BBG Watch Commentary
UPDATE: Voice of America finally posted a report about Bobby Womack’s death, no video and audio, on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 8:33 AM EDT.
Much of news reporting stops at the U.S. taxpayer-funded Voice of America after business hours on Friday.
While Voice of America (VOA) still has nothing on its English news website about the death of internationally known American soul singer Bobby Womack, Germany’s Deutsche Welle (DW) reported late Friday EDT:
DW: US soul singer Bobby Womack has died aged 70. He was a legendary figure in the R&B genre and was best known for hits including “Lookin’ For A Love,” and “That’s The Way I Feel About ‘Cha.”
DW: His song “It’s all Over Now” went on to become a number one hit for British rock band The Rolling Stones.
Fri, Jun 27, 2014
Source: DW (Germany)
Also BBC posted Friday a full report about Bobby Womack with two videos and an audio clip: Soul singer and songwriter Bobby Womack dead at 70, BBC, 27 June 2014 Last updated at 21:40 EDT.
As of 12:15 AM EDT Saturday, June 28, there is still nothing on the Voice of America English news website about the passing of this famous American soul singer.
Unfortunately for worldwide audiences which might want to check the VOA website for such information from the United States, the news of Bobby Womack’s death came after business hours in Washington when most of VOA Newsroom shuts down due to mismanagement and cuts in Newsroom positions.
These VOA news reporting failures happen not just when there is a death of an internationally well known American signer or actor. They often affect actions by the White House, the State Department and the U.S. Congress, with significant statements by President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary Kerry not being reported promptly or reported at all by the Voice of America. This happens especially frequently on weekends. But it also happens during regular business hours.
VOA journalists are quite capable of reporting news, but there is a management meltdown at the Voice of America that has made the VOA Newsroom dysfunctional.
UPDATE: Voice of America finally posted a report about Bobby Womack’s death, no video and audio, on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 8:33 AM EDT.
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