State seeks private sector help on PD

PR Week reported that the "US State Department and the Public Relations Coalition on January 9 to 10 are co-hosting a summit at the State Department that will look at how businesses and other private sector organizations can support and improve US public diplomacy. " According to a Fox News article, much of the advice from private sector PR experts focused on toning down confrontational policy messages and accentuating everyday good news stories, and doing less preaching and more listening. At the summit, 150 top public relations professionals and State Department leaders identified 11 action steps for greater private sector involvement and support for U.S. public diplomacy.