ProPublica says the Voice of America plans to eliminate seven radio language services this year, reflecting the Bush administration’s emphasis on outreach to the Muslim world. Among the cuts are the [shortwave] radio and TV broadcasts of the Russian service, along with radio broadcasts in Ukrainian, Serbian, Hindi, Macedonian, Bosnian and Georgian.Tish King, a spokeswoman for Voice of America, is quoted as saying that the language services cuts are the result of “painful decisions” that reflect a focus on “places where, based on research, we can be most effective.”
The administration has been seeking cuts to various language services for years, only to be rebuffed by Congress. In 2006, the administration’s proposed budget for the Broadcasting Board of Governors (the agency that oversees Alhurra and VOA) included reductions or eliminations in “non-war on terror related language services.” When the 2007 budget proposed reductions to even more services, Congress stepped in and provided funding to prevent it.
This time around, however, King said Congress is on board with the cuts, which will be effective in September. Given that VOA’s shortwave radio service in Russian has such a small audience - just two percent - she said broadcasting by Internet was the best option for VOA.
Tim Shamble, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1812, the union representing VOA employees, said that eliminating the shortwave broadcasts was precisely the wrong move, since they reach the country with little danger of being blocked. Internet broadcasts are far more vulnerable, he said.
(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
Full story from Pro Publica http://www.propublica.org/article/voice-of-america-to-cut-language-services-709/