BBG Watch Commentary
As of late afternoon Thursday, February 6, the Voice of America (VOA) English news website did not show any reports about two formerly jailed members of the Russian punk-rock protest group Pussy Riot appearing at a concert in the United States and calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to release detained antigovernment protesters.
U.S. taxpayer-funded VOA, however, has posted recently six reports on drunk driving and legal problems of Canadian pop-star Justin Bieber.
While VOA Russian Service did report extensively on the concert in New York with Pussy Riot members and Madonna, the vast majority of VOA’s more than 40 language services did not.
Such news reporting management failures by VOA executives in charge of central news coverage are compounded among dozens of VOA language services which do not get raw reports in English to adapt.
For example, Voice of America’s service to Iran, Persian News Network (PNN), had nothing on its website on the visit to the U.S. by Pussy Riot members and the concert with Madonna in New York. The service showed instead a video on a fashion show in New York sponsored by Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, New York, Feb. 6-13, 2014).
Critics accuse VOA director David Ensor and VOA executive editor Steve Redisch of pushing fluff journalism at Voice of America and minimizing coverage of hard news and “clear and effective” reporting on the U.S. policies required by VOA’s legal Charter. VOA English news service and many of VOA’s language services also failed numerous times in recent days to report on statements about Ukraine from President Obama, the White House press secretary, Secretary of State John Kerry, the State Department spokesperson, and key members of the U.S. Senate.
The BBG’s stated mission is “to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.”
While VOA central English news fails to report on many political and human rights related news stories, reports such as this one in Persian on a fashion show in New York, keep appearing all the time on VOA websites.
Other VOA services to countries without free media, including VOA services to China and Tibet, had nothing on Pussy Riot members making political and human rights comments with Madonna at a concert in New York.
At the Amnesty International benefit in New York late on February 5, Pussy Riot’s Nadezhda Tolokonnikova told the crowd: “We demand a Russia that is free and a Russia without Putin.”
Voice of America English news website had nothing on this concert even though Madonna introduced Pussy Riot’s Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina by saying: “It’s time for the rest of the world to be as brave as Pussy Riot and to stand up against people like President Putin” and others who “do not respect human rights.”
VOA English website posted recently six reports on Justin Bieber and had dozens of reports on the British royal family between April 2011 and October 2013.
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Voice of America Director David Ensor. Critics say that VOA news reporting under him and VOA Executive Editor Steve Redish has declined and nearly collapsed.
U.S. taxpayers paid for these programs by the Voice of America (VOA) while many human rights-related news stories and important U.S. foreign policy pronouncements by the White House, the State Department, and members of Congress went unreported on VOA websites in recent months and years.
Years and months later, these reports on the British royalty posted on the VOA English website show zero or very few Facebook “Likes” or any other indication of any notable audience engagement through social media.
IF YOU ARE A U.S. TAXPAYER YOU MUST CHECK THIS OUT
1.
Excited Crowds Fill London Streets for Royal Wedding Voice of America (VOA) English Website, April 28, 2011 8:00 PM
2.
Royal Wedding Ceremony Steeped in Grandeur, Tradition Voice of America (VOA) English Website, April 28, 2011 8:00 PM
3.
Kate Middleton Wears Wedding Dress by Sarah Burton Voice of America (VOA) English Website, April 28, 2011 8:00 PM
4.
Wedding Celebrations Held in Streets Across Britain Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 28, 2011 8:00 PM
5.
Americans Rise Early for Royal Wedding Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 28, 2011 8:00 PM
6.
Celebrities, Sports Stars Among Royal Wedding Guests Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 28, 2011 8:00 PM
7.
Britain Hopes for Billion-Dollar Economic Boost from Royal Wedding Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 27, 2011 8:00 PM
8.
Crowds Gather for Britain’s Royal Wedding; Syrian Diplomat Pulled Off Guest List Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 27, 2011 8:00 PM
9.
London Readies for Royal Wedding Day Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 27, 2011 8:00 PM
10.
Formal Clothing, Informal Speeches Typical at British Weddings Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 26, 2011 8:00 PM
11.
British Public Divided Over Royal Wedding Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 25, 2011 8:00 PM
12.
Britain Preparing Security for Royal Wedding Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 25, 2011 8:00 PM
13.
Britain’s Royal Wedding: From Cake to Clergy Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 25, 2011 8:00 PM
14.
Bahrain Prince Declines British Royal Wedding Invitation Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 24, 2011 8:00 PM
15.
David Beckham, Elton John Among Royal Wedding Guests Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 24, 2011 8:00 PM
16.
Britain Notes Big Change in Royal Wedding Souvenirs Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 21, 2011 8:00 PM
17.
Prince William, Bride-to-Be Middleton Visit Princess Diana’s Grave Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 20, 2011 8:00 PM
18.
Britain’s Queen Formally Approves Prince William’s Wedding Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 20, 2011 8:00 PM
19.
Britain’s Queen Celebrates 85th Birthday Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 20, 2011 8:00 PM
10.
Royal Wedding: William & Kate Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 20, 2011 8:50 AM
21.
A Royal Obsession, Do Americans Care? Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 19, 2011 8:00 PM
22.
Muslim Group Applies to Protest Royal Wedding Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 18, 2011 8:00 PM
23.
YouTube to Air Britain’s Royal Wedding Live Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 18, 2011 8:00 PM
24.
Princesses in Training Get Tips at Royal Tea Party Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 17, 2011 8:00 PM
25.
10 Ways You Can Get Into the Spirit of the Royal Wedding Voice of America (VOA) English website, April 14, 2011 8:00 PM
26.
British Royal Engagement Sparks Interest in Modern Monarchies Voice of America (VOA) English website, November 29, 2010 7:00 PM
27.
Britain Announces Royal Wedding Date Voice of America (VOA) English website, November 22, 2010 7:00 PM
VOA on British Royal Christening, October 2013
Among five reports on the VOA website on the royal christening in Britain posted on October 23 and 24, 2013, none has more than 20 Facebook “Likes” as of October 28, 2013, one had zero Facebook “Likes” and another one had three.
Zones: Breaking News , Europe
Prince William, Kate Hold Private Christening for New Prince
October 23, 2013 12:08 PM
……..was born on July 22. In the arms of his mother as she left the the palace’s Chapel Royal, George was dressed in a long cream satin robe that was a replica of an 1841 gown made for the christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter. Kate, a style icon whose outfits often increase sales of similar garments, wore an off-white, ruffled skirt-suit, made by British fashion house Alexander McQueen, and pillbox hat by British milliner Jane Taylor ….
Tags: Britain , duchess catherine , Kate Middleton , prince george , Prince William , royal christening
Zones: Europe
Reporters: Reuters
Prince George’s Godparents Named Ahead of Christening
October 23, 2013 8:20 AM
……..William and Kate’s decision is a break with the tradition of choosing royal dignitaries to take on the ceremonial role, and a continuation of their effort to portray a more informal, modern image to austerity-hit Britons. After the christening, guests will attend a private tea at Clarence House, hosted by Prince Charles and Camilla. Hollywood photographer Jason Bell has been tapped to take official photos of the event, that will include a “historic multi-generational photograph” of the queen
Tags: Britain , monarch , prince george , royal christening
Zones: Europe
Reporters: VOA News
Royal Baby Christening Breaks with Tradition
October 23, 2013 12:14 AM
Carla Babb Prince George, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, is being christened in Britain on Wednesday. In a break from tradition, the christening of the world’s most famous baby will be as low key as possible. Three months ago, Prince William and his wife Catherine shared their bundle of joy with the world. And just as the royal couple broke with tradition ….
Tags: British royal family , christening , Prince William , Princess Kate , royal baby , royal christening , royalty
Zones: Europe
Reporters: Carla Babb
Hollywood Photographer to Record British Prince’s Christening
October 22, 2013 9:59 AM
Reuters A British photographer known for his portraits of rock stars and Hollywood actors was named on Tuesday as the official photographer of the world’s newest celebrity – Prince George. Prince William and his wife Kate have chosen Jason Bell to photograph the christening on Wednesday, October 23, of their son, the third-in-line to the British throne, a palace statement said. Bell, 44, is an award-winning photographer best known for portraits of celebrities such as musician Paul McCartney, footballer David Beckham ….
Tags: Britain , christening , prince george , royals
Zones: Europe , Arts & Entertainment
Reporters: Reuters
Britain’s Future Monarch Christened in Low-Key London Ceremony
October 23, 2013 12:19 PM
a central London chapel, where he made his first public appearance since his birth in July. Prince George was seen in the arms of his father, Prince William, as the elder prince and his wife Kate arrived at the Chapel Royal in St. James’s Palace for Wednesday’s traditional Anglican Christian ceremony. The infant was wearing a white satin gown, a replica of one made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter in 1841. In a private ceremony inside the chapel ….
Zones: World News , Europe
[/aside]Fortunately, VOA Russian Service did post news reports today on Madonna and Pussy Riot in New York.
Мадонна пригласила на сцену Pussy Riot, Виктория Купчинецкая VOA Russian Service, February 6, 2014.
VOA Russian Service report included a video.
But VOA worldwide English audiences and most other VOA language services, including those directing programs to countries without free media, did not have this report.
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which like VOA is also funded by U.S. taxpayers through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) did report on the Pussy Riot members’ appearance with Madonna in New York and a diplomatic spat it caused between U.S. and Russian ambassadors to the UN, Samantha Power and Vitaly Churkin.
Pussy Riot Members Appear At U.S. Concert, RFE/RL, February 6, 2014.
VOA English News had nothing on the U.S.-Russian diplomatic fallout from the concert in New York even though the VOA Charter says that “VOA will present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively, and will also present responsible discussions and opinion on these policies. (U.S. Public Law 94-350)