U.S. Department of State

Level of Public Understanding of U.S. Policies in Muslim Societies

• Funding is needed for targeted polling of public diplomacy program participants and users of public diplomacy products in countries with majority or significant Muslim populations in NEA, SA, EAP, EUR and AF to measure evidence that participants/users have more accurate understanding of U.S. policies. Results will be analyzed by geographic region and other relevant categories.
• Number of direct placements of articles in the Arab press that show accurate understanding and interviews of senior U.S. officials on pan-Arab satellite TV
• Anti-American editorial slants in much of the Arabic press make it difficult to gain greater acceptance of our message. More frequent placement of positive articles on the U.S. indicates improved receptivity on the part of Arab media to our message, and provides the general public with a greater exposure to USG policies.
• Pan-Arab satellite television has become the most important element in forming Arab public opinion. Anti-American commentary dominates many of the stations. We must project a more positive image of and an objective message on the U.S. by using senior U.S. speakers.
• Increase training for young Arab media professionals.

Developing Independent Media in Afghanistan

• Fund independent media with small grants to promote democracy in Afghanistan.
• Since Afghanistan is at its nascent stage of developing an independent media, and currently lacks an adequate communications infrastructure, the development of a community radio station and of radio and TV transmitters are the best initial indicators of free development. Concurrently, the drafting of press laws tracks progress towards freedom of the press. Expanding audiences and lack of harassment show such development in later years. The number of newspapers available is a good indicator for literate audiences.

Seventy-six percent of participants implement positive change

• Provide alumni follow-on activities that assist in advancing knowledge, skills and ideas gained from program experience.
• Work within programs to have participants develop plans for action upon their return home.

Five percent increase in new participants in youth exchange programs.

• Launch specific YES and PLUS program initiatives
• Shift funding to provide more programming opportunities for key audiences
• In conjunction with regional Bureaus and Missions, and employing Fulbright Commissions, RELOs and advising offices, step up targeting and recruitment.

Means for Achieving FY 2005 Targets Ninety percent of participants improve their understanding of U.S. society and values

• Provide participants with experiences to meet Americans in hospitality and host family settings.
• Provide participants balanced programs that demonstrate the diversity within the United States

Effectiveness Of American Corners In Engaging Users To Seek Greater Access To Information

• Facilitate international public access to extensive American reference sources, which could be a vital link in building the institutions of a democratic culture, through American Corners & Interactive Exhibits, an expanded Information Resource Officer corps, Information Resource Centers and reference specialist services.
• As of the end of FY 2003, there are a total of 71 American Corners in operation in EUR, AF, SA, and EAP. The Russian Parliamentary Library has requested a Corner at the Russian Duma (parliament).
• Field-test a prototype of the Interactive Exhibit in Turkey. This exhibit will make use of interactive, multimedia technology and provide visitors access to written material about the U.S. in the form of encyclopedias, current literature, and other themes.

Sales of Arabic-language periodical for the under-30 generation

• ?hi? magazine and its companion website (www.himag.com or www.himagazine.com) was launched in late FY-03 with an initial print run of 50,000 copies per month. The magazine is intended for sale in Arabic speaking countries. The level of sales, as well as the number of online readers are important indicators of the magazine?s success.

Timeliness of U.S. responses to misinformation or deliberate disinformation in international media.

• Create a permanent Counter-Propaganda Unit to spot hostile media reaction, misinformation or deliberate disinformation, and provide U.S. spokespersons and foreign news media with factual information to respond.
• Refine methods to detect incidents of hostile statements from responsible media outlets and, either directly, or through U.S. Mission spokespersons.

Means for Achieving FY 2005 Targets
Sixteen thousand interviews and contacts with media per year.

• Increase media engagement in local, national and international markets to deliver our foreign policy messages.

Ten percent increase in outreach activities to targeted audiences.

• Develop products for an educational/informational grassroots campaign for domestic audiences including CD ROM components, brochures, and newsletters
• Launch strategic marketing designed to reach youth in all segments of American society.
• Implement a Speakers Pool and Core to create a cadre of speakers from each of the bureaus who will be sent out on speaking engagements on a proactive basis.
• Develop a Hispanic outreach program involving media, NGOs, government officials, and the public.
• Through the United States Diplomacy Center, develop outreach programs for the public that will dramatize the challenges that American diplomacy has faced in the past, engages in the present, and will confront in the future.

The department?s website (www.state.gov) receives 7 million hits per month.

• Added site promotion through an ongoing translation of English into Spanish for the Spanish site.
• Augment the Youth Website on www.state.gov where youth can explore U.S. foreign affairs and learn about foreign policy and the work of the Department using interactive programs, teacher aids, and research guides.

Progress made in meeting mandated compliance with legislative mandate for completion of FRUS volumes.

• Increase the staff of the Historian?s Office to address legislative mandate for completion of the Foreign Relations process.
• Update, and develop new historical products for broad-based use throughout the Department, and for inclusion in the Public Affairs Speakers Kit and the Department website.
  Increase the number of policy-supportive historical studies for the Administration.
• Engage in Cultural Diplomacy with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the joint preparation and publication of two volumes of historical documents on the era of d?tente (1969-1976).

Progress in completion of the United States Diplomacy Center.

• Engage the services of a professional fundraising contractor to coordinate the capital campaign to raise $25M in private funds for the museum of American diplomacy.
• Continue to work with commercial contractors to complete the design, construction, and installation phases of the museum of American diplomacy.
• Increase staffing of the Diplomacy Center to develop outreach and educational programs on American diplomacy.

Publish four for a total of fifteen Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) volumes.

• Increase resources needed to publish four volumes.
  Separated the positions of General Editor and Deputy Historian to allow the General Editor concentrate fully on overseeing the Foreign Relations series
• Created Declassification and Publishing Division (what do this do?)
• Hire contract historians for the three Foreign Relations Divisions and the Declassification and Publishing Division.
• Institute a mixture of print and e-volumes for the series. E-volumes allow the series to meet its requirement for ?comprehensiveness? at a lesser cost.
• Fill vacant FTE positions stemming from resignation and retirements.

For the Diplomacy Museum - Raise $21M of the Capital Campaign goal of $25M (84%), complete the design development phase, complete the construction documents and bid phase, and complete 15% of the construction of exhibitions and installation phase.

• Seek assistance from the non-profit Foreign Affairs Museum Council to raise $21M. Funds will be used to pay for the architectural and design fees that will pay for the Design Development Phase, and Construction Documents and the Bid Phase and 15% of the Construction and Installation Phase.

Table 1: State Appropriations by Bureau ($ Thousands)

Table 2: Foreign Operations by Account ($ Thousands)