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Communications:
Telling Our Story
T
his year the communications department made a number of
significant changes to better engage and inform our members
and raise the profile of the Foreign Service among legislators, the
foreign affairs agencies, the American public and those consider-
ing careers in diplomacy or development.
The Foreign Service Journal
& FS Books
In early 2014, Shawn Dorman took over as editor of
The Foreign
Service Journal
and publications manager, bringing together the
Foreign Service books program and the association’s flagship pub-
lication as part of the communications reorganization that began
in late 2013. A former FSO, Dorman had
previously served as associate editor of
the
Journal
and editor of AFSA News and
had pioneered AFSA’s books program,
producing the bestselling
Inside a U.S.
Embassy
.
Publications capabilities were further
enhanced with the addition of an edito-
rial and book publishing specialist, Brit-
tany DeLong, as well as a new associate
editor, Debra Blome, with primary re-
sponsibility for AFSA News. As the asso-
ciation’s official record and platform for
its constituency vice presidents, AFSA
News reflected the increased density of
AFSA projects and activities in 2014.
The
Journal
continued to break new
ground during the year. The magazine
marked the 90th anniversary year in May
with a special edition containing an AFSA timeline, a com-
memoration of the Rogers Act and a collection of member’s
stories sharing their proudest moments in the Foreign Service.
In November, AFSA capitalized on the popularity of the
Journal
’s annual “In Their Own Write,” featuring recent books
by members of the Foreign Service community, by hosting its
first “Book Market.” Seventeen FS authors gathered at AFSA
headquarters for an afternoon of meeting, greeting and book-
selling.
This year
Journal
content was made much more acces-
sible—and shareable—on AFSA’s website, allowing individual
articles to be distributed to target audiences. Innovative out-
reach through social media and other online and offline chan-
nels has expanded the
Journal
’s exposure and readership.
Another vital outreach tool continues to be
Inside a U.S.
Embassy
, published by FS Books. During 2014 more than 5,000
copies of the book were sold or distributed for outreach and
education events, including print and digital versions. Use of
the book continues in the military and federal agencies, with
several hundred books purchased by the State Department’s
Bureau of Political Military Affairs for use by political advisers to
the military.
In addition, several hundred copies were purchased by other
U.S. government agencies and divisions of the U.S. military. The
State Department outreach and recruitment division continues to
share the book widely with Foreign Service prospects. The book
has been adopted for more than 60 college courses and is cur-
rently on the shelves in 708 libraries, including 182 outside the
United States.
The manuscript for the next AFSA book, a history of the asso-
ciation, was completed in 2014 by former FSO and author Harry
Kopp. The book will be published by FS Books in 2015.
Communications Staff:
(from left)
FSJ
Senior Editor Susan Maitra,
AFSA News
and Associate Editor Debra Blome,
FSJ
Editor-in-Chief
Shawn Dorman, Online Communications Specialist Jeff Lau, Editorial/
Publications Specialist Brittany DeLong, Director of New Media Ásgeir
Sigfússon, Director of Communications Kristen Fernekes.
The
Foreign Service Journal
Editorial Board:
(from left) Richard McKee, James DeHart, John
G. Rendeiro, Jr., Tracy Whittington, Beth Payne, Amb. Gordon Brown, Maria Livingston, Steve
Buck, Clayton Bond. (
Not pictured:
Ruth Hall, Duncan Walker, Chuck Fee.)