The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2011

10 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 Honoring Public Diplomacy Practitioners Public diplomacy, when done right, combines leadership, imagination, re- sourcefulness and plain determina- tion, often under challenging condi- tions. The Public Diplomacy Alumni Association (formerly the USIA Alum- ni Association) recognizes outstanding achievement by individuals and teams, both at overseas posts and at State De- partment headquarters, who display these qualities. This year’s awardees were honored at PDAA’s 2011 annual dinner (the 14th such celebration) on May 15 in Arling- ton, Va. They are: Christopher Teal , the public af- fairs officer and deputy consul general at Consulate General Guadalajara, was hailed for his “dedication, vision and leadership in creating ‘Cobertura Se- gura’ (Secure Coverage) to train and support Mexican journalists in a high- risk reporting environment.” In 2010 alone, at least 12 newspeo- ple were killed in Mexico. Recogniz- ing that, out of fear, Mexican media were underreporting on drug cartels and thus failing to inform the public of the threats to Mexico’s security, Teal developed a pioneering program to help protect the lives of journalists and, in turn, to better inform the Mex- ican people. Teal worked with the University of Guadalajara and nongovernmental or- ganizations to develop online programs to train journalists in developing sources, covering dangerous stories and getting them out to an audience while maintaining their own security. He worked with participating reporters to create their own network of print, online, bloggers, radio and TV broad- cast journalists, and an electronic “guidebook” that has become an im- portant tool throughout the hemi- sphere. Teal also secured funding and support from other government agen- cies and NGOs to expand the program and to refine the material. Joann Lockard , the public affairs officer in Kampala, was saluted for her “leadership and creativity in designing and implementing an interagency pub- lic affairs effort that improved the lives of Ugandans across sectors and in- creased awareness of and receptivity to the U.S.” Recognizing the need for co- ordinated, innovative and collaborative public diplomacy, she developed a plan, assembled a team and introduced new technologies to realize her vision of “One Mission, One Voice.” Lockard’s “Uganda Model” was a multiagency effort consisting of an array of programs to reach youth, women, andMuslim communities, and C YBERNOTES A s I said to Prime Minister Netanyahu, I believe that the current situation in the Middle East does not allow for procrastination. I also believe that real friends talk openly and honestly with one another. So I want to share with you some of what I said to the prime minister. Here are the facts we all must confront. First, the number of Palestinians living west of the Jordan River is growing rapidly and fundamentally reshaping the demographic realities of both Israel and the Palestinian Territories. This will make it harder and harder, without a peace deal, to maintain Israel as both a Jewish state and a democratic state. Second, technology will make it harder for Israel to defend itself in the absence of a genuine peace. Third, a new generation of Arabs is reshaping the region. A just and lasting peace can no longer be forged with one or two Arab leaders. Going forward, millions of Arab citizens have to see that peace is possible for that peace to be sustained. — President Barack Obama, addressing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee ( www.aipac.org ) in Washington, D.C., May 22.