U.S. Launches Public Diplomacy Initiative

The State Department will conduct an online video contest designed to “amplify U.S. public diplomacy using web-based outreach campaigns and social media platforms,” Goli Ameri, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, said at a Dec. 1 Newsmaker.

"Our new ExchangesConnect, hosted on the Ning platform, is designed to be the digital foundation for the alumni of our exchange programs, youth audiences and other groups around the world interested in international dialogue,” Ameri said.

She said the State Department “has been actively engaged in a broad effort to use technology and its applications, like blogs, Facebook and Briefing 2.0 to better communicate with the world.”

ExchangesConnect, is the government's first social networking site.