An International ëDialogueí New TV Show to Examine Major Foreign Policy Issues by Dina Guirguis International affairs have assumed a new vital position in American society since the Sept.11 attacks. Newspapers allot more pages to international news, radio stations discuss global issues, and television networks devote more time to current events programming in an effort to educate and inform a public that is more interested than ever in world affairs. Now, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and MHz Networks, an independent public broadcaster, are teaming up to launch a new television foreign affairs series called ìDialogue.î The program concentrates on issues surrounding foreign diplomacy and international politics and will present one-on-one interviews with various ambassadors, policymakers, scholars and artists. The concept for the show itself is not new: ìDialogueî has been an award-winning radio program for more than 14 years. George Liston Seay, who hosts both the radio and TV version, said that television was the natural next step for the popular radio show. ìTelevision is in my mind the most powerful c ultural force in the world,î Seay said. ìTo get your message across, you must embrace TV as well as radio.î The series begins this month and will tentatively air on Tuesdays with repeats on Saturdays. The plan is to continue the series for 26 weeks, but Seay said he hopes to extend the show for three years. The four pilot programs include a two-part exploration of the history of Islam and the prospects of East-West dialogue along with interviews of President Ion Iliescu of Romania and Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda. Future programs will focus on U.S.-Iranian relations, the future of the European Union, and the plight of refugee populations worldwide. ìWe wanted to give viewers a sense of the variety and depth of topics we will be covering,î Seay said. The series on Islam will reflect the current events happening in the Arab world, the interview with Romanian president will touch on issues affecting Europe, and Mexicoís foreign minister will discuss current relations between his country and the United States. ìMost American foreign policy programsóand there are not that manyóare Americans talking to Americans,î Seay said. ìWe would like to get the widest range of top-level officials possible, both men and women, to introduce the American audience to the big foreign-policy decision-makers. MHz Networks reaches all Washington, D.C., viewers. The show can be seen on channels 56 and 53, as well as all major cable systems, DISH Network and DIRECTV. The Wilson Center was established by Congress in 1968 and is a nonpartisan institution of advanced study that promotes scholarships in public affairs. Dina Guirguis is the editorial intern at The Washington Diplomat.