Tutwiler Confirmed As Public Diplomacy Head

"The Senate confirmed longtime Republican spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs," PR Week reports. Tutwiler steps in to fill an eight-month vacancy left when ad queen Charlotte Beers resigned the post for health reasons. Tutwiler reportedly left her post as ambassador to Morocco only after "much cajoling by the Bush administration." During her confirmation hearing she told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that America needs to do a better job of listening to foreign audiences. "She declined to comment on any specific methods she may favor for achieving her goal of improving America's image, but State Department officials have privately indicated that the $15 million ad campaign launched by Beers, known as 'Shared Values,' will not be continued," PR Week reports. Tutwiler served as State Department spokeswoman during George H.W. Bush's presidency.