive Shibboleth
WhirledView, September 16, 2009

A View from the Muslim World: Cairo After Obama
The Globalist, September 16, 2009

A View from the Muslim World: Cairo After Obama
The Globalist, September 16, 2009

Preparing to Lose the Information War?
MountainRunner, September 10, 2009

Public Diplomacy: A Profession within a Profession
WhirledView, September 10, 2009

U.S. for strengthening ties in health, education sectors
The Hindu, September 9, 2009

U.S. seeks to better protect foreign exchange students
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sepember 3, 2009

Connecting Public Diplomacy and Policy
Layalina, September 2009

Public Diplomacy: What It Is, Why It's Needed and How It Could Work Well for America Again
WhirledView, September 1, 2009

Get Smart: Combining Hard and Soft Power
Foreign Affairs, August 29, 2009

US committed to assist Pakistan in all areas: Judith McHale
Associated Press of Pakistan, August 18, 2009

'It Is Pointless to Talk to Al-Qaida'
Spiegel Online, August 17, 2009

Cultural exchange program changes students’ views, enlightens future leaders
Auburn Reporter, August 6, 2009

After The Fall: 1989, Twenty Years On
World Affairs, Summer 2009

Social Media Taking the Lead in Public Diplomacy
The Layalina Review, July 30, 2009

A Needless American Horror Story: The Double-edged Sword of International Youth Exchange  
WhirledView, July 17, 2009

Instead of a tambourine you play a daff? Cultural diplomacy at the table and away from the table
Examiner, July 16, 2009

Young Americans use power of song to improve US image in Jordan, region
The Jordan Times, July 7, 2009

The Cairo speech: Arab Muslim voices
OpenDemocracy, June 8, 2009

US President calls for "new beginning" in historic address to Muslims
Magharebia, June 4, 2009

Obama Pledges Increase in Student Exchange With Muslim World
The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 4, 2009

THE U.S. FOREIGN OFFICES
Public Diplomacy, May 28, 2009

Public Diplomacy Chief Predicts Turnaround in US Standing Abroad
Voice of America, May 27, 2009

Senate Confirms Chopra As Chief Technology Officer
Multichannel News, May 22, 2009

Rocco Landesman: From Broadway to NEA nominee 
LA Times, May 15, 2009

Obama Set on Broadway's Landesman For NEA Head
The Washington Post, May 14, 2009

Producer Is Chosen to Lead Arts Endowment 
The New York Times, May 12, 2009

State Department Official Encourages Dialogue with Muslim World
America.gov, May 12, 2009

First 100 Days: special issues – labor, science, reproductive rights, gay rights, the arts
MinnPost, April 29, 2009

Obama’s First Hundred Days in the Greater Middle East
AGORAVOX, April 28, 2009

U.S. Plans Informal Meetings With Cuba
The New York Times, April 26, 2009

After Turkey's hype over Obama comes hard implementation
The Daily Star, April 21, 2009

People-to-People-Based Foreign Policy
The Huffington Post, April 20, 2009

Belafonte's trailblazing celebrity diplomacy
The Gleaner, April 19, 2009

Clinton to hold digital town hall
FederalComputerWeek, April 16, 2009

Pentagon Closes Office Accused of Issuing Propaganda Under Bush 
The New York Times, April 15, 2009

Obama Appoints Judith McHale Chief U.S. Image-Maker
U.S. News, April 15, 2009

Obama Taps Former Discovery President McHale For State Department
Broadcasting & Cable, April 14, 2009

Introducing the PD Chief Count-Up Clock
COMOPS Journal, April 10, 2009

Obama turns to public diplomacy in Istanbul
Middle East Online, April 7, 2009

America Seeks Bonds to Islam, Obama Insists
The New York Times, April 6, 2009

SMART POWER MEETS STAR POWER: HILLARY CLINTON IN MEXICO
Public Diplomacy, April 6, 2009

'A Very Good Week' in Europe for President Obama
Council Foreign Relations, April 6, 2009

Arts Advocacy Day 2009 – Congressional Hearing on Arts Funding Among Highlights
Americans for the Arts, April 4, 2009

Guest Post: Renewing America's Global Leadership
Mountain Runner, April 2, 2009

How song, dance and movies bailed us out of the Depression
Los Angeles Times, April 01, 2009

Isolated Overseas: Diplomatic Security Creates Challenges for American Public Diplomacy
Mountain Runner, March 31, 2009

CALLING DOKTOR "HAUS"
Public Diplomacy, March 31, 2009

Secretary of State Launches Educational Initiative in Mexico
America.gov, March 31, 2009

Obama Stiffs the Arts 
The Daily Beast, March 25, 2009

10 terms not to use with Muslims 
The Christian Science Monitor, March 28, 2009

To Rebuild U.S.-Muslim World Relations, Obama Is Not Enough
The Huffington Post, March 27, 2009

Crickets and Cheney Chirping on the Brand America Front  
The Huffington Post, March 27, 2009

Pentagon to show softer side to the world  
The Christian Science Monitor, March 25, 2009

Problems Persist, but Arts Advocates See Progress Under Obama
The New York Times, March 24, 2009

Second place for America in Pakistan
The International News, March 24, 2009

Foreign Service Jobs in Afghanistan to Grow 
The Washington Post, March 24, 2009

Hillary Clinton, e-diplomat, embraces new media
USA Today, March 23, 2009

Whither Public Diplomacy? Sixty-six days (and counting) without an Under Secretary 
MountainRunner.us, March 23, 2009

The U.S. needs to unmix the message in Mexico 
Los Angeles Times, March 23, 2009

Obama offers a fresh start to Iran
Financial Times, March 20, 2009

Economic Crisis Hits an Already Damaged U.S. Image in the Middle East
TPMCafé, March 18, 2009

National Endowment for the Arts Announces Upcoming Education Leaders Institutes
info Zine, March 17, 2009

"A NEW WAY FORWARD" IN DOHA: LISTEN TO THE ARTISTS
Public Diplomacy, March 13, 2009

US public diplomacy, an exercise in futility
The Zimbabwe Guardian, March 13, 2009

U.S. Faces Challenges With Communications Users Abroad
Gallup, March 12, 2009

The recession and US museums
The Art Newspaper, March 11, 2009

Road Map For U.S.-China Relations
Forbes, March 11, 2009

Chelsea galleries visit Havana
The Art Newspaper, March 11, 2009

U.S.-Supported Foreign Broadcasting Adapts to Digital Age
American.gov, March 10, 2009

Networked Leaders
The Guatemala Times, March 10, 2009

US creates diplomacy game
The Straits Times, March 9, 2009

Turkey warms to Clinton's candor
The Christian Science Monitor, March 9, 2009

Public Diplomacy in the Digital Age, Part 2
MediaShift, March 5, 2009

New bill may be ticket to international studies
The Rebel Yell, March 5, 2009

To Win Hearts and Minds
New Ledger, March 5, 2009

Senator Lugar is right about past U.S. public diplomacy mistakes
Blogger News Network, March 4, 2009

Memos to Obama
Public Diplomacy, March, 2009

Advertising’s lessons for homeland security
Today Online, March 3, 2009

Space weapons: soft power versus soft politics
The Space Review, March 2, 2009

It is time to create a center for public diplomacy discourse and research
MountainRunner, March 1, 2009

To win hearts and minds, get back in the game
Foreign Policy, February 26, 2009

Use 'smart power' to help Cubans
Other Views, February 24, 2009

Public Diplomacy in the Digital Age, Part 1
MediaShift, February 23, 2009

How much is America liked, and how much does it matter?
Foreign Policy, February 23, 2009

Clinton takes diplomacy to the people
Window of China, February 23, 2009

Millions for arts offset funding cuts elsewhere
denverpost.com, February 22, 2009

The Global Listening Tour
The Washington Post, February 20, 2009

The conversation
The National, February 20, 2009

The Arts Need Better Arguments
The Wall Street Journal, February 20, 2009

Hillary says hello to Asia 
Economist.com, February 19, 2009

How Obama Leads
Project Syndicate, February 19, 2009

Obama signs Recovery and Reinvestment Act with reinstated support for the arts
The Art Newspaper, February 18, 2009

The New Ethic of Public Diplomacy
Policy Innovations, February 18, 2009

China's 'soft-power' strategy threatened by slow growth
The Financial Times, February 18, 2009

Future of Public Diplomacy Unsettled at State
The Washington Independent, February 17, 2009

Barack and Slumdog
The Huffington Post, February 17, 2009

A new Murrow for US public diplomacy
The Daily Star, February 17, 2009

Rebooting America’s Image Abroad
Public Diplomacy Alumni Association, February 16, 2009

Saving Federal Arts Funds: Selling Culture as an Economic Force
The New York Times, February 15, 2009

Foreign Policy’s “Smart Power” Gives Science Diplomacy a New Role
America.gov, February 13, 2009

Is Hillary Soft Enough to be Smart?
The Huffington Post, February 13, 2009

Anybody Know What 'Smart Power' Means?
The Huffington Post, February 13, 2009

International Affairs Budget
U.S. Global Leadership Campaign, Febraury 12, 2009

The Art of Cabinet-Making
The American Spectator, February, 2009

Bending the President's ear
Orlando Weekly, February 12, 2009

Clinton State Department Looks To Boost Online Presence
NationalJournal.com, February 11, 2009

Obama's rescue package for the arts comes a cropper in the Senate
The Guardian, February 11, 2009

Smart Power: New Faces and New Policies in US Diplomacy
Turkish Weekly, February 11, 2009

Public diplomacy and the Obama administration
Nevada Appeal, February 8, 2009

Arts groups see narrow window of opportunity for help from Washington
The Mercury News, February 8, 2009

Must See TV
the weekly Standard, February 6, 2009

Clinton to use science as a tool for public diplomacy
Press Trust of India, February 5, 2009

DALE: Obama's Arab-TV interview
The Washington Times, February 4, 2009

Can social networking fix U.S. image?
Politico, February 4, 2009

Martin Davidson on ‘smart power’ diplomacy China Radio International
CRIENGLISH.com, February 4, 2009

Bending The President's Ear
The Cleveland Free Times, February 3, 2009

US to send badminton team to Iran
Associated Press, February 2, 2009

Message to Obama: Make an economic investment in the arts
The San Diego Union-Tribune, February 1, 2009

What kind of cultural leader will Obama be?
The Art Newspaper, January 30, 2009

Diplomacy and Its Discontents
Diplomatic Courier, January 29, 2009

Obama's Personal 'Public Diplomacy': A Very Preliminary Assessment
The Washington Institute, January 29, 2009

The fallout from Obama's interview: day one
Foreign Policy, January 28, 2009

Obama and the World: Time to Deliver
YaleGlobal, January 28, 2009

The downside of soft power
Foreign Policy, January 28, 2009

Obama brings new tone to Mideast
Financial Times, January 28, 2009

THE PUBLIC DIPLOMAT
Public Diplomacy, January 28, 2009

Brand Obama Trumps Brand America
The Huffington Post, January 27, 2009

Obama vows to listen to Muslims
Financial Times, January 27, 2009

Despite economic woes, America needs more focus on arts and culture
Portland Press Herald, January 26, 2009

Obama on Al Arabiya
POLITICO, January 26, 2009

Arts Leaders Urge Role for Culture in Economic Recovery
The New York Times, January 25, 2009

Why Judith McHale would be a bad public diplomacy choice
Foreign Policy, January 23, 2009

Clinton vows robust diplomacy as State Dept chief
Associated Press, January 22, 2009

On the Eve of Obama's Inauguration: American Soft Power in Asia
BROOKINGS, January 20, 2009

Clinton's Goals Detailed
The Washington Post, January 19, 2009

International Tour of "Picturing America" Exhibition 
U.S. Department of State, January 19, 2009

RESTORING THE US STANDING LIES IN RESTORING CULTURAL DIPLOMACY
Australian News, January 19, 2009

Obama's call to arts
The Christian Science Monitor, January 16, 2009

Debating U.S. public diplomacy
Foreign Policy, January 15, 2009

Quincy Jones Leads Chorus Urging a Cabinet-Level Arts Czar
The Washington Post, January 14, 2009

The ten first steps that Barack Obama could take to renew the arts
The Art Newspaper, January 14, 2009

Public diplomacy begins with you
The Christian Science Monitor, January 5, 2009

How to sell America
Newsweek, January 3, 2009