IPDGC – Page 5 – The Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication

May 5, 2023May 8, 2023

Defending democracy: Yuliia Paievska (Ukraine)

Recap of IPDGC activities: hosting the 2023 IWOC awardees

By Mohamad Fayaz Yourish

On March 10, 2023, IPDGC had the opportunity to host the recipients of the 2023 International Women of Courage Award at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs. Earlier that week, the U.S. Department of State announced the awards which recognize global women who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in acting to improve the lives of others.

IPDGC’s Mohamad Fayaz Yourish had an exclusive interview with Yuliia (Taira) Paievska from Ukraine. Paievska was recognized for her
immense bravery as a medic during the war in Ukraine.

As head of Taira’s Angels, a
volunteer paramedic unit, she provided medical aid and training on the Donbas front lines
from 2014 to 2018.

She is known for secretly filming and smuggling out footage from the besieged city of Mariupol, bringing the world’s attention to the plight of civilians caught in the crossfire of war. Despite being detained, she remains a vocal advocate for Ukrainian democracy and independence.

In the interview, Yuliia discussed the risks she undertook as a medic, the role of technology in promoting peace and stability in Ukraine, and the measures to counter disinformation and propaganda in the war there. She emphasized the importance of truth, facts, and evidence, and the need to address the lies spread about Ukraine and its people.

Yuliia’s bravery and commitment to the people of Ukraine are truly inspiring.
Watch the full interview:

This interview is by GW graduate student Mohamad Fayaz Yourish, who is in the MA Global Communication program.

April 30, 2023April 23, 2024

Congratulations to Brandon Bell and Sherilyn Harrington!

Graduate students receive the 2023 Walter Roberts Public Diplomacy Studies award

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

This year, the Walter Roberts Endowment and the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC) are proud to announce that the annual student award for excellence in Public Diplomacy studies goes to graduate students Brandon Bell and Sherilyn Harrington.

Each year, the Walter Roberts Endowment recognizes a GW graduate student who shows exemplary performance in public diplomacy studies and has aspirations for a future career in this field.

Our two students this year, Brandon Bell and Sherilyn Harrington, are both in the MA program in Global Communication at the Elliott School of International Affairs. Their interviews with fellow grad student Mohamad Fayaz Yourish are coming soon – they both share their passion for careers in international affairs and being part of American engagement with the world.

Congratulations and Raise High!

March 1, 2023March 27, 2023

Public Diplomacy Studies Award 2023 – applications now closed

The Walter Roberts Endowment, through IPDGC, has been consistent in supporting and recognizing GWU graduate students interested in public diplomacy.

Since 2011, the Endowment has awarded a GWU Elliott School graduate student who has shown academic excellence in their studies related to public diplomacy.

The awardee receives a prize for their academic excellence in Public Diplomacy studies while at George Washington University and will get recognized at the Elliott School’s commencement ceremony at the end of the academic year.

Eligibility
Applicants for the award must be on schedule to graduate from the Elliott School of International Affairs this spring term. Applicants are also asked to provide:

A resume
A 500-word essay on their goals for pursuing further studies or careers based on their PD courses
due by March 13 by 5:00 PM ET

DEADLINE for Applications has passed: March 12 by 11:59 PM ET

February 13, 2023April 23, 2024

IPDGC partners up with PDCA

Programs to support public diplomacy and international relations

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

As part of IPDGC’s collaborations with like-minded organizations, we are proud to announce our partnership with the Public Diplomacy with the First Monday Forums. These talks will be held in-person (or hybrid) at the Lindner Family Commons room in the GW Elliott School for International Affairs every first Monday of the month.

These events fit well with the Institute’s mission goals to support academic excellence in global communication and public diplomacy, as well as provide opportunities for professional development.

The first of the First Monday Forum was held on Feb 6 with a virtual screening of the documentary “A Diplomat of Consequence” The film by Christopher Teal is about Ebenezer Basset, the first American black diplomat. Teal is a Senior Foreign Service officer with the U.S. State Department and currently, also the Public Diplomacy Fellow for IPDGC.

https://youtu.be/ASalp-IJ-tw

More information on the upcoming First Monday Forums to come.

January 17, 2023April 23, 2024

A new scholar welcomed in the new year

UK academic joins IPDGC this spring semester

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

IPDGC welcomes Visiting Scholar Ben O’Loughlin from the University of London. Ben is a Professor of International Relations at Royal Holloway and the Director of the New Political Communication Unit. His academic expertise is in the field of international political communication.

His research looks at power and influence in international relations, and the role of communication and technology as the conditions through which power and influence operate. Ben has advised policymakers, including as Select Committee advisor on the UK Parliament’s committee on Soft Power, media organizations, and NGOs on how to act strategically in this environment.

In 2019-20 he was officially thinking about Democracy & Disinformation as Thinker in Residence at the Royal Academy, Brussels.

While at GW, Ben will be working on:

(i) climate disinformation and why people do it,

(ii) US-Taiwan-China strategic narratives, and

(iii) staging Iran’s international identity after 20 years of nuclear talks.

You are welcome to contact him if you would like to chat about any of these topics, or your own research area in general: benedict.oloughlin@gwu.edu or @ben_oloughlin

January 10, 2023April 23, 2024

Welcoming the New Year

Happy 2023 to all from IPDGC!

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

We look forward to welcoming our GW students back to campus in less than a couple of weeks. IPDGC will be forging into 2023 with a slate of events and activities for our students, faculty colleagues as well as the interested public.

Meanwhile, we hope that you will join us in recapping the events of Fall 2022.

In August, IPDGC welcomed Christopher Teal, our Public Diplomacy Fellow 2022-2024 as well as two Visiting Scholars – Udane Goikoetxea-Bilbao and Tran Nguyen Khang .

Udane Goikoetxea-Bilbao and Tran Nguyen Khang

Chris Teal shared his documentary about Amb. Ebenezer Basset, the first US black diplomat. Teal and his fellow Foreign Service colleague, Sean O’Neill also participated in a Career Talk about opportunities for students at the US State Department.

In November, Udane Goikoetxea-Bilbao presented her research on Slow Journalism as she concluded her scholarship with GW.

With the FIFA 2022 World Cup approaching, IPDGC got into the sporting spirit by co-hosting a virtual discussion on sports journalism and human rights.

The Institute also collaborated with the GW Sigur Center for Asian Studies and the Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia Forum for a presentation on Raising Standards: Data and AI in Southeast Asia.

Our Annual Lecture for the Walter Roberts Endowment featured Jodie Ginsberg, president of the Committee to Protect Journalists. Her presentation on “Defending Press Freedom: Protecting Journalists Around the World” was a grim reminder that threats to the media community remained, in a world struggling through a pandemic, global recession, and autocratic regimes

The final event for the semester focused on Africa’s Future: University Partnerships, Business, Tech & Open Diplomacy that followed the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC. This was an opportunity for a multi-university collaboration with the African Centre for the Study of the U.S., University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; Annenberg Center for Communication Leadership and Policy, University of Southern California; Center for African Studies, Howard University; the Public Diplomacy Council of America and also the Institute for African Studies, at the Elliott School of International Affairs.

See you at IPDGC events this semester!