Talk:Global Engagement Center/GA1

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Reviewer: MovieTalk101178 (talk · contribs) 20:06, 10 March 2024 (UTC)

Hello, I'll review this article for GA status over the coming week, most likely next weekend. I hope to learn some new information. :) Thank you for nominating it! MovieTalk101178 (talk) 20:06, 10 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Thanks for submitting and reviewing. I'm happy to try to help with some of the clean up and suggestions this weekend if needed. Cielquiparle (talk) 14:11, 29 March 2024 (UTC)
 * @MovieTalk101178 Thank you for reviewing. @Cielquiparle Thank you for your earlier edits! W9793 (talk) 16:39, 29 March 2024 (UTC)
 * @MovieTalk101178 and @Cielquiparle - I've fixed most issues in the history, pre-empting disinformation, and reception sections. Will get to the rest in the next few days. W9793 (talk) 19:12, 29 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Hi @MovieTalk101178 - I've finished going through all the sections and addressed the majority of issues noted (didn't expand the lead as I think its length is appropriate) - please let me know if you think any further revision is needed. Thanks. W9793 (talk) 02:38, 3 April 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you for fixing. I'll promote the article to GA. :) MovieTalk101178 (talk) 11:23, 3 April 2024 (UTC)

Overall comments
Thank you W9793 for nominating the article. :) It’s fairly well-written and I just have a few suggestions regarding switching up language. I also have some questions in the history section. I hope my notes are useful. Really good job on the article! You’re almost there. :)

Lead section and infobox
The lead section is a bit short. Perhaps include GEC was established as a replacement for the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications, the Global Strategic Center, and the Counterterrorism Communication Center. It might also be beneficial to add its current mission. See my note further down about the expanded mandate in 2019.

Perhaps, it might also make sense to mention a few examples of what this disinformation could be related to, e.g. Iran, Russia, COVID etc.

History

 * The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 expanded GEC's mission by giving it the authority to address other foreign propaganda and disinformation operations,[8] following some Members of Congress' call for a stronger response to Russian propaganda. – I suggest changing to “…operations as a result of Congress’ call for…” and maybe wiki link to United States Congress.


 * The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 further expanded GEC's scope of work, including endowing it with a mandate, as reflected in its current mission statement. – I’m missing some information about the new expanded mandate. What was the difference between the previous scope and the new one in 2019?


 * In September 2022, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) activated the Foreign Malign Influence Center (FMIC). – I recommend changing “activated” to “formed” or “created”.


 * ….other entities within the U.S. government in "helping them to understand what are the plans and intentions of the key actors in this space: China, Russia, Iran, etc." – Maybe rephrase this a bit. It could be “… other entities within the U.S. government to “[help them understand] the plans and intentions of the key actors in this space: China, Russia, Iran, etc."

Leadership and staff

 * Michael D. Lumpkin directed GEC from January 2016 to January 2017. – I recommend changing to “was Director of GEC from..” or “led GEC”.


 * Perhaps move According to a 2018 report prepared for the French government, the GEC was predominantly staffed by employees of the Pentagon. to the end of the section so it’s clearer that the post Lea Gabrielle’s post was the same director position held by Lumpkin.


 * In December 2022, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the appointment of James P. Rubin as GEC Special Envoy and Coordinator, reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. – Maybe get rid of the dependent clause and revise to “… and Coordinator. Rubin reported to….”


 * Do we know who led GEC between Lumpkin and Gabrielle’s appointments between January 2017 and February 2019? Who is serving as director today? Did the Director title change to Coordinator?

Activities

 * GEC's core work is divided into five interconnected areas, summarized below – Maybe revise to “GEC’s core work can be divided into five interconnected areas and is summarized below:”


 * GEC houses teams focused on Russia, China, Iran, and Counterterrorism. It tailors initiatives and coordinates internally within the State Department as well as across agencies and with international allies. – Perhaps “… within the State Department, across agencies and with international allies.” I would try to avoid “as well as”.


 * I’m missing a small lead or summary prior to the paragraph about testimonials. It doesn’t have to be long and coud be as simple as “On two occastions, GEC has been asked to provide Congressional Testimony in the House of Represenatives.”


 * I can see there are two instances of testified after each other. I suggest changing one of them to “give evidence” to switch it up a bit. There are also two instances of titled right after each other so perhaps one of them can be changed to “labeled” or something else so the languages doesn't become too repetitive.

Special report on China
No concerns.

Pre-empting disinformation

 * According to The New York Times, in October 2023, GEC took the unusual step of exposing a nascent disinformation campaign as it had barely gotten off the ground, publicly linking a Pressenza article recycling disinformation about a Russian Orthodox monastery in Kyiv, Ukraine, to a covert operation to spread Russian propaganda in Central and South America. – This sentence is complicated to read so I suggest simplifying and/or dividing into more sentences. An example could be: “In October 2023, GEC linked recycled disinformation about a Russian Orthodox monastery in Kyiv, Ukraine, to a covert Russian propaganda operation in Central and South America. The disinformation appeared in an article by international news agency Pressenza.” The source referenced is NYT so I don’t think it’s necessary to include “according to.”

Reception

 * … including Sputnik, Russia's state-run English-language news agency – I propose a small change: ”…including Russia’s state-run English-language news agency Sputnik…” It flows better this way.


 * … could result in marginalizing narratives.. – I would change “marginalizing” to “suppressing” or something else to avoid close paraphrasing.


 * In May 2023, Republicans Michael McCaul, Brian Mast, Chris Smith, Darrell Issa, Maria Elvira Salazar, Keith Self, Cory Mills, and Ken Buck co-sent an oversight letter… – I recommend changing “co-sent” to “co-authored”.

Publications
Ok.

References and images

 * Image review: No concerns.
 * Reference spot check: 38 and 39 require subscription (minor issues so nothing that will affect the article's GA status)