DOCSLIB.ORG

Strategic Communications of the United Nations: Case Studies of the Department Of

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Strategic Communications of the United Nations: Case Studies of the Department Of Strategic Communications of the United Nations: Case Studies of the Department of Public Information under Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 1997-2006 A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Scripps College of Communication of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Young Joon Lim August 2013 © 2013 Young Joon Lim. All Rights Reserved. This dissertation titled Strategic Communications of the United Nations: Case Studies of the Department of Public Information under Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 1997-2006 by YOUNG JOON LIM has been approved for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and the Scripps College of Communication by Michael S. Sweeney Professor of Journalism Scott Titsworth Dean, Scripps College of Communication ii ABSTRACT LIM, YOUNG JOON, Ph.D. August 2013, Mass Communication Strategic Communications of the United Nations: Case Studies of the Department of Public Information under Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 1997-2006 Director of Dissertation: Michael S. Sweeney This study examines strategic communication practices of the United Nations (UN) under the seventh Secretary-General Kofi Annan, including the successes and failures of Annan’s revolutionary plan, through the lenses of strategic communication theories and the construction of a historical narrative. By focusing on the reorientation of the Department of Public Information and Annan’s ambitious goals in terms of improving the UN image and leadership, this study attempts to show how Annan and the department implemented their plans and strategies to achieve a better UN image that was aimed at strengthening the UN’s global leadership. This study not only broadens the perspective on the communication strategy of the UN under Annan’s leadership, but the study also revises several commonly held public images of the UN: ineffective and inactive from a view of organizational performance; corrupt from a view of administrative bureaucracy; submissive from a view of international relations; and non-newsworthy from a view of the media. It explores the maneuvers Annan and the department performed to address such images, and further reinforces the importance of the UN as an indispensable and irreplaceable organization at the international level. In doing so, this study attempts to show that the UN – as one of the most representative international organizations in terms of pioneering use of strategic iii communication – would give an exemplary demonstration of how to utilize every means of communication strategies in order to achieve goals of international and non-profit organizations. Thus, this study uses a strategic communication perspective to evaluate the processes and outcomes of the UN’s strategic communication. iv DEDICATION To Him v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” I will carve my blessings in my heart, the blessings from the members of my dissertation committee: Dr. Anne Cooper, Dr. Catherine Axinn, Dr. Roger Cooper, and committee chair Dr. Michael Sweeney. May they stay forever young. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract..............................................................................................................................iii Dedication........................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. vi List of Tables ...................................................................................................................viii List of Figures.................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Related Literature............................................................................................ 32 Chapter 3: Method ............................................................................................................ 60 Chapter 4: Case Studies .................................................................................................... 68 Chapter 5: Conclusions................................................................................................... 143 References....................................................................................................................... 163 vii LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1: UN Role..........................................................................................................150 Table 2: UN Membership .............................................................................................151 viii LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. The UN Structure . ............................................................................................5 Figure 2. The Department of Public Information Structure ...........................................12 Figure 3. Newcomb’s Model .........................................................................................50 Figure 4: UN Gallop poll .............................................................................................150 ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION This study examines strategic communication practices of the United Nations (UN) under the seventh Secretary-General Kofi Annan, including the successes and failures of Annan’s revolutionary plan, through the lenses of strategic communication theories and the construction of a historical narrative. By focusing on the reorientation of the Department of Public Information and Annan’s ambitious goals in terms of improving the UN image and leadership, this study attempts to show how Annan and the department implemented their plans and strategies to achieve a better UN image that was aimed at strengthening the UN’s global leadership. The period for this study is ten years between 1997 and 2006, while Annan served the UN as two-term secretary-general. The UN – although certainly not the first organization suffering from criticism from the media, the public, and governments – could not help but be concerned about its existence and functions as an influential global organization when the two human-oriented catastrophes of conflicts in Somalia and Bosnia dragged it into chaos before Annan’s era. These two catastrophes are important because they served as a drive for ending Annan’s predecessor Boutros Boutros-Ghali as secretary-general. Annan, having learned from his predecessor’s failure to manage the UN’s image and secure public and political support, was determined to devote his tenure as secretary-general to an increase of the organization’s influence with positive image through communication strategy. Purpose This study aims to demonstrate that Annan and the department strategically used communication to emphasize the distinguished activities and irreplaceable roles of the 1 UN for the benefit of people around the world. It argues that the organization, which was accustomed to complaining about either negative media coverage or a lack of media coverage since 1948, had a turning point with the inauguration of Annan on January 1, 1997. Annan had a different approach to media relations with the UN. Rather than passively responding to media representatives who might be interested in the UN, he and the department made an active attempt to organize media events, create a media-friendly culture, and launch media-friendly programs to grab the media’s attention; they hoped that the media would be persuaded to look at the UN as a reformed organization that could utilize its resources and perform efficient tasks to address chronic human issues such as poverty, war, human rights violations, and more recently terrorism and climate changes. This study not only broadens the perspective on the communication strategy of the UN under Annan’s leadership, but the study also revises several commonly held public images of the UN: ineffective and inactive from a view of organizational performance; corrupt from a view of administrative bureaucracy; submissive from a view of international relations; and non-newsworthy from a view of the media. It explores the maneuvers Annan and the department performed to address such images, and further reinforces the importance of the UN as an indispensable and irreplaceable organization at the international level. In doing so, this study attempts to show that the UN – as one of the most representative international organizations in terms of pioneering use of strategic communication – would give an exemplary demonstration of how to utilize every means of communication strategies in order to achieve goals of international and non-profit 2 organizations. Thus, this study uses a strategic communication perspective to evaluate the processes and outcomes of the UN’s strategic communication. Definitions of Strategic Communication The definition of strategic communication should be noted to elucidate the perspective of the UN’s strategic communication program. However, as there are many definitions of strategic communication with self-interpreted understandings of those definitions from a broad range of claimers, a UN-related strategic communication definition needs to be stated to minimize the terminology confusion of strategic communication. The term strategic communication
Load more

Recommended publications
  • General Assembly Distr.: General 2 August 2006
    United Nations A/61/216 General Assembly Distr.: General 2 August 2006 Original: English Sixty-first session Item 32 of the provisional agenda* Questions relating to information Questions relating to information Report of the Secretary-General Summary During the first half of 2006, the Department of Public Information continued to address the strategic priorities of the Organization and its reform agenda emanating from the 2005 World Summit. Using a combination of traditional means of communications and the new information and communications technologies, the Department worked in close cooperation with “client departments” within the Secretariat and field offices worldwide to further expand its outreach services. These efforts were guided by four strategic objectives: the targeted delivery of public information, the enhanced use of the new information and communications technologies, increased partnership with civil society and integrating a culture of evaluation at all levels of work. As a result of the Department’s concerted and coordinated efforts, the public information capacity of the Organization was enhanced. * A/61/150. 06-45405 (E) 250806 *0645405* A/61/216 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 60/109 B of 8 December 2005, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session and to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the activities of the Department of Public Information and on the implementation of the recommendations contained in that resolution. Accordingly, the Department of Public Information introduced five reports for consideration by the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session, held from 24 April to 5 May 2006 (A/AC.198/2006/1-A/AC.198/2006/5).
    [Show full text]
  • Vogue Italia
    LA STORIA Anche Mia, Anna Cataldi mi viene incontro avvicinandomi il viso mondane invece che aiutarmi mi hanno piuttosto osta­ L’Africa bello e infragilito dagli anni; siamo amici da un po’, ho colato, mi prendevano per una “social butterfly” e mi letto il suo libro quando era ancora manoscritto ammi­ dicevano «noi facciamo un lavoro serio, non ti immi­ randone l’aria poco italiana, la sobrietà da “never com­ schiare», ho ricevuto tante umiliazioni. plain”. Ci sediamo sul divano mentre il bassotto Blu Tra le persone incontrate nei sette anni di tentativi, chi scodinzola e mi festeggia. ricordi con più piacere? Il tuo libro, pubblicato ora da Rizzoli con il titolo “La coda Charles Pick, il direttore della casa editrice Heinemann, della sirena”, è un memoir che parla di come sei riuscita a uno dei pochi che mi ha preso sul serio… e poi Errol ottenere che si facesse un film a partire da “La mia Afri- Trzebinski (autrice di “Silence Will Speak”, storia dell’amo- ca” di Karen Blixen e dalle biografie scritte su di lei. Le re tra la Blixen e Denys Finch Hutton) che ora vive sull’i­ memorie ti affascinano più dei romanzi di invenzione? sola di Lamu… con lei siamo rimaste molto amiche, è Certamente, in me c’è un desiderio di investigare, mi venuta a trovarmi in Toscana… e Stephen Grimes, l’art ha sempre emozionato frugare nelle vite altrui, cerca­ director che abitava a Trastevere. Produrre il film premio Oscar tratto dal re coincidenze… la mia passione è Lytton Strachey… Quanta è stata la gioia quando “La mia Africa”, con libro di Karen Blixen era la sua ossessione.
    [Show full text]
  • February-2019-English.Pdf
    1 CONTENT TNPSC BITS ...................................................................................................................................13 TAMILNADU..................................................................................................................................25 Athikadavu-Avinashi project ............................................................................ 25 Kalaimamani awards ....................................................................................... 25 Prime Minister visit to Tamil Nadu ................................................................... 26 Natyanjali fete world record ............................................................................. 27 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) ................................................ 27 Integrated Textile Policy ................................................................................... 28 GI tag for Erode turmeric ................................................................................. 29 Kalai Semmal Awards ...................................................................................... 29 e-Waste and Biomedical Waste Management .................................................... 30 GI Mark - Thirubuvanam silk saree ................................................................. 30 Information Commission recommendations ..................................................... 31 Separate Police Wing for Women .....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Last 6 Months Expected Current Affairs Questions (Feb to July 2019)
    Expected Questions - Last 6 Months Current Affairs (Feb to July 2019) We Exam Pundit Team, has made “BOOST UP PDFS” Series to provide The Best Free PDF Study Materials on All Topics of Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude & English Section. This Boost Up PDFs brings you questions in different level, Easy, Moderate & Hard, and also in New Pattern Questions. Each PDFs contains 50 Questions along with Explanation. For More PDF Visit: pdf.exampundit.in Last 6 Months Expected Current Affairs Questions (Feb to July 2019) S. No Topics No. Qs Page No 2. February 2019 – Expected Current Affairs Questions 259 2 to 13 3. March 2019 – Expected Current Affairs Questions 300 14 to 28 4. April 2019 – Expected Current Affairs Questions 310 29 to 45 5. May 2019 – Expected Current Affairs Questions 395 46 to 67 6. June 2019 – Expected Current Affairs Questions 200 68 to 81 6. July 2019 – Expected Current Affairs Questions 400 82 to 116 Page 1 of 116 Join Our Telegram Group to Get Instant Notifications, Study Materials, Quizzes & PDFs: https://t.me/exampunditofficial For Quality Study Materials & Practice Quiz Visit: www.exampundit.in | For Free PDF Materials Visit: pdf.exampundi.in Expected Questions - Last 6 Months Current Affairs (Feb to July 2019) February 2019 – Expected Current Affairs Questions 1. Which of the following Bank(s) was/were recently removed from PCA framework by RBI? – Bank of India (BoI), Bank of Maharashtra (Mahabank), and Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) 2. The Defence Acquisitions Council approved indigenous construction of six submarines worth how much? -₹40,000 crore 3. The Defence Acquisitions Council approved indigenous construction of how many submarines worth ₹40,000 crore? – six 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Innovations by the Stop TB Partnership
    ANNUAL REPORT 2008 STOP TB PARTNERSHIP © World Health Organization 2009 All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e-mail: bookorders@who.int). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; e-mail: permissions@who.int). The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression or any opinion whatso- ever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others or of similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors or omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsability for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use.
    [Show full text]
  • General Assembly Official Records Sixty-Fifth Session
    United Nations A/65/PV.74 General Assembly Official Records Sixty-fifth session : 74th plenary meeting Friday, 14 January 2011, 11 a.m. New York President: Mr. Deiss .......................................(Switzerland) The meeting was called to order at 10.50 a.m. Agenda item 125 International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution Agenda item 133 (continued) of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the Serious Violations of International Humanitarian expenses of the United Nations (A/65/691) Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and The President (spoke in French): In keeping Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of with established practice, I now invite the attention of Neighbouring States between 1 January and the General Assembly to document A/65/691, in which 31 December 1994 the Secretary-General informs the President of the Assembly that 18 Member States are in arrears in the Letters from the Secretary-General (A/65/529 payment of their financial contributions to the United and A/65/587) Nations within the terms of Article 19 of the Charter. Letter from the President of the Security I would like to remind delegations that, under Council (A/65/661) Article 19 of the Charter, Draft decision (A/65/L.57) “A Member of the United Nations which is The President (spoke in French): We shall now in arrears in the payment of its financial proceed to consider draft decision A/65/L.57. I give the contributions to the Organization shall have no floor to the representative of the Secretariat.
    [Show full text]
  • New Local Presidents Like Yourself
    NEW PRESIDENTS Getting Started TOOLKIT Getting Started Toolkit Contents Page Getting Started 5 Local President Getting Started Checklist 6 Local Executive Contact Information 8 Local Meetings 9 Why Good Local Meetings Matter 10 Local Executive Committee (LEC) Meetings 10 Local Executive Committee (LEC) Meeting Checklist 11 Steps to an Effective General Membership Meeting (GMM) 14 General Membership Meeting Planning Checklist 15 A Quick Guide for the Treasurers Report at Local Meetings 19 Local Meetings Motion Form 20 Reference Guide for Local Elections 21 The OPSEU Constitution 22 The OPSEU Policy Manual 25 Executive Board Motions 25 OPSEU Accommodation Policy 26 Local Elections Checklist 28 Sample Voting Booths 37 Frequently Asked Questions 38 Frequently Asked Questions 39 Roles and Responsibilities of Local Officers 45 Roles and Responsibilities of Local Officers 46 OPSEU Local and Provincial Structure 49 Local Health and Safety Committees – OPSEU policy 50 Labour Management Committees 51 OPSEU Equity Committees and Caucuses 52 Indigenous Circle 53 Disability Rights Caucus 55 Provincial Francophone Committee 57 Provincial Human Rights Committee 59 Provincial Women’s Committee 61 Provincial Young Workers Committee 63 Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel 65 Workers of Colour Caucus 67 Equity Information on the OPSEU Website 69 2 3 The Local Structure 70 Local Officers/Types of Locals 71 What Region are You In? 72 The Local in OPSEU and the Labour Movement 73 OPSEU Decision Making 74 Annual Convention 75 The Executive Board 76 OPSEU Officers 76
    [Show full text]
  • Download Link
    1st March 1) National Affairs Union Cabinet approves President’s Rule in Puducherry The Union Cabinet has approved to dissolve the Puducherry Assembly and impose President’s rule in the Union territory, following the resignation of the Chief Minister, V Naryanswamy. The decision was taken as no party claimed to form a government, following which the Lieutenant Governor had recommended President’s Rule. The approval will now be sent to the President, Ramnath Kovind and the legislative assembly of the UT will be dissolved once the President accords his permission. Quick Fact: The Governor of Puducherry is Tamilisai Soundararajan 2) Person in News Fullerton India Credit Company appoints Shantanu Mitra as CEO and MD Fullerton India Credit Company has appointed Shantanu Mitra as the CEO and Managing- Director. He has over 40 years of experience in financial services, with over 20 years at Standard Chartered and Citibank. Previously his role in Standard Chartered was Senior Regional Risk Officer for India, Middle- East, and Africa. Quick Fact: Fullerton India Credit Company is headquartered in Mumbai 3) International Affairs Irakli Garibashvili as new Prime Minister of Georgia The Parliament of Georgia confirmed Irakli Garibashvili as Prime Minister along with a vote of confidence. Garibashvili pledged to create a long-term development strategy for Georgia in his first hundred days in office. First, on the agenda, Garibashvili will continue the essential work of the government to ably manage the pandemic and accelerate the focus on rebuilding the economy. Quick Fact: The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi 4) Summit and Conference India, Australia, and France hold a trilateral dialogue to focus on Indo-Pacific A trilateral dialogue was held among India, Australia, and France on 24th February 2021, at the senior officials’ level with a focus on further enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
    [Show full text]
  • Does French Matter? France and Francophonie in the Age of Globalization Jody L
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by The University of Nebraska, Omaha University of Nebraska at Omaha DigitalCommons@UNO Political Science Faculty Publications Department of Political Science 3-2005 Does French Matter? France and Francophonie in the Age of Globalization Jody L. Neathery-Castro University of Nebraska at Omaha, jneathery@unomaha.edu Mark O. Rousseau Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/poliscifacpub Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Neathery-Castro, Jody L. and Rousseau, Mark O., "Does French Matter? France and Francophonie in the Age of Globalization" (2005). Political Science Faculty Publications. 19. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/poliscifacpub/19 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Political Science at DigitalCommons@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Political Science Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UNO. For more information, please contact unodigitalcommons@unomaha.edu. THE FRENCH REVIEW, Vol. 78, No. 4, March 2005 Printed in U.S.A. Does French Matter? France and Francophonie in the Age of Globalization by Jody Neathery-Castroand Mark 0. Rousseau THE ORGANISATION INTERNATIONALE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE (OIF) increasingly acts as a powerful French-speaking voice in defense of both French cul­ ture and language and in advancing French-speaking nations' multiple global, political and economic interests. While the OIF includes devel­ oped as well as developing1 nations, its policies and financial resources come fromits wealthier and more economically powerful members, fuel­ ing charges that it exists to represent those members' interests.
    [Show full text]
  • General Assembly Official Records Seventieth Session
    United Nations A/70/ PV.87 General Assembly Official Records Seventieth session 87th plenary meeting Thursday, 18 February 2016, 11 a.m. New York President: Mr. Lykketoft ......................................... (Denmark) In the absence of the President, Ms. Moses (Nauru), Nations response to appalling crises in Europe, Africa Vice-President, took the Chair. and beyond. Outcomes from major conferences during his The meeting was called to order at 11.05 a.m. tenure in Rio, Vienna, Beijing and Cairo, together with his Agenda for Peace and his Agenda for Development, Tribute to the memory of His Excellency can now be seen very clearly at the heart of the 2030 Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, sixth Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). Secretary-General of the United Nations His period at the helm demonstrates ever so clearly that The Acting President: It is our sad duty to pay the position of Secretary-General is indeed one of the tribute to the memory of His Excellency Mr. Boutros most difficult jobs in the world. Boutros-Ghali, sixth Secretary-General of the United On behalf of this entire Assembly, I would like to Nations, who passed away on 16 February. extend my most sincere condolences to the family and I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf friends of Mr. Boutros-Ghali who mourn his passing of the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Mogens today. I extend also my sympathies to the people and Lykketoft, who is travelling on official business at this the Government of Egypt, who have lost one of their time.
    [Show full text]
  • The Great American Saloon Series
    International concluded that the treated us to a song in which they starvation. Some have even sent collec- tiny step towards realism. Of course human rights situation in Albania has lamented the death of "Comrade tive letters begging Alia to help them. people are utterly exhausted with the if anything grown worse. Enver" but then comforted themselves Meat, flour, cooking oil, coffee, and lack of food, the incredibly high prices. But with Hoxha dead many Albani- with the knowledge that he had "left other staples are severely rationed. In Many factories now work only two ans argue that things have to improve the party red'—on that phrase, fling- the capital, Tirane, milk is on sale for days a week, no electricity—when they under his successor, 59-year-old Ramiz ing their right arms up in a gesture only half an hour each day. The official don't work, the workers don't get Alia. In particular there is growing reminiscent of the Hitler Youth. Hox- wage is 600 Lek a month (about $90), money. Things are desperate for many hope that Alia will move to end the ha's picture adorns every available wall- but in villages many work for a quarter of them. But in the last few months, country's insane isolationism. But the space, his "immortal" thoughts clutter of that. Not that the secret police and since Hoxha died, people have been most pressing problems facing Alia are communal noticeboards, his people live party elite don't live well. Or as my allowed to go to Greece to visit internal and economic.
    [Show full text]
  • Local Secretaries Toolkit
    LOCAL SECRETARIES TOOLKIT Local Secretaries Toolkit Last updated July 8, 2020 Table of Contents Welcome ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Job Description ............................................................................................................................... 5 Gathering Resources .................................................................................................................. 7 Local Executive Committee Contact Information ........................................................................ 9 Taking Minutes ............................................................................................................................. 10 Guidelines for Taking Minutes .................................................................................................. 10 Minutes Format: Example ......................................................................................................... 12 Minutes: Example ..................................................................................................................... 13 Minutes: Template .................................................................................................................... 14 General Membership Meeting Agenda ......................................................................................... 15 Other Duties ................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]