The U.S. State Department officially opened its Brussels-based European Media Center (a.k.a “The Hub”) May 29 with a reception hosted by Colleen Graffy, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy in the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, and Hub Director Susan Elbow. U.S. Special Envoy for EU Affairs C. Boyden Gray and U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Sam Fox also joined the festivities, as did U.S. political commentator and journalist Michael Barone by digital video conference from the Newseum in Washington.

The Hub, which includes television and radio studios, aims to encourage and facilitate dialogue between the U.S. and overseas audiences by connecting U.S. policymakers with European television and radio broadcasters and print media. “The Brussels Hub has helped us to keep pace with the increasingly demanding 24-hour international news cycle by making more U.S. officials available within Europe’s own news cycle,” Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried says. “Our goal is to be active participants in the ongoing dialogue about foreign policy that takes place in the European media.”

The Hub can facilitate live in-studio and remote TV and radio interviews as well as pre-taped interviews with the scores of U.S. officials who travel through Brussels each year. It will also produce podcasts and other products on U.S. policy for the media and general public. It is one of three Regional Media Centers run by the State Department’s Under Secretary for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy. The others are in London and Dubai.

For more information, please contact the Hub.