Twitter Q & A with Under Secretary Tara Sonenshine
On Wednesday, June 27, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara Sonenshine took questions on Twitter in nine languages using the hashtag #AskState. Questions were simultaneously answered in Arabic, Chinese, English, Hindi, Farsi, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
.@TSonenshine: I am delighted to hold this #Twitter Q&A about the power of #publicdiplomacy around the world.- While most questions were received in English, Under Secretary Sonenshine's answers were translated into all nine languages represented. For more engagement on the event's hashtag, visit Twitter.com/#askState.The following question and answers demonstrate how the event was conducted. A question would come in in English, such as this one about violence against Christians in Syria.
@StateDept @tsonenshine #AskState Why do u refuse to acknowledge attacks on Christians by #FSA terrorists in #Syria fb.me/1Q5Dvqxg1- Responses were posted in English and then translated into the other languages.
- Under Secretary Sonenshine then answered a question on entrepreneurship's role in improving the economy.
- .@InnovGen #Entrepreneurship is critical in today's economy. Innovative projects change lives b/c ideas travel as fast as goods, services.
.@InnovGen روح المبادرة بالغة الأهمية في اقتصاد اليوم. مشاريع مبتكرة لتغيير حياة الناس. الأفكار تسافر بسرعة الخدمات والسلع #Entrepreneurship
.@InnovGen #Empreendedorismo é importante na economia de hoje... #AskState [1/2]- This question came in Chinese, on human rights issues in China:
- Under Secretary Soneshine answered a question submitted by @Farani1, who asked what Public Diplomacy was. While the original tweet appears to be deleted from @Farani1's account, the response is still available, and was retweeted around the world in several languages.
- .@Farani1 #Publicdiplomacy is being part of an international conversation around important issues. #AskState
.@Farani1 La #diplomatie publique = faire partie d’une conversation internationale autour des sujets importants. #AskState
"@StateDept: .@Farani1 #Publicdiplomacy is being part of an international conversation around important issues. #AskState" @intan_ochaa- On a personal note, Under Secretary Sonenshine was asked what inspires her. Here's what's she said:
