From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Hollywood, smart power, and public diplomacy.

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Barack Obama may be popular worldwide, but as Americans celebrate another 4th of July, the country's

international reputation is not what it could be. A country that sees itself as free, prosperous,

and generous, is identified with the war in Iraq, Abu Ghraib, in the defense of torture.

On top of that, Americans don't know much about the rest of the world,

so restoring the country's image will be a two-way street.

Can Hollywood be an agent of public diplomacy,

explaining the U.S. to other people,

at the same time it educates Americans about the rest of the world.

On reporter's notebook later on, our Fourth of July fireworks of Vanishing Tradition. First, here's the world. On reporter's notebook later on, our 4th of July fireworks of vanishing tradition.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation, the John

D. and Catherine T. MacArthur

Foundation, and the Skoll Foundation, supporting social entrepreneurs around the world, uncommon heroes

dedicated to the common good. Learn more at Skoll.org. Hello again, Mormon Alney, back with

To the Point. As they celebrate the 4th of July, Americans don't see their country in the same way it's seen by much of the rest of the world.

Today we'll talk about what's called smart power and the entertainment industry as an instrument of public diplomacy.

On reporter's notebook, more and more cities and towns around the country just can't afford fireworks anymore.

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