CO.NX webchats link audiences with U.S. experts in all fields, from inside and outside the U.S. government using Facebook, Twitter and other Web 2.0 resources to alert specific audiences to programs. Since the chats require only Internet access to reach audiences in their homes or offices, even audiences in low-bandwidth countries participate fruitfully in CO.NX programs.

Facts and Figures

• Chat participants via Facebook many from Egypt, Indonesia, France, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, Maldives, Pakistan, Tunisia and Greece.
• Chats in every region, at varying technology levels: text-only to multimedia.

Impact

Technology helps reach audiences live speakers cannot access.

Increasing number of posts conduct webchats without Washington support, including Kabul, Mexico City, New Delhi, Abidjan, and Jerusalem.

Posts in Africa distribute podcasts on CD for broadcast by commercial radio.

Facebook and Twitter fans conduct weekly policy discussions before and after U.S. expert guest appearances.

Embassies can adapt to local technology by gathering webchat participants around one Internet connection, receiving questions from participants by phone, distributing hard copies of transcripts to remote audiences.

Audience feedback

The chats I’ve participated in so far have not only been a bright spot in my day, but a fuel and inspiration.

Beijing

I hear you clearly from Nasiriyah in Iraq south

Iraq

You have no idea how cool this was in Kinshasa!

Democratic Republic of the Congo

CO.NX will give us experience as young people in Cote d’Ivoire to acquire a democratic education in order to shape the new future of Cote d’Ivoire.

Cote d’Ivoire