Public diplomacy is the conduct of foreign relations directly with the average citizen of a country, rather than with officials of a country’s foreign ministry. The Public affairs sections at Embassy Rome and the Consulates General, with experienced and motivated American and local staff, build public understanding and support in Italy for America’s goals in the world. Here where media is so dominant, we talk to Italy and the world via television, radio, newspapers, the web and social networking media.
We also conduct people-to-people exchanges, where American experts, authors, artists, educators, and students interact with their peers here. Embassy Rome, with its huge interagency presence, in-house broadcast studio and a steady stream of high-level visits, offers an unmatched platform to tell America’s story to the world.
The Minister Counselor for Public Affairs (the “Public Affairs Officer,” or PAO) functions as the Ambassador‘s and the Mission’s senior advisor on public affairs and public diplomacy.
The Public Affairs section consists of these Departments:
Press Office
The Press Office arranges press conferences, briefings and interviews, organizes dialogues for representative Americans with their Italian counterparts, provides texts, transcripts and explanatory articles stating and explaining United States policies, produces a daily digest of media opinion for the Ambassador and a daily report on Italian media reaction on U.S., international and bilateral issues which is distributed to top U.S. government officials in Washington and in Italy.
Cultural Affairs Office
The Cultural Office develops and manages an array of exchange programs between various segments of Italian and American society, and administers United States government involvement in cultural and educational activities between Italy and the United States, including Fulbright.
Additional Information:
Contact Information of PA Offices in Italy
EMBASSY OF THE U.S., ROME
Office of Public Affairs
Embassy of the United States
via Sallustiana, 49 – 00187 Roma
Telephone: [+39] 06-4674-2368
Fax: [+39] 06-4674-2478
Minister Counselor for Public Affairs – Christina Tomlinson
Telephone: [+39] 06-4674-2368
Press Attaché – Vacant
Telephone: [+39] 06-4674-2426
Fax: [+39] 06-4674-2655
RomePressOffice@state.gov
Cultural Attaché – Rakesh Surampudi
Telephone: [+39] 4674-2330
Regional Public Engagement Specialist (formerly IRO) – Sheila Weir
Telephone: [+39] 06-4674-2482
U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL, MILAN
Public Affairs Officer – Anthony A. Deaton
Via Principe Amedeo, 2/10 – 20121 Milano
Telephone: [+39] 02-2903-5503
Fax: [+39] 02-2903-5525
U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL, FLORENCE
Lungarno Vespucci, 38 – 50123 Firenze
Telephone: [+39] 055-266-951
Fax: [+39] 055-2669-5270
U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL, NAPLES
Public Affairs Officer – Michelle Lee
Piazza della Repubblica – 80122 Napoli
Telephone: [+39] 081-669-989
Fax: [+39] 081-664-207
Visa Information for Media Professionals
Representatives of the foreign media traveling on assignment to the United States require “I” classification visas.
They are not eligible to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program or enter the United States on B-1 business visas. Those who attempt to do so may be denied admission to the United States by immigration authorities at the port of entry.
Further information is available on the Consular Section Visa Requirements for Members of the Media page.
