#globalcommunications – Page 5 – The Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication

November 30, 2022April 23, 2024

2022 Walter Roberts Annual Lecture on Defending Press Freedom

CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg speaks about protecting journalists around the world

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

This year’s annual lecture of the Walter Roberts Endowment, on Tuesday, December 6, will feature Jodie Ginsberg, president of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Ginsberg took on the leadership role in April 2022, after years of experience as a journalist and media advocate. CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. The organization works to defend the rights of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.

This year’s lecture will have Dean Alyssa Ayres of the Elliott School of International Affairs delivering introductory remarks and Silvio Waisbord, Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs moderating the Q&A session with the speaker. The Institute’s Director Dr. William Youmans will be welcoming all to the event.

The Walter Roberts Endowment seeks to inspire public diplomacy best practices around the world. Its goal is to expand the universe of public diplomacy practitioners through activities which blend theory and practice, enable dialogue among people from different backgrounds and institutions, and increase awareness of the importance of public diplomacy.

Please join us for this event:

DATE: December 6, 2022

TIME: 5:30pm Reception

6:30pm Lecture

VENUE: Lehman Auditorium, Science & Engineering Hall, B1220, 800 22nd Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20052

November 16, 2022April 23, 2024

Raising Standards: Data and Artificial Intelligence in Southeast Asia

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

In a private presentation, Elina Noor, Director of Political-Security Affairs and Deputy Director for the Washington D.C. Office at the Asia Society Policy Institute, talked about the opportunity for Southeast Asia to redefine inclusive development for the region by raising standards for data and ethical AI.

In a report co-authored by Noor, she and her collaborator Mark Bryan Manantan, examined policy frameworks in five countries in the region and their impact on governance and economies. The authors surmised that the region’s digital future begins with proactively shaping a path in its own image. Noor spoke about the report’s recommendations for principles and practices that fuel development while advancing human dignity.

Moderated by Dr. William Youmans, IPDGC Director, the event also was attended by directors of the collaborating organizations, Dr. Gregg Brazinsky, the GW Sigur Center of Asian Studies, and William Wise, The Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia Forum.

November 15, 2022April 23, 2024

The Qatar World Cup, Sports Journalism and Human Rights

Virtual discussion on the “other issues” of reporting on sporting events

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

With the FIFA 2022 World Cup kicking off in Qatar on November 20, the conversation was about if, and how, sports journalists covering the men’s world cup in Qatar should report on human rights. According to FIFA, the sport’s governing body, the World Cup in 2018 drew more than 3.5 billion viewers and the championship game was seen live by more than one billion people.

However, countries that host the tournament will draw attention as well – and not all of that is positive. This year’s tournament has raised questions about human rights in Qatar, and “sports washing” in general.

IPDGC collaborated with the Project on Ethics in Political Communication for a virtual discussion on the topic of the World Cup, Sports Journalism and Human Rights. Joining this conversation were international soccer journalist Grant Wahl and Prof. Neha Vora, an anthropologist with Lafayette College.

Moderating the event was Silvio Waisbord, the Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University.

Brief bios of the speakers:

Grant Wahl is one of the top soccer journalists in the US. His pre-World Cup writing includes the need to pay attention to the human toll of constructing the stadia, hotels and infrastructure the World Cup requires. He has covered World Cups for Sports Illustrated, CBS and Fox Sports. His books include The Beckham Experiment and Masters of Modern Soccer.

Prof. Neha Vora, is an anthropologist at Lafayette College. Her writing includes the books Impossible Citizens: Dubai’s Indian Diaspora; Teach for Arabia: American Universities, Liberalism, and Transnational Qatar; and Beyond Exception: New Interpretations of the Arabian Peninsula (co-authored with Ahmed Kanna and Amelie Le Renard).

November 10, 2022April 23, 2024

The Case for Slowing Down the Information Society

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

Presentation by IPDGC Visiting Scholar Udane Goikoetxa-Bilbao

IPDGC Visiting Fellow Udane Goikoetxea-Bilbao presented her research into the influence of the Internet on journalism; the impact of immediate information, in particular, social media. Her research takes looks into not just what we read, but how we read. And considers that while readers can be digitally literate, they must be media literate as well. She notes that having a good understanding of civic values is also important to act in harmony with the deontological necessity of journalism.

Goikoetxea-Bilbao is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Journalism of the University of the Basque Country, where she teaches undergraduate subjects related to specializations in journalism (Specialized Journalism, Communication Theories, Ethics (Deontology and Media) and Spokesperson Training.

Her research with IPDGC and GW was conducted over the Fall 2022 semester.

October 7, 2022April 23, 2024

Recognizing a forgotten hero in US diplomatic history

Flier for "A Diplomat of Consequence" film screening event

IPDGC screens documentary on Ambassador Ebenezer D. Bassett

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

The film, A Diplomat of Consequence, tells the story of a groundbreaking diplomat and pioneer on international human rights and examines the legacy of racial diversity today, 150 years after his appointment. This documentary was written, directed and produced by Christopher Teal. He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the U.S. State Department and currently a Public Diplomacy Fellow with IPDGC at the George Washington University.

Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett was appointed United States Ambassador to Haiti in 1869. He was the first African-American diplomat and the fourth U.S. ambassador to Haiti since the two countries established relations in 1862. Bassett was appointed as new leaders emerged among free African Americans after the American Civil War.

Collage of 4 photos and drawings of Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett

The documentary explores Bassett’s roles as He was an educator, abolitionist, and civil rights activist.

He was among the earliest advocates to promote human rights in foreign policy. His courage in the face of threats during his tenure place him among the greats of diplomatic and American history. Along with public archives on Bassett’s life, newly found information from family members and never before seen material from his four-decade relationship with Frederick Douglass are explored in the documentary.

This is not just an historical documentary, however. Bassett’s legacy demonstrates to broader audiences what diplomats have accomplished and what they do in today’s complicated environment. Bringing in contemporary voices of minority diplomats is a crucial component of why diversity in foreign affairs still is imperative for successful engagement today.

FILM SCREENING: A Diplomat of Consequence; Tuesday, October 18,

IPDGC, in collaboration with LEAP and the Office of Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and student organization, Young Black Professionals in International Affairs (YBPIA), invites you to the screening of the film, A Diplomat of Consequence.

Following the screening will be a panel discussion with the filmmaker Chris Teal, Stacy Williams Deputy Director of the Haitian Affairs Office, State Department, and Celeste Robertson, retired USAID Officer. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. William Youmans, Director of IPDGC.

Event Details:

Tuesday, October 18; 5-7pm

Lindner Room 602, Elliott School, 1957 E St NW, Washington, DC 20052

Pizza and sodas are provided. RSVPs required for the event.

August 15, 2022April 23, 2024

IPDGC introduces the 2022-2024 PD Fellow

By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator

IPDGC and the GW School of Media and Public Affairs welcomes Christopher Teal, the U.S. State Department Public Diplomacy Fellow for the 2022-2024 academic years.

Chris has been with the U.S. State Department since 1999; handling various responsibilities including overseas assignments, leading a team responsible for diplomatic Career Development, and also teaching diplomacy, civil/military relations, human rights, peace keeping, and media/security policy.

Chris was also awarded the Una Chapman Cox Fellowship to direct, write, and produce a documentary on the first African American diplomat, Ebenezer D. Bassett. The film, A Diplomat of Consequence, tells the story of this groundbreaking diplomat 150 years after his appointment.

IPDGC recently spoke to Chris about coming back to GW:

Learn more about our new PD Fellow Chris Teal, and other Public Diplomacy Fellows.