July 2013 – BBG and USAGM Watch

Voice of America TERMS OF USE/PRIVACY NOTICE shows much of VOA content is third-party copyright-protected and cannot be easily re-used in the U.S. without additional fees

July 31, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Voice of America (VOA) TERMS OF USE/PRIVACY NOTICE shows much of its content is third-party…

6 minute read

Obama nominates Dr. Kenneth R. Weinstein to serve on Broadcasting Board of Governors

July 31, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary BBG Watch welcomes the nomination of a prominent scholar and expert on the Middle East…

How a story of Somali Americans in Minnesota gave U.S. government new domestic media powers

July 30, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary We have all heard this story told countless times by International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) and…

5 minute read

Former Voice of America journalist says U.S. officials are losing information war abroad

July 29, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Former Voice of America (VOA) acting associate director and journalist Ted Lipien wrote in a…

1 minute read

Bureaucratic assassination of Victor Ashe described

July 29, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) member, former U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe, may soon…

7 minute read

BBG Governor Victor Ashe accuses top agency officials of wasting taxpayers’ money, prolonging hardships of RIFed employees

July 29, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary In a strongly-worded statement for the press, Broadcasting Board of Governors’ (BBG) only Republican member…

3 minute read

IBB Director Lobo responds to former BBG Governor Wimbush

July 28, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary International Broadcasting Bureau Director (IBB) Richard Lobo has responded to an earlier Wall Street Journal…

Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station in Greenville appears safe in FY 2014 thanks to efforts by Ashe and NC congressmen

July 28, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Thanks to efforts by Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) member Victor Ashe, support of his…

House Appropriations Committee draft FY 2014 bill would give BBG $724 million

July 27, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary As we reported earlier, Appropriations Committee in both the House and the Senate have finalized…

Voice of America officials told to seek formal BBG board approval before trying to end Songhai programs

July 27, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary BBG Watch has learned that VOA officials tried to make a decision to terminate Songhai-language…

Are IBB officials trying to settle illegal RIF suit or will employee hardships continue?

July 27, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary We are wondering whether International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) officials–IBB Director Richard Lobo, IBB Deputy Director…

Smith-Mundt controversy hurting U.S. international broadcasting

July 27, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Contrary to assurances by International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) executives that the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of…

CUSIB reposts S. Enders Wimbush’s response

July 27, 2013

The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB) has reposted a response it received from former BBG member S.…

Senate Appropriations Committee opposes reductions in Voice of America services

July 26, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended to the full Senate that the Broadcasting Board of Governors…

Despite their statements that they will not propagandize Americans, IBB officials must be closely watched

July 26, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary While BBG Watch would like to believe Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) assurances that it…

3 minute read

Russian human rights leader Lyudmila Alexeeva returns to Radio Liberty

July 26, 2013

LINK TO VIDEO on RFERL Site. LINK TO VIDEO ON YouTUBE. BBG Watch Commentary After a long absence…

4 minute read

Halt the Senate Rush to Fill Dysfunctional Broadcasting Board, say Heritage Foundation experts

July 25, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Helle C. Dale, the Heritage Foundations Senior Fellow in Public Diplomacy studies, and Brett D.…

8 minute read

When America embraced U.S. government broadcasts for freedom

July 25, 2013

When America Embraced U.S. Government Broadcasts for Freedom Commentary by Ted Lipien Former Director of Security at Radio…

13 minute read

Heritage Foundation’s Helle Dale, others call for greater scrutiny of officials in charge of U.S. broadcasts

July 24, 2013

From John Brown’s Public Diplomacy Review, July 15-19, 2013. “Propaganda is a pejorative term …” —Broadcasting Board of…

The Agency of Domestic Invasive Activity – Information War Lost – The Standard for Dysfunctional and Defunct in the Federal Government – International Broadcasting Bureau

July 23, 2013

The Agency of Domestic Invasive Activity – Information War Lost – The Standard for Dysfunctional and Defunct in…

CUSIB’s Jing Zhang focusing attention on missing children in China, need for RFA and VOA broadcasts

July 23, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary The independent Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB – cusib.org) has posted on its website…

5 minute read

Roxana’s Story

July 23, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary From the firing of Radio Liberty journalists in Russia to the illegal RIF of OCB…

6 minute read

Czech Senator, former journalist, appeals to Secretary Kerry to ensure equal rights for all RFE/RL employees

July 23, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary In an open letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, a member of the…

After ruining VOA’s reputation and bipartisan support with their mishandling of Smith-Mundt, IBB executives are pushing for de-federalization

July 22, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Top executives at the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) have caused major damage to the Voice…

Transcripts show IBB official and others were not concerned with public reaction to Smith-Mundt propaganda ban repeal

July 20, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary One of our readers left a comment for an earlier post, in which he points…

Even More Words and Their Stories and Some Numbers, Too – Information War Lost – The Standard for Dysfunction and Defunct in the Federal Government – International Broadcasting Bureau

July 20, 2013

Even More Words and Their Stories and Some Numbers, Too – Information War Lost – The Standard for…

4 minute read

Factual NBC report on lifting Smith-Mundt propaganda ban generates many comments from irate U.S. taxpayers

July 20, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Elizabeth Chuck, a staff writer for NBC News, wrote a good, factual report on the…

When Big Brother speaks, Huffington Post answers, government bureaucrats don’t think it’s funny

July 20, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Thanks to Ted Lipien, we have been alerted to a very funny piece in Huffington…

20 minute read

Propaganda galore – Voice of America’s reputation undermined by media reports – IBB bureaucrats say they are not to blame

July 20, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary It is never the fault of International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) officials. If there is a…

Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting Rejects Recommendations in S. Enders Wimbush’s WSJ Op-Ed

July 19, 2013

The following statement was posted on the Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB – cusib.org) website in response…

VOA journalist and VOA listener are not too kind on Rosa Brooks’ article and Voice of America management

July 19, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary In one of our recent posts, “Foreign Policy article with IBB propaganda on the Smith-Mundt…

8 minute read

Contrary to claims from Kim Andrew Elliott and IBB officials, Voice of America coverage of Russia does not compare to Radio Liberty reporting

July 19, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary In arguing for combining all U.S. international broadcasting entities into one and in his frequent…

Foreign Policy article with IBB propaganda on the Smith-Mundt Act challenged by former Voice of America journalist

July 18, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Foreign Policy magazine published in its online National Security section an article written by Prof.…

RT 14,189 – VOA 44 – Social media disaster for Voice of America news continues against Russia Today, others

July 18, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary The Voice of America (VOA) English news website continues to show disastrously poor social media…

International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) government officials achieved what KGB couldn’t, made Americans believe Voice of America is a propaganda outfit

July 17, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Initiated by government bureaucracy, the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act is ruining Voice of America’s reputation for…

Op-Ed: US propaganda ban overturned with help of government propaganda

July 17, 2013

Commentary Former Voice of America(VOA) acting associate director Ted Lipien argues in an op-ed in Digital Journal that…

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is still not an Equal Opportunity Employer

July 16, 2013

Commentary RADIO FREE EUROPE / RADIO LIBERTY IS STILL NOT AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER by Mario Corti It…

4 minute read

Broadcasting Board of Governor member Victor Ashe apologizes for Voice of America refusing to answer a press inquiry

July 16, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary BBG Watch has learned from several sources that Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) member Victor…

I’m Not Afraid of Voice of America News in the U.S., But . . .

July 16, 2013

I’m Not Afraid of Voice of America News in the U.S., But . . . a commentary by…

Russia Today reported on Obama statement on Zimmerman verdict before Voice of America, put VOA story coverage to shame

July 15, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Russia’s state-funded multimedia news and opinion outlet Russia Today reported on President Obama’s statement on…

No post-Zimmerman verdict coverage on Voice of America English website, extensive coverage by Al Jazeera, BBC, Russia Today

July 14, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary As of 2PM Washington, DC time, the Voice of America (VOA) English news website offers…

On Zimmerman verdict – foreign audiences turn for news to BBC, Russia Today, Al Jazeera – scant coverage from Voice of America

July 14, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Starved for staff and resources and badly managed, U.S. international broadcaster Voice of America (VOA)…

Does naming of Leslie Hyland as CFO violate By-Laws of Broadcasting Board of Governors ?

July 14, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Questions are being raised as to whether the naming of Leslie Hyland to serve as…

The Schizophrenia By-Product: Gridlock – International Broadcasting Bureau – Can It Get Any Worse? Yes It Can! – Information War Lost

July 13, 2013

The Schizophrenia By-Product: Gridlock – International Broadcasting Bureau – Can It Get Any Worse? Yes It Can! –…

Snowden – Voice of America’s Reuters story, no video, 4 Facebook Likes – Russia Today, videos, 3,200 Facebook Likes

July 12, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary UPDATE: As of Saturday morning (Washington, DC), July 13, the Russia Today English news report…

Disastrous social media engagement results for Voice of America English news website

July 12, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Facebook “Likes” for Seven Top News Stories on English Websites, July 11, PM, Washington, DC…

The Thomas Affair at Voice of America – employee concerns with VOA English news and website ignored by Director and OIG

July 11, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Voice of America (VOA) Director David Ensor and Executive Editor Steve Redisch had refused to…

BBG Watch website passes 1 million 700,000 hits mark

July 11, 2013

BBG Watch thanks our readers and congratulates our contributors. We have passed 1 million 700,000 hits mark on…

4 minute read

The Thomas Affair at Voice of America – Ted Lipien

July 11, 2013

BBG Watch Commentary Ted Lipien, a former Voice of America (VOA) acting Associate Director in charge of VOA…