During the Cold War, some American organizations, such as the Fund for American Studies (TFAS), sponsored by the U.S. Congress, were considered to be propaganda tools whose missions were to popularize American values and ideas. Has the perception of these groups changed during the past 10 to 15 years?

Being an alumna of the European Journalism Institute organized by TFAS, I can say that the public interest in different educational projects for journalists, politicians, and social sector collaborators now is extremely high.

It is obvious that in today’s global world there is not only one player in the field of international policy. Now Europe is also included in a process of global experience exchange. For example, in 1999 media-specialists of the Czech Republic launched a web project called Transitions Online (TOL).

Taking into account all this information, we should consider the relevance of the term “propaganda.” Michelle Jeffreys Lee, coordinator of The Fund for American Studies based in Washington, D.C., is convinced that this organization isn’t a propaganda tool.

“The Fund for American Studies allows students to intellectually focus on issues of freedom and liberty,” says Lee. “Free markets and free societies do not just belong to America or to Western societies. Liberty is the right of all people everywhere. And the struggle to promote and protect freedom takes place every day in every society, even though some societies are more free than others. Propaganda is used by authoritarian regimes to attempt to control citizens; propaganda is advertisement, not education.”

Rhea Penaflor, a journalist from the Philippines and active participant in educational programs all over the world, suggests that “anywhere you go or whatever you read or see can be propaganda. This is just everywhere. However, we can make a conscious effort to resist it or not. But what is important is being able to know its underlying principle. Propaganda is not a bad thing. It still gives people the opportunity to choose what their ideologies are. In the end, they will be the judge.”

Ayman Elsherbiny, collaborator of Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt and a TFAS alumnus, echoed Penaflor’s position: “Nowadays, I don't believe that this kind of propaganda still has a great impact on people. We live in a ‘global village’ thanks to internet, new media, and new technologies in communication. People are no longer recipients. Instead, they are active consumers of information; it is like a two way communication process.”