The Foreign Service Journal, October 2009

public diplomacy at the University of Southern California, or to enroll in comparable programs around the U.S. This and other graduate-level oppor- tunities should be offered on the same basis as other long-term training, such as Princeton’s Master’s in Public Policy program. Financial assistance should also be considered for officers who seek de- grees on their own time in fields such as the performing arts, education, jour- nalism or communications, all of which are applicable to PD work. A final note: Many of the sugges- tions we make regarding the need for better strategic vision, reforms in the current bureaucratic structure, more (and more tailored) training and more resources have not occurred to us alone. Most reports on public diplo- macy come to some or all of the same conclusions. There is recognition across the board that to achieve results in public diplomacy requires a moti- vated, well-equipped teamwith a com- mon strategic vision and the means to deliver the goods. We hope that this column not only serves to start a conversation about public diplomacy among our ranks, but adds to the greater dialogue on how best to achieve our foreign policy ob- jectives. ■ The Public Diplomacy Front Line Working Group is comprised of the fol- lowing mid-level PD officers: Stefanie Altman-Winans, Kerri Hannan, Shari Bistransky, Jennifer Rahimi, Jean Dug- gan, Jean Briganti, Ruth Anne Stevens- Klitz, Tristram Perry, Bix Aliu and Jon Berger. The group welcomes comments at pdoforchange@gmail.com , and invites readers to visit its Facebook page, Pub- lic Diplomacy Officers for Change. O C T O B E R 2 0 0 9 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 17 S P E A K I N G O U T