In new democracies, emerging civic culture and a broad public discussion of ideas has aided the development of groups who are motivated by regional and global issues previously closed to national debate. Finally, underlying these changes is a continuing technological revolution in communications. New media and means of communication are more widely available, even in remote regions largely unaffected by earlier generations of satellite, cellular and land-line connections. Telecommunications provide the means for far-flung organizations and groups to get current information on nearly every major policy issue and to interact with actual and potential audiences worldwide. While the familiar program or acronym, like Fulbright or VOA, still embodies much of the public diplomacy mission, changes in policy, politics and technology have brought about new ways to reach new audiences abroad.
Public diplomacy is now as much in the cyber cafe as the academic quadrangle.
Public diplomacy programs are advocacy initiatives crafted to circumstance, audience and desired outcome. They are not meant to paint a static portrait or generic message. Local conditions and attitudes have profound importance in how we present the American case abroad. Language, history, religion, social traditions and expectations all play a part. Public diplomacy also has changed to reflect advances in information technology and communications.