Recognition of Voice of America broadcasts by BBG attributed to pressure from negative publicity

The announcement by the Broadcasting Board of Governors that at the open meeting scheduled for January 13 the Board will honor the 70th anniversary of the Voice of America and recognize the anniversaries of particular BBG language services is seen by BBG Watch sources as an indication of a possible change of policy due to negative publicity. Some BBG members may have already concluded that the previous course of dismantling VOA broadcasting services upon advice from a handful of BBG executives has been a complete failure.

We would like to think that BBG Watch reporting has contributed to this change of policy as did criticism from members of Congress, human rights activists, and the newly-formed Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB). BBG Watch sources also describe as highly significant the actions of BBG Governor Victor Ashe who has publicly challenged BBG executives who had supported the failed plan to end VOA broadcasts to China and are responsible for the BBG’s lowest leadership and management rating among all federal agencies.

It remains to be seen, however, whether this is not just an attempt by some BBG members to push through the BBG’s new strategic plan developed by the same group of executives. Critics argue that the plan would cripple the effectiveness of both the Voice of America and the surrogate broadcasters by undermining their independence and specialization. BBG Watch sources describe the proposal to de-federalize VOA and Radio and TV Marti and to create a global news agency as another attempt to dismantle the Voice of America, limit Congressional oversight and give greater power to BBG bureaucrats who came up with the plan to end VOA broadcasts to China.

An indication that this may be simply a meaningless PR counter offensive by the BBG is the naming of Bruce Sherman, one of the chief architects of the failed China plan, as director of a new Office of Strategy and Development. Jeff Trimble, another strong supporter of dismantling VOA broadcasting services, has been selected by the International Broadcasting Bureau Director Richard Lobo to serve as his deputy.

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From an official BBG announcement:

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) will meet on Friday, January 13 at BBG headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Board will further consider implementation of the Agency’s strategic plan and discuss the issue of signal interference of BBG broadcasts. In addition, the Board will review operational matters including the Board Committees and the Board meeting schedule for calendar year 2012. A budget update for the Board will include a proposal concerning Internet censorship circumvention funds.

The Board will honor the 70th anniversary of the Voice of America and recognize the anniversaries of particular BBG language services. The International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) Director will update the Board on agency operations; other broadcast executives will provide programming and coverage updates.

The meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m., will be webcast both live and on-demand, at www.bbg.gov.

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international broadcasting, whose mission is inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. BBG broadcasts reach an audience of 187 million in 100 countries. BBG networks 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 Martí).

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