Pre-internet, public diplomacy was a challenge for developing countries --- Global news flows from the pre-internet era made it all but difficult for developing countries to be able to make a mark beyond grandiose gestures such as hosting a big conference. The major international news networks of the time were all headquartered in the West, and their editorial slant was the only one available, so most developing countries would only hear about events in fellow developing countries from a western point of view. The internet democratized this, as described earlier in this module.

We may be concerned at the ease at which digitally saavy actors can command so much attention on social media, when on the flipside there is so much opportunity for us to be able to do the same.

Source author: Ralph Vincent C. Abarquez ralph.abarquez@dfa.gov.ph