WASHINGTON - The Broadcasting Board of Governors will meet on March 14, at 1:00 pm at its Washington, D.C., headquarters.
In addition to board business, the Board will receive reports on the networks' efforts to counter violent extremism in Central Asia, to provide coverage of the upcoming Russian elections, and to expand distribution methods in Cuba.
The Board will hear about several new programs, including VOA's Plugged In with Greta van Susteren, as well as new Alhurra programs for audiences in the Middle East. The Board will also receive a report from the CEO and Director John F. Lansing on the networks' programming initiatives as they relate to the BBG's 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, which is focused on advancing the priorities in the President's National Security Strategy.
Members of the public may attend this meeting in person by registering here by 12:00 p.m. on March 13, 2018. Seating capacity is limited. The meeting will also be streamed
Showing posts with label Broadcasting Board of Governors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadcasting Board of Governors. Show all posts
Friday, March 09, 2018
Thursday, March 03, 2016
Shut Down the Voice of America ?
by Dan Robinson
Feb 11, 2016
Sound extreme? Shut down an institution born in the dark days of World War II, lasting through the Cold War, conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, into the new millennium and the age of the Internet and social media?
One that represented freedom of speech and the principles of unfettered journalism to millions around the globe, while also reflecting official U.S. policies and discussion about those policies?
But not so extreme to anyone who has followed reports about the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the federal agency overseeing all foreign-directed U.S. media, and the struggle over bipartisan legislation to restructure it.
Indeed, I believe closing VOA, and other elements of the BBG, should now be squarely on the table, though so far it's been almost off the radar of 2016 presidential candidates.
Additional story at: http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/shut-down-voice-america
Dan Robinson is a CDP Blog contributor and and former Senior White House Correspondent, Voice of America
Thursday, August 14, 2014
BBG Examines RFE/RL and Shortwave
 |
WASHINGTON - The Broadcasting Board of Governors met yesterday in
Washington, DC, to examine the activities and accomplishments of Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty and to explore the agency's impact and reach in an
increasingly competitive media environment.
In remarks to the Board, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting Ben Rhodes reiterated the President's commitment to U.S. international media. He commended the historical legacy of the networks while observing that this is a critical juncture for U.S. international media in an increasingly competitive international marketplace.
Rhodes praised the Board for its strategic vision and emphasized the value of international media, saying the BBG and its networks can "significantly strengthen American foreign policy, increase interest in and understanding of priority issues and open access to information where it may be denied or misrepresented."
"We have the right team in place," he added, referring to the Board, "to make a lasting contribution."
Separately, RFE/RL leadership outlined the network's activities and initiatives in reaching audiences in 28 languages. Nenad Pejic and John Giambalvo, Interim Managers of RFE/RL, led the "deep dive" presentation, which emphasized the network's forward thinking approach to providing unbiased news and information on multiple distribution platforms to regions affected by war, conflict and authoritarian regimes.
RFE/RL executives, editors and journalists participating via video from Prague, highlighted the network's achievements in digital and social media, programming, technology, and impact throughout its broadcast regions.
Discussion covered the network's response to the crisis in Ukraine, including the creation of additional programming, increasing reach through new partnerships, and on-the-scene coverage despite the increasingly dangerous reporting environments.
"I want to commend your efforts to expand the Russian language newscasts," said Rick Stengel, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. "Given the information battlefields we are seeing in Russia and Ukraine, this represents a true realization of your mission."
In addition to the in-depth look at RFE/RL, the Board held a business meeting, which began with an update on recent threats to BBG journalists. The list, BBG Chairman Jeff Shell lamented, is unfortunately growing and includes death threats, injuries and detainment of BBG journalists in Iraq, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Crimea, Ukraine, Vietnam and South Sudan. Shell also noted the upcoming second anniversary of the disappearance of Alhurra reporter Bashar Fahmi.
Chairman Shell recognized the decades of hard work and dedication of Voice of America's Greek Service, which ended broadcasts on August 11 as well as the 60th anniversary of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
During the business meeting, Director of the Office of Strategy and Development, Bruce Sherman presented an overview of the agency's 2014 strategic review process which evaluated outcomes and impacts on a country and regional level.
Governor Matt Armstrong, chairman of the Board's Special Committee on the Future of Shortwave Radio Broadcasting, summarized the recently released report, "To Be Where The Audience Is." The report is the result of a comprehensive review of the efficacy of shortwave radio as a distribution platform for U.S. international media.
A recording of the meeting and related documents are available here.
In remarks to the Board, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting Ben Rhodes reiterated the President's commitment to U.S. international media. He commended the historical legacy of the networks while observing that this is a critical juncture for U.S. international media in an increasingly competitive international marketplace.
Rhodes praised the Board for its strategic vision and emphasized the value of international media, saying the BBG and its networks can "significantly strengthen American foreign policy, increase interest in and understanding of priority issues and open access to information where it may be denied or misrepresented."
"We have the right team in place," he added, referring to the Board, "to make a lasting contribution."
Separately, RFE/RL leadership outlined the network's activities and initiatives in reaching audiences in 28 languages. Nenad Pejic and John Giambalvo, Interim Managers of RFE/RL, led the "deep dive" presentation, which emphasized the network's forward thinking approach to providing unbiased news and information on multiple distribution platforms to regions affected by war, conflict and authoritarian regimes.
RFE/RL executives, editors and journalists participating via video from Prague, highlighted the network's achievements in digital and social media, programming, technology, and impact throughout its broadcast regions.
Discussion covered the network's response to the crisis in Ukraine, including the creation of additional programming, increasing reach through new partnerships, and on-the-scene coverage despite the increasingly dangerous reporting environments.
"I want to commend your efforts to expand the Russian language newscasts," said Rick Stengel, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. "Given the information battlefields we are seeing in Russia and Ukraine, this represents a true realization of your mission."
In addition to the in-depth look at RFE/RL, the Board held a business meeting, which began with an update on recent threats to BBG journalists. The list, BBG Chairman Jeff Shell lamented, is unfortunately growing and includes death threats, injuries and detainment of BBG journalists in Iraq, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Crimea, Ukraine, Vietnam and South Sudan. Shell also noted the upcoming second anniversary of the disappearance of Alhurra reporter Bashar Fahmi.
Chairman Shell recognized the decades of hard work and dedication of Voice of America's Greek Service, which ended broadcasts on August 11 as well as the 60th anniversary of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
During the business meeting, Director of the Office of Strategy and Development, Bruce Sherman presented an overview of the agency's 2014 strategic review process which evaluated outcomes and impacts on a country and regional level.
Governor Matt Armstrong, chairman of the Board's Special Committee on the Future of Shortwave Radio Broadcasting, summarized the recently released report, "To Be Where The Audience Is." The report is the result of a comprehensive review of the efficacy of shortwave radio as a distribution platform for U.S. international media.
A recording of the meeting and related documents are available here.
(BBG)
Monday, February 20, 2012
New Pressure on Jammers of International Broadcasts
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has called upon the world’s nations to take “necessary actions” to stop intentional interference with satellite transmissions.
The change in ITU regulations, which was approved at the just-concluded World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) in Geneva, Switzerland, came after numerous complaints that international satellite TV programs in Persian and Arabic were suffering from deliberate interference, known as “jamming”.
Two satellite operators that have been targeted, Eutelsat and Arabsat, said the interfering signals originated from Iran and Syria.
“We are gratified to see the World Radiocommunication Conference take a position on this vital issue,” said Richard M. Lobo, Director of the United States International Broadcasting Bureau.
“Of course, it remains to be seen whether Iran, Syria and other countries which interfere with international satellite communications will change their practices. Jamming is a fundamental violation, not only of international regulations and norms, but of the right of people everywhere to receive and impart information,” Lobo said.
The interference, which has increased since September, 2011, affected broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting Board of Governors , Audiovisuel extérieur de la France RFI and France 24 TV, Deutsche Welle, and RFE/RL, Inc.’s Radio Farda. Joining in backing the ITW rule change were Radio Netherlands Worldwide and the European Broadcasting Union.
The change in the regulation came after hours of discussion and debate, both in small groups and on the floor of the WRC. A report by the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board noted “the persistent character of the harmful interference” and the fact that “in some cases, the administrations involved have not responded … and appear to take no action to resolve the interference.”
The revised language says administrations “shall ascertain the facts and take the necessary actions” when they encounter jamming.
Prior to the WRC action, the Directors-General of five major international broadcasters charged that jamming is a violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Reporters Without Borders called for nations to “firmly condemn countries that do not respect the fundamental principles of the free flow of information,” adding, “the ITU must not be the accomplice of regimes that obstruct the flow of news and information on their telecommunications networks.”
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran termed satellite jamming part of a broader effort. “The Iranian government is also engaged in comprehensive attempts to take complete control of online access to the internet as well as restricting mobile voice and data communications,” the group said in a statement urging the WRC to address the jamming issue.
(Leticia King/BBG)
The change in ITU regulations, which was approved at the just-concluded World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) in Geneva, Switzerland, came after numerous complaints that international satellite TV programs in Persian and Arabic were suffering from deliberate interference, known as “jamming”.
Two satellite operators that have been targeted, Eutelsat and Arabsat, said the interfering signals originated from Iran and Syria.
“We are gratified to see the World Radiocommunication Conference take a position on this vital issue,” said Richard M. Lobo, Director of the United States International Broadcasting Bureau.
“Of course, it remains to be seen whether Iran, Syria and other countries which interfere with international satellite communications will change their practices. Jamming is a fundamental violation, not only of international regulations and norms, but of the right of people everywhere to receive and impart information,” Lobo said.
The interference, which has increased since September, 2011, affected broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting Board of Governors , Audiovisuel extérieur de la France RFI and France 24 TV, Deutsche Welle, and RFE/RL, Inc.’s Radio Farda. Joining in backing the ITW rule change were Radio Netherlands Worldwide and the European Broadcasting Union.
The change in the regulation came after hours of discussion and debate, both in small groups and on the floor of the WRC. A report by the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board noted “the persistent character of the harmful interference” and the fact that “in some cases, the administrations involved have not responded … and appear to take no action to resolve the interference.”
The revised language says administrations “shall ascertain the facts and take the necessary actions” when they encounter jamming.
Prior to the WRC action, the Directors-General of five major international broadcasters charged that jamming is a violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Reporters Without Borders called for nations to “firmly condemn countries that do not respect the fundamental principles of the free flow of information,” adding, “the ITU must not be the accomplice of regimes that obstruct the flow of news and information on their telecommunications networks.”
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran termed satellite jamming part of a broader effort. “The Iranian government is also engaged in comprehensive attempts to take complete control of online access to the internet as well as restricting mobile voice and data communications,” the group said in a statement urging the WRC to address the jamming issue.
(Leticia King/BBG)
Friday, December 16, 2011
Marti Program Bridging Cuban and American Business
An innovative Martí program focuses on the future of Cuba through conversations bridging Cuban and American business people as part of the next episode of Avanza Cuba (Cuba Forward), scheduled for December 14, 2011 from 11am to 12pm.The program, to be broadcast from Radio Martí’s Miami studios, will feature Cuban bloggers and entrepreneurs from within the island, in conversation with Cuban business owners in Union City, New Jersey, as well as other special guests and audience participation. The episode focuses on the nascent Cuban business community made up of "cuentapropistas", a uniquely Cuban term for entrepreneurs which roughly translates as "being-on-their-owns".
“We are providing a unique opportunity for Cubans interested in starting or operating small businesses to ask questions and share their experiences with practitioners in Miami, London and New Jersey,” said Carlos Garcia Pérez, Director of Radio and TV Martí. “The incremental relaxation of the market rules in Cuba invites a rich conversation about the current environment as well as the future of the Island.
Avanza Cuba premiered in September 2011, featuring prominent Cuban bloggers, professors, and students discussing new media and the role of technology in Cuba. The program incorporates all of the Martí’s radio, TV, and online streams and aims to create a dialogue and share information to help Cubans make educated decisions about the future of their country.
Avanza Cuba moves beyond politics to foster discussion of topics of interest to the audience, including creating opportunities to use social media and fostering Cuban entrepreneurship.
In response to the first Avanza Cuba program, notable Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez Tweeted: “A lot of people calling me from the provinces after today’s show. Incredible how many Cubans listen to the ‘forbidden radio.’”
During the broadcast, join the conversation by following @AvanzaCuba on Twitter, liking the “Avanza Cuba” page on Facebook, or emailing avanzacuba@gmail.com.
Visit www.martinoticias.com for more information on Avanza Cuba and other Radio and TV Martí programs.
(Leticia King/VOA)
Monday, October 17, 2011
BBG plans for reforming US international broadcasting
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), at its meeting on October 13, adopted a new five-year strategic plan designed to grow and reform US international broadcasting. The Board also highlighted recent incidents of harassment and jailing of BBG journalists in Egypt and Turkmenistan.BBG’s 2012-2016 strategic plan aims to make BBG the world’s leading international news agency by 2016, focused on both mission and impact, and targeting a 50 million worldwide audience gain. Titled “Impact through Innovation and Integration,” the plan calls for the establishment of a global news network and development of new delivery and anti-circumvention technologies. It also recommends streamlining management, evaluation of the possible consolidation of the three grantee networks into one organization, exploring possible de-federalization of the federal agency components, ending language duplication, modernizing distribution mechanisms to reflect the media audiences prefer, and repealing the ban on domestic dissemination of BBG programmes contained in the 1947 Smith-Mundt Act.
The plan calls for the agency to focus not only on generating outstanding content but also embracing content generated by our audiences and creating an interactive environment in which they can converse with us and each other. To reflect the dual focus, the Board adopted the following new mission statement: “To inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.”
“This plan is a response to the ever-changing world we live in,” said BBG Chairman Walter Isaacson. “To retain and increase our audiences and impact, we have to be smart and capitalize on the opportunities of digital integration and audience engagement.”
At the meeting, MBN President Brian Conniff shared a video clip showing armed Egyptian military members entering Alhurra’s Cairo studio and interrupting live coverage of the violent clashes between Coptic elements and soldiers on October 9. RFE/RL President Steve Korn discussed the case of RFE/RL contributor Dovletmyrat Yazkuliyev, who was sentenced to five years in prison by the Turkmenistan government in what appears to be an attempt to silence his reporting.
“Every day our people risk intimidation, violence, arrest and imprisonment to gather and report the news,” said BBG Chairman Walter Isaacson. “The threats to BBG journalists clearly demonstrate the challenges and risks we face as we continue to battle censorship and champion media freedom.”
Governor Susan McCue highlighted the launch of the BBG’s volunteer Commission on Innovation last month in New York City. The Commission represents the BBG’s effort to tap the expertise of visionary leaders in digital media to help the Agency increase its impact among audiences abroad.
(Source: Broadcasting Board of Governors)
Friday, September 09, 2011
BBG 9/11 programming to reach millions around the globe
On the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, US international broadcasting offers compelling coverage of the impact of these events around the globe. Through on-the-scene reporting, local investigative journalism, social media and in-depth interviews with opinion makers and world leaders, BBG brings top quality programming to its worldwide audience of 165 million listeners, viewers and fans.
“The BBG is engaging audiences around the globe in a conversation about 9/11,” said Walter Isaacson, Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors that oversees all US international broadcasting. “From Kabul to Cairo to Beijing, our coverage presents a sweeping picture of how the world was transformed by the 9/11 attacks—and where it is a decade later.”
Starting in late August and culminating in live coverage on September 11, BBG programming includes the following:
Alhurra TV airs 50 hours of programmes focused on religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue: “The Road” documents the journey of six young men from extremism to tolerance; the “9/11 Generation” series features young Arab adults whose lives have been shaped by9/11; and “Hope Town”, a VOA-Alhurra co-produced documentary, tells the story of the peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Jews and Christians in Teaneck, New Jersey.
“The BBG is engaging audiences around the globe in a conversation about 9/11,” said Walter Isaacson, Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors that oversees all US international broadcasting. “From Kabul to Cairo to Beijing, our coverage presents a sweeping picture of how the world was transformed by the 9/11 attacks—and where it is a decade later.”
Starting in late August and culminating in live coverage on September 11, BBG programming includes the following:
Alhurra TV airs 50 hours of programmes focused on religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue: “The Road” documents the journey of six young men from extremism to tolerance; the “9/11 Generation” series features young Arab adults whose lives have been shaped by9/11; and “Hope Town”, a VOA-Alhurra co-produced documentary, tells the story of the peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Jews and Christians in Teaneck, New Jersey.
VOA broadcasts in-depth reports from Kabul, Baghdad, Islamabad, Jakarta and Nairobi that explore the progress made and challenges remaining in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, the complicated alliance between Pakistan and the US, the trends of terrorism in Asia and Africa, and the US continuing battle against terrorism globally.
On social media, from Facebook, Twitter to YouTube, BBG conducts an interactive conversation on “My 9/11”, “What’s Your 9/11?” and “What Does Religious Tolerance Mean to Me?” All networks conduct extensive interviews with those touched personally by 9/11: survivors, witnesses and families of victims, Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans, American community and religious leaders, residents in Afghan villages and ethnic Muslim Uyghurs in China.
Alhurra TV and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty score high profile interviews with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett , former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, former First Lady Laura Bush, Senator Ben Cardin, and global terrorism expert Charles Kurzman; and
Serving their audience of 165 million and in 59 languages, all networks will provide live coverage on September 11 from New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC including locations at the State Department, Capitol Hill, and California.
(Source: Broadcasting Board of Governors/VOA)
Serving their audience of 165 million and in 59 languages, all networks will provide live coverage on September 11 from New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC including locations at the State Department, Capitol Hill, and California.
(Source: Broadcasting Board of Governors/VOA)
Monday, April 18, 2011
BBG selects new Voice of America Director
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has selected award-winning broadcaster and communications executive David Ensor to serve as the next director of the Voice of America (VOA). VOA reaches an audience of 123 million people with unbiased news and information in 44 languages across multiple media platforms.“The democracy uprisings of the past two months have shown the critical importance of the free flow of credible information in empowering people around the world. The Voice of America has been pursuing this mission for seventy years by providing great journalism and a clear presentation of America and its policies,” said Walter Isaacson, Chairman of the BBG which oversees all U.S. international broadcasting including the VOA. “David Ensor is uniquely suited to lead VOA in fulfilling this dual mission. We are deeply honored that he would continue to be of service to journalism and to his country by following in the tradition of Edward R. Murrow and John Chancellor.”
Ensor has been Director for Communications and Public Diplomacy of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan since January 2010 and will join VOA in June.
“David Ensor’s unique experiences and skills make him a solid fit for this role,” said Judith A. McHale, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, who serves as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s representative to the BBG, and who oversaw Ensor’s work in Afghanistan. “The State Department has been very fortunate to have David oversee our public diplomacy effort in Afghanistan, and we wish him well as he prepares to take the lead at VOA.”
Ensor is a winner of a National Headliner Award and an Emmy-nominated broadcast journalist whose 32-year career in television and radio news included extensive reporting on international affairs. Ensor covered the demise of Communism in Russia and Poland, armed conflicts in Bosnia, Chechnya, El Salvador, and Afghanistan, and the U.S. response to the 9/11 attacks. He was CNN’s National Security Correspondent and prior to that, an ABC News correspondent, with assignments in Washington, Moscow, Rome, and Warsaw. Ensor reported from Washington for National Public Radio covering foreign policy and defense issues.
In welcoming David Ensor, the BBG thanked retiring VOA Director Danforth Austin for his outstanding leadership. The Board recognized Austin’s role in improving VOA's ability to engage with and grow audiences across multiple media platforms, integrating broadcast, online and social media while remaining steadfast to the principles of sound journalism enshrined in the VOA charter. Appointed to the post in October 2006, Austin has been one of the longest serving VOA directors.
Ensor is a member of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations and is fluent in French. He received a B.A. with honors from the University of California, Berkeley. Ensor holds the Knight’s Cross awarded by the President of Poland.
The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international broadcasting, whose mission is to promote freedom and democracy and to enhance understanding through multimedia communication of accurate, objective, and balanced news, information, and other programming about America and the world to audiences overseas. BBG broadcasts reach an audience of 165 million in 100 countries. BBG broadcasting organizations include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti).
(VOA/Leticia King)
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Time to Rethink the Broadcasting Board of Governors
Recent strategic decisions by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) on Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts to China suggest that the time has come for Congress to take a serious look at the way the U.S. government manages its international broadcasting services. Even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in her testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 1, expressed strong concern over the state of U.S. international broadcasting.[1] Of course, Clinton herself has a seat (usually deputized to Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Judith McHale) on the BBG, so she has the opportunity and responsibility to act on her concerns.The fact is that, as currently constituted, the mostly unpaid, part-time BBG, which meets once a month and has no real CEO, is no way to run a complex media organization with over $750 million worth of broadcasting entities paid for by U.S. taxpayers. This is no reflection on the board members (four Democrats and four Republicans, in addition to the Secretary of State) who volunteer their time, work hard to serve their country, and do so for idealistic reasons. Yet, with other responsibilities and day jobs, board members are not able to devote the time or resources to U.S. international broadcasting that it deserves. Congress should look at changing this situation.
(Alokesh Gupta, India)
Additional story at The Heritage Foundation
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/03/Time-to-Rethink-the-Broadcasting-Board-of-Governors
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
USA: Radio Free of Bureaucracy
After seven months of politicking, the new Broadcasting Board of Governors was confirmed by the Senate at the very end of last month. The bipartisan board, now headed by the former CNN chairman Walter Isaacson, supervises the government-financed programs Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Arabic-language Radio Sawa and Al Hurra TV, and Radio and TV Martí, which broadcast to Cuba.
The board faces an increasingly competitive global media environment. The benchmark is the British Broadcasting Corporation’s World Service, which produces radio programs in 32 languages, plus television in Arabic and Persian, and has a global weekly radio audience of 180 million people — about 10 million more than the combined audiences of the American international stations.
Can the B.B.G. catch up with its cousins at the BBC? It might seem difficult, given that President Obama has just asked all federal agencies to plan for a 5 percent reduction in spending.
A budget cut, however, might be just the thing. After all, the BBC World Service keeps its audience listening on an annual budget of $420 million. The United States spends close to twice as much on international broadcasting — $757 million per year.
A common explanation for this discrepancy — that the BBC World Service gets free support from its parent agency, the domestic BBC — doesn’t really hold up. A World Service spokesman tells me (and provides documentation to back this up) that the BBC “does not allow for any cross-subsidy between the various funding streams.”
The real reason the United States spends so much more is that, instead of having one entity that produces all broadcasts, American international broadcasting is a collection of often redundant agencies working under the banner of the Board of Governors.
In more than 20 of the languages covered by American broadcasting, both Voice of America and Radio Free “surrogate” stations transmit programs. The theory behind this is that the Radio Free station provides news about the target country, while Voice of America presents United States and general world news. If that were true, the audience would have to tune into two American stations at different times and different frequencies to get complete news coverage. In reality, V.O.A. also extensively covers its target countries. If it didn’t, no one would listen. As a result, there is much duplication of effort.
The new Broadcasting Board of Governors has a chance to change this. It should propose to Congress and the Obama administration a merger of the separate broadcasting entities into one corporation under the board’s supervision, similar to the BBC World Service. This would eliminate the duplication and reduce overhead, compensating for the 5 percent budget cut and then some. It would also free up money to invest in television, an expensive medium that is necessary to attract audiences in many target countries.
The present mixture of broadcasting bureaucracies, created over the decades by this and that legislation, must be replaced by a consolidated structure that can increase audience reach without reaching for taxpayers’ wallets.
(Kim A Elliott)
Source: Radio Free of Bureaucracy http://nyti.ms/9f6Zie
(Yimber Gaviria, Colombia/playdx2003)
The board faces an increasingly competitive global media environment. The benchmark is the British Broadcasting Corporation’s World Service, which produces radio programs in 32 languages, plus television in Arabic and Persian, and has a global weekly radio audience of 180 million people — about 10 million more than the combined audiences of the American international stations.
Can the B.B.G. catch up with its cousins at the BBC? It might seem difficult, given that President Obama has just asked all federal agencies to plan for a 5 percent reduction in spending.
A budget cut, however, might be just the thing. After all, the BBC World Service keeps its audience listening on an annual budget of $420 million. The United States spends close to twice as much on international broadcasting — $757 million per year.
A common explanation for this discrepancy — that the BBC World Service gets free support from its parent agency, the domestic BBC — doesn’t really hold up. A World Service spokesman tells me (and provides documentation to back this up) that the BBC “does not allow for any cross-subsidy between the various funding streams.”
The real reason the United States spends so much more is that, instead of having one entity that produces all broadcasts, American international broadcasting is a collection of often redundant agencies working under the banner of the Board of Governors.
In more than 20 of the languages covered by American broadcasting, both Voice of America and Radio Free “surrogate” stations transmit programs. The theory behind this is that the Radio Free station provides news about the target country, while Voice of America presents United States and general world news. If that were true, the audience would have to tune into two American stations at different times and different frequencies to get complete news coverage. In reality, V.O.A. also extensively covers its target countries. If it didn’t, no one would listen. As a result, there is much duplication of effort.
The new Broadcasting Board of Governors has a chance to change this. It should propose to Congress and the Obama administration a merger of the separate broadcasting entities into one corporation under the board’s supervision, similar to the BBC World Service. This would eliminate the duplication and reduce overhead, compensating for the 5 percent budget cut and then some. It would also free up money to invest in television, an expensive medium that is necessary to attract audiences in many target countries.
The present mixture of broadcasting bureaucracies, created over the decades by this and that legislation, must be replaced by a consolidated structure that can increase audience reach without reaching for taxpayers’ wallets.
(Kim A Elliott)
Source: Radio Free of Bureaucracy http://nyti.ms/9f6Zie
(Yimber Gaviria, Colombia/playdx2003)
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