This blog post first appeared on blogs.fco.gov.uk on 22 October 2008

It’s the title of a book that I haven’t read, but probably should. It’s the label the State Department have been using for a while to describe their digital outreach work. And it’s quite difficult to say in a hurry.

Digital diplomacy is also the phrase we’re using in the Foreign Office to describe our work on the web. 

You can see digital diplomacy happening on our department website, on our network of embassy websites, on our blogs, and increasingly on websites and platforms that we don’t run ourselves.

To be honest, we’re still working out what we can achieve through digital diplomacy. We do have a plan. And we’ve given ourselves 2 years to deliver it. But what’s exciting about this work is that we really don’t know how it’s it going to play out. 

That’s what this blog will be about. It’s is an official blog about digital diplomacy and web engagement. So I won’t be talking about my hobbies (unless they have a direct impact on web engagement), I won’t be pitching for work, and I won’t be posting photos from my holidays. 

I realise that I’ll be blogging about a pretty niche subject with a limited audience, but that’s as it should be.

I’ve spent a lot of the last year persuading diplomats, ministers and officials that effective use of web engagement tools like blogs could be an integral part of their work. So I’m feeling the pressure to do this well. I promise to post regularly, and I’ll read and respond to your comments.

There’s more about me and what this blog is for on my about page.