People
Pete Cranston
Mr Pete Cranston is a knowledge management, communication and social media specialist, with long experience as a facilitator and trainer. For the past 14 years he has worked in the 3rd sector, mainly in international development, for a wide range of government, international NGO, research and UK civil society organisations. A significant part of his work in the past 10 years has been with telecentres and local content exchange while his most recent research has been into global social media trends, with special reference to health communications, and the impact of convergent mobile technologies in rural development. Pete has his roots in Community Education. He believes facilitation is about enabling learning, collaboration, synthesis, and perhaps the emergence of new ideas and groupings. So while he favours participative approaches to events and process he is not bound to any specific methodology. An independent consultant since 2001, Pete has been working regularly with Diplo since 2007 on communications and online collaboration projects. He teaches eDiplomacy and social media skills for diplomats at Diplo workshops and online courses.
Related events
Rome E-diplomacy Day
Summary: The E-diplomacy Day in Rome on June 18, 2012, featured training sessions and a round table discussion on social media's role in modern diplomacy, involving prominent figures in the field. The event aimed to e...
Geneva E-diplomacy Day
The Geneva E-diplomacy Day took place to discuss practical ways for international relations professionals and diplomats to utilize e-tools effectively. Topics included whether diplomats should blog, the role of Twitte...
Second Rome E-diplomacy Day
The Second Rome E-diplomacy Day convened diplomats to explore social media tools and strategies. Sessions included discussions on Twitter, Facebook, and Web 2.0, concluding with a round table on social media challenge...
[Webinar] Social Media and Diplomacy - the new normal
The webinar on Social Media and Diplomacy discusses the growing use of online platforms in diplomatic functions. Pete Cranston explores e-diplomacy topics like e-competencies for diplomats, content's role in social me...
[Webinar] E-participation
A Diplo webinar on E-participation discussed the impact of social media, remote participation, and open government initiatives on International Organizations and Development Agencies. Topics included the effectiveness...
Diplomatic reporting in the Internet era Event
A workshop in Geneva aims to enhance reporting skills for diplomats and international officials attending meetings in the city. Training includes traditional and internet-based reporting techniques, with a focus on cl...
Related blogs
The US State Department and 21st Century Statecraft
The US State Department launched the 21st Century Statecraft initiative, using social media to engage various audiences. Richard Boly emphasized the versatility of social media for diplomacy, promoting its value as a ...
How do diplomats work with tweeting politicians?
Diplomatic culture values subtlety and relationship-building over time, while social media thrives on immediacy. Politicians like President Chavez and Obama use Twitter, while others, like the Costa Rican President, f...
Is Google doing evil, and does it matter for development of the Internet?
The text discusses Google's evolving reputation and influence in the digital world, particularly in the context of global development and diplomacy. The company's market dominance and management of information are scr...
Canute, Plato, Theuth and Twitter
Analysis by Portland Communications and Tweetminster reveals Africa's Twitter usage trends. South Africa leads in tweet production. Most active users primarily communicate with friends but also use it for news. Despit...
e-Diplomacy: the complexity of influence
The article discusses the importance of e-Diplomacy, focusing on the complexity of influence through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. It highlights the debate between face-to-face interactions and soc...
How many tweets should we post every day?
To maintain engagement, it is recommended to tweet up to 21 times a day, varying content and posting at different times. Engage in conversations, retweet, and share diverse content. Assess retweet numbers and follower...
We’re all Digital Migrants now
The text discusses a coaching program introducing diplomats and educators to social media tools like iGoogle and Twitter. It highlights skepticism among experienced individuals about the real impact of social media on...
eDiplomacy Hype Cycle
The text discusses the rise of eDiplomacy and the skepticism surrounding its effectiveness, citing examples from Indonesia, China, and Russia. It questions the ROI and compares social media reach to traditional method...
Eight principles for middle and late adopters of social media
The text covers eight principles for middle and late adopters of social media, emphasizing starting with clear aims, engaging with others, contributing content, utilizing a variety of tools, monitoring progress, being...
Happy Birthday Diplo! And the next 10 years?
The Diplo Foundation celebrates its tenth anniversary at the Innovation in Diplomacy Conference in Malta, focusing on the next ten years. The conference delves into the evolving role of diplomats amidst changing circu...
Nothing begets success like failure
Richard Boly's success in eDiplomacy is highlighted as a prime example of how sustained development efforts, even with limited resources, can lead to significant change. Through his leadership and involvement of diplo...
An e-diplomacy moment in Mexico
An e-diplomacy moment in Mexico highlights the evolving role of technology in diplomacy. Despite tensions between youth and experience, Mexican officials like Minister José Antonio Meade and Minister Claudia Ruiz Mas...
What makes up institutional capability for e-diplomacy?
The text discusses the importance of individuals in organizations adapting to e-diplomacy, emphasizing the need for organizational capability through leadership, communication policies, infrastructure, and learning in...
Lessons for Diplomacy and Development from ‘Nepal in Transition’
The text discusses lessons on diplomacy and development from 'Nepal in Transition'. It covers the Maoist revolution, political struggles, and challenges faced by the development community in Nepal. The book offers ins...
Mapping States' activities, Tracking the Trackers, the end of Digital Diplomacy and Blogging in the UN (not): links we liked
The text discusses the importance of open data in e-diplomacy, highlighting examples like Tracking Chinese Development Finance to Africa and Mapping the U.S. military in Africa. It also touches on the issue of online ...
Open Data, International Organisations and Governance
The text discusses the concept of Open Data and its benefits, including transparency, innovation, and efficiency in governance. Tim Davies, an expert in Open Data, will be presenting on the topic at an event in Geneva...
Whom would you trust to take care of your digital assets?
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eDiplomacy in a Balkanised Internet
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How to use social media effectively in a time-efficient way
The message provides advice on using social media efficiently. It emphasizes the time commitment needed to be effective, the importance of content, and the dilemma of sharing valuable resources from a private group. T...
Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day encourages providing sensible advice on internet safety, especially for young users. Resources available are designed to be readable and useful for all, emphasizing reflection and security. Collabor...
Twitter and Facebook: eBay, Amazon or Second Life?
Recent articles highlighted Twitter's share price drop due to slowed user growth. Facebook, despite increasing profits, faced concerns over teens leaving. The comparison between newer platforms like Twitter and Facebo...
Twiplo-blunders: they’re fun, and necessary
Mocking pompous figures online is a popular pastime, with politicians and diplomats often falling prey to social media blunders due to their lack of platform savvy. The immediate and global reach of the internet ampli...
Twitter bans, Facebook drones, public or private networks: e-Diplomacy futures
Twitter use in Turkey dropped after a ban was imposed, impacting e-Diplomacy efforts. The significance of control over digital channels like Facebook and Google, potential influence of their collaboration with securit...
Day 1 at NETmundial: Rejecting mass surveillance, fostering net neutrality
The first day at NETmundial emphasized rejecting mass surveillance and promoting net neutrality, with a consensus-based approach favored. Discussions and negotiations continued late into the night, setting the tone fo...
Why NETmundial mattered and what was achieved
The NETmundial summit in São Paulo concluded with a Multistakeholder Statement, marked by compromises and tradeoffs, raising concerns about the future. The declaration excluded some key issues, such as mass surveilla...
Crowd Funding a Scholarship Fund for Developing States
Diplo is utilizing online crowd funding to establish a Scholarship Fund benefiting small and developing states. Facing financial challenges post-2008 crash, they seek support to empower these countries in internationa...
WebDebates (new series): Discussions on the future of diplomacy
A new series of WebDebates is announced to discuss the future of diplomacy in the digital age. The online debates aim to address the relevance of diplomatic services, changes in diplomatic training, and more. These mo...
Tools for 21st Century Diplomats
Stephano Baldi from the Permanent Representation of Italy to the EU uses a variety of Web 2.0 tools such as Wikipedia and Doodle. He also utilizes Netvibes for managing information overload. Diplomats can enhance effi...
Diplo: Effective and inclusive diplomacy
Diplo is a non-profit foundation established by the governments of Malta and Switzerland. Diplo works to increase the role of small and developing states, and to improve global governance and international policy development.
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