FR 2021-01073

Overview

Title

U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy Notice of Meeting

Agencies

ELI5 AI

The U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy wants to have a big online meeting to talk about how the U.S. tries to make friends and explain itself to other countries, and anyone can ask to join. But, it's not super clear how to join, who the experts are, or what will happen with the ideas from the meeting.

Summary AI

The U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (ACPD) is hosting a virtual public meeting on February 11, 2021, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for U.S. public diplomacy in the context of 2021. The meeting will highlight the Commission's 2020 comprehensive report on public diplomacy and will include a panel of independent experts. The event is open to the public, and attendees can obtain access by contacting ACPD Program Assistant Kristy Zamary via email. The ACPD has been assessing public diplomacy efforts since 1948 and reports its findings to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress.

Type: Notice
Citation: 86 FR 5308
Document #: 2021-01073
Date:
Volume: 86
Pages: 5308-5308

AnalysisAI

The document in question is a Notice of Meeting published by the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (ACPD), set to take place virtually on February 11, 2021. This meeting is significant as it aims to shed light on the Commission's findings regarding public diplomacy efforts, especially in the context of 2021. The event will also feature a panel of independent experts discussing the challenges and opportunities facing U.S. public diplomacy in a rapidly changing global environment.

Summary of the Notice

The ACPD notice announces an open public meeting where the Commission will present its 2020 Comprehensive Annual Report on Public Diplomacy and International Broadcasting. The discussion is relevant in light of ongoing global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting political landscapes. The notice invites the public, including media and staff from governmental and non-governmental organizations, to partake in the event, which requires attendees to acquire a web conference link by contacting a designated program assistant.

Significant Issues and Concerns

While informative, the notice lacks specific details in several areas that are important to consider:

  1. Budget and Costs: There is no information regarding the financial aspects of the meeting or the report. Transparency in government spending is crucial for public trust, and the absence of such information might raise concerns about potential inefficient expenditures.

  2. Panel of Experts: The document does not specify the identities or qualifications of the experts attending the meeting. Knowing the background of these individuals is important to assess the potential effectiveness and impartiality of the discussions.

  3. Access and Accommodations: The process for obtaining the link to the virtual meeting is noted but lacks detailed instructions, which might pose a barrier to attendance for some individuals. Additionally, while attendees can request reasonable accommodations, the notice does not elaborate on what these might entail.

  4. Transparency and Outcomes: There is no mention of how the meeting's findings or the report will be utilized or disseminated further, which raises questions about their practical application and impact.

Impact on the Public

The public's ability to influence and understand foreign relations initiatives is vital for a participatory democracy. This meeting provides an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with governmental policies regarding public diplomacy. However, the document's vagueness on certain aspects may limit the public's ability effectively to engage with the content or participate in the process.

Impact on Stakeholders

For government and non-governmental organizations, as well as experts in international relations, this meeting is a platform to discuss and potentially influence public diplomacy strategies. The outcome of the discussion may shape future policies, impacting how the United States interacts with the global community.

In contrast, individuals who require specific accommodations or lack the necessary technological access might find it difficult to participate. Additionally, without clear information on costs and expert qualifications, stakeholders may question the biases and efficiency of the event.

In conclusion, while the Notice of Meeting aims to engage the public and various interest groups in significant discussions on public diplomacy, improvements in transparency and accessibility could enhance participation and public trust in the ACPD's initiatives.

Issues

  • • The document does not provide any information on the budget or costs associated with the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy meeting or its annual report, making it difficult to assess potential wasteful spending.

  • • The document lacks details on potential conflicts of interest or favor towards specific organizations or individuals.

  • • There is no information on the panel of experts who will examine public diplomacy challenges, leaving questions about their qualifications or potential biases.

  • • The process for obtaining the web conference link and password is not detailed, which could be unclear or inconvenient for some attendees.

  • • The notice does not specify what types of 'reasonable accommodations' can be requested, which might lead to uncertainty for those needing such accommodations.

  • • There is no mention of how the findings from the meeting or the annual report will be used or evaluated, leaving ambiguity about the impact and implementation of the discussed policies.

Statistics

Size

Pages: 1
Words: 394
Sentences: 16
Entities: 36

Language

Nouns: 132
Verbs: 33
Adjectives: 28
Adverbs: 6
Numbers: 19

Complexity

Average Token Length:
5.86
Average Sentence Length:
24.62
Token Entropy:
4.95
Readability (ARI):
22.27

Reading Time

about a minute or two