ABOUT US
Our Mission
DiplomaticLife.org is an independent digital publication dedicated to the complete diplomatic life — covering diplomacy, international affairs, arts, culture, music, sports, and the practical, personal, and professional world diplomats actually inhabit. Founded in New York City in 2016, we serve ambassadors, UN staff, foreign service officers, NGO leaders, diplomatic families, and global affairs enthusiasts worldwide.
What We Do
Through our comprehensive digital platform, DiplomaticLife.org provides:
• Original editorial content covering diplomacy, international affairs, and global culture
• Arts and culture coverage connecting diplomatic and creative communities worldwide
• Practical guides for diplomatic life — housing, protocol, etiquette, city guides, and career pathways
• Event coverage of UN observances, NGO galas, diplomatic receptions, and cultural celebrations
• Expert recommendations on cultural initiatives that advance international understanding
• Music, sports diplomacy, and lifestyle coverage for the complete diplomatic experience
Our Reach
We serve diplomatic and arts communities across key global hubs — New York City, Washington DC, Geneva, Brussels, Nairobi, Vienna, and international capitals — fostering cross-cultural understanding and international cooperation. Our readership includes UN missions, foreign embassies, consulates, NGOs, cultural institutions, and diplomatic community members in more than 190 countries.
Our Impact
By bridging diplomacy and culture, DiplomaticLife.org demonstrates how arts, music, sports, and cultural engagement serve as powerful catalysts for positive social change and international cooperation — making the world's most important conversations accessible and inspiring to everyone.
Who Do We Serve?
We collaborate with diverse stakeholders across the global diplomatic community:
Diplomatic Community
• UN Ambassadors & Staff — Supporting diplomatic missions with cultural programming and practical guidance
• Consul Generals — Facilitating cultural exchanges between nations
• Government Officials — Connecting policy makers with artistic and cultural initiatives
• Tourism Ministers — Promoting sustainable cultural tourism worldwide
• Foreign Service Officers & Diplomatic Families — Navigating life at every posting
Civil Society & Nonprofit Sector
• NGO & NPO Leaders — Partnering on mission-aligned cultural programs
• Charity Event Organizers — Supporting fundraising through arts and culture
• Philanthropists — Connecting donors with impactful cultural diplomacy initiatives
• Community Volunteers — Engaging grassroots supporters in cultural exchange
Creative & Cultural Community
• Visual & Performing Artists — Showcasing work that advances social change
• Writers & Journalists — Amplifying stories of cultural diplomacy
• Filmmakers & Media Creators — Documenting and sharing global progress through arts
• Cultural Institution Leaders — Museums, galleries, and cultural centers promoting global understanding
Global Audiences
• Cultural Enthusiasts — Individuals passionate about arts, travel, and international affairs
• Policy & Academic Communities — Researchers and thought leaders in cultural diplomacy
• International Visitors — Travelers seeking meaningful cultural experiences worldwide
Our Team
Penelope Bunn — Founder & Chief Content Officer
Penelope is a Fordham University-trained journalist with more than 40 years of experience in media and publishing. She founded and served as Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of NYC Arts & Entertainment (nycae.org) from 1982 to the present, producing a monthly publication covering New York City's arts and entertainment landscape for over three decades.
She subsequently served as Senior Cultural Editor of Society & Diplomatic Review, a UN-accredited publication, from 2013 to 2015. In 2016 she founded DAC-News.com — now rebranded as DiplomaticLife.org — which has served the United Nations diplomatic community continuously since that time.
A native New Yorker and graduate of Fordham University with a BA in Communications, Penelope specializes in diplomacy, arts, culture, entertainment, fashion, food, human rights, and travel. She is dedicated to creating journalism that connects the diplomatic community to the cultural and creative world that surrounds it.
Submissions & Contributors
DiplomaticLife.org welcomes submissions on related topics from:
• Professional journalists and correspondents
• Bloggers and content creators
• Photographers and visual artists
• Diplomats, cultural attachés, and international affairs professionals
Contact for submissions: Editor@DiplomaticLife.org
Eric von Lockhart — Creative Director & Photographer (In Memoriam)
Portfolio: Instagram: @EVL1
For over 20 years, Penelope collaborated with celebrated photographer and creative director Eric von Lockhart, producing feature stories and editorial images for dignitaries, celebrities, and publications worldwide. Eric von Lockhart passed away on 25 December 2025. His extraordinary visual legacy and creative spirit live on through DiplomaticLife.org and the annual EVL Legacy Weekend, honoring his life and work.
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Passionate Reporting
Our Editorial Standards
At DiplomaticLife.org, we are dedicated to delivering the highest quality journalism to the global diplomatic community. Our editorial approach reflects our commitment to accuracy, depth, and the nuanced understanding that international affairs demands.
Specialized Focus, Global Perspective
The diplomatic community requires more than general news coverage — it demands nuanced reporting that understands the complexities of international relations, cultural exchange, and global development. Our editorial approach brings decades of combined experience covering diplomatic missions, UN initiatives, cultural institutions, and the intersection of arts with global policy. We recognize that our readers — ambassadors, consul generals, cultural attachés, NGO leaders, and arts professionals — need information that goes beyond headlines to provide the context and analysis necessary for informed decision-making in their vital work.
Rigorous Editorial Process
Every story published on DiplomaticLife.org undergoes thorough fact-checking and editorial review. Our journalists maintain direct relationships with diplomatic sources and cultural institutions, ensuring our coverage reflects authentic developments rather than speculation or superficial reporting. We verify information through multiple sources, cross-reference cultural and diplomatic protocols, and ensure our reporting respects the sensitive nature of international relations while maintaining transparency about global developments and challenges.
Cultural Diplomacy Expertise
Unlike general news outlets, DiplomaticLife.org understands the unique role that arts and culture play in international relations. We report on cultural exchanges, artistic collaborations, and creative initiatives not as entertainment stories, but as significant diplomatic activities that advance mutual understanding and global progress. We recognize when a museum exhibition represents cultural diplomacy. We understand when a music festival becomes a platform for international dialogue, or when an artist’s work transcends creativity to become a voice for social justice or environmental action.
Comprehensive Coverage
Our journalism encompasses:
● Breaking Diplomatic News — Time-sensitive developments in international relations, cultural agreements, and global affairs
● In-Depth Analysis — Complex stories requiring expert understanding of diplomatic protocols, cultural significance, and global implications
● Profile Features — Leaders, artists, and innovators making significant contributions to cultural diplomacy and international affairs
● Event Coverage — Major diplomatic gatherings, cultural exchanges, NGO galas, and UN observances with meaningful global impact
● Trend Reporting — Emerging patterns in cultural diplomacy, arts-based social change, and diplomatic lifestyle
Building Informed Communities
We believe that well-informed diplomatic and cultural communities make better decisions that benefit global progress. Our journalism serves not just to inform, but to facilitate understanding, collaboration, and effective action among the diverse stakeholders working toward a more equitable world. Through accurate, in-depth reporting, we help our readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters for their work and the communities they serve.
Continuous Excellence
Our commitment to journalism excellence means continuously evolving our coverage to meet the changing needs of the diplomatic community while maintaining unwavering standards for accuracy, depth, and relevance. We regularly seek feedback from our readership to ensure our coverage serves their information needs effectively. At DiplomaticLife.org, journalism isn’t just our profession — it’s our contribution to building the informed, connected global community necessary for achieving a more sustainable, equitable world through the transformative power of arts, culture, and international cooperation.
Independence & Integrity
DiplomaticLife.org maintains editorial independence from the organizations and initiatives we cover. Our editorial decisions are based solely on the newsworthiness and relevance of stories to our diplomatic and cultural community readership. We do not accept payment for editorial coverage.
Seal of Approval
About the Program
DiplomaticLife.org is proud to present the Diplomatic Life Seal of Approval — a prestigious editorial recognition program honoring organizations, restaurants, venues, cultural institutions, and initiatives that demonstrate exceptional commitment to sustainability, cultural diplomacy, and service to the global diplomatic community.
Established in 2026 by Penelope Bunn, Founder & Chief Content Officer of DiplomaticLife.org, the program draws on more than 30 years of journalism experience and a decade of dedicated coverage of the United Nations community in New York City. This is not a committee decision or a pay-to-play award. Every recipient is selected solely on editorial merit — because authentic recognition means something only when it comes from an informed and independent voice. The Seal is awarded across three categories:
Sustainability Seal— Recognizing eco-conscious restaurants, hotels, venues, and initiatives leading the way in environmental responsibility.
Cultural Diplomacy Seal— Honoring NGOs, arts organizations, and cultural institutions advancing international understanding through creativity.
Excellence Seal — Celebrating events, service providers, and venues delivering outstanding experiences to the diplomatic community.
Recipients gain feature coverage on DiplomaticLife.org, amplification across our diplomatic community audience, inclusion in the annual Diplomatic Life Seal of Approval Directory, and the right to display the official Diplomatic Life Seal of Approval mark on their website, menus, and marketing materials — a symbol of credibility, distinction, and trusted editorial endorsement.
For more information: info@DiplomaticLife.org
Diplomacy · Arts · Culture · Life | DiplomaticLife.org
Editorial Policies & Terms
DIPLOMATICLIFE.ORG
Diplomacy · Arts · Culture · Life
EDITORIAL POLICIES & TERMS
Last Updated: 07 June 2026
About DiplomaticLife.org
DiplomaticLife.org is an independent, nonpartisan digital publication serving the global diplomatic community. We are not affiliated with any government entity, UN agency, or diplomatic mission unless explicitly stated, and we do not receive compensation for editorial coverage.
Editorial Independence
All content reflects the editorial judgment of DiplomaticLife.org. Views expressed by contributors do not necessarily represent our positions. References to organizations, products, or services do not constitute endorsement unless explicitly designated — such as through our Seal of Approval program.
Accuracy
We strive for accuracy in all published content. Website content is subject to change without notice. To flag an error or request a correction, please contact info@DiplomaticLife.org.
Copyright
Original content on DiplomaticLife.org is the property of DiplomaticLife.org and Penelope Bunn. Personal, non-commercial reproduction is permitted with proper attribution to DiplomaticLife.org. Commercial use or republication requires written permission.
Privacy
Personal information provided to DiplomaticLife.org is never sold or shared with outside organizations. It is used solely to provide the services you have requested. To request removal from our communications, contact Penelope@DiplomaticLife.org.
Contact
General Inquiries: info@DiplomaticLife.org
Editorial Submissions: editor@DiplomaticLife.org
Events & Partnerships: events@DiplomaticLife.org
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For our complete Editorial Policies & Terms, please contact info@DiplomaticLife.org
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A Personal Note from Penelope Bunn
For over 40 years, I have devoted my life to journalism — and for the past decade, to a very specific and very important corner of it: the diplomatic community that keeps the world talking.
DiplomaticLife.org exists because I believe that the people who represent 193 nations at the United Nations, who negotiate peace agreements and cultural exchanges, who work tirelessly behind the scenes of history — deserve a publication that serves them completely. Not just the news. The life. The arts. The culture. The practical reality of living and working at the center of the world.
I built DiplomaticLife.org independently — with no corporate backing, no government funding, and no advertising revenue influencing what we cover or how we cover it. That independence is everything. It is what allows me to report honestly, recognize excellence freely, and serve you without an agenda other than the truth.
Keeping DiplomaticLife.org free for every diplomat, every UN staff member, every NGO leader, every student of international affairs — anywhere in the world — requires resources. If our journalism has informed you, inspired you, or simply kept you connected to the world you serve, I am asking you to consider supporting it.
No amount is too small. Every contribution matters — and every contributor becomes part of the DiplomaticLife.org community that makes this work possible.
With gratitude,
Penelope Bunn
Founder & Chief Content Officer, DiplomaticLife.org
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Your Support Makes This Possible:
• Original reporting on the UN, diplomatic missions, and global affairs
• Arts and culture coverage connecting the diplomatic world to creative life
• Practical guides for diplomats navigating life at every posting
• The DiplomaticLife.org Seal of Approval — recognizing excellence in service to the diplomatic community
• Coverage of the EVL Legacy Weekend and other diplomatic community events
• Free, open access for diplomats in all 193 UN member nations