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  • 9 minute read

US International Broadcasting and the BBG: The Numbers Game

  • November 18, 2011
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has announced that its own surveys (These are not completely independent surveys. They are produced by a contractor, InterMedia, for whom the BBG has been for years the only major client.

BBG Discussion of the 1.3 Million Dollar Deloitte Contract

  • November 11, 2011
As observed by Dr. Helle Dale of the Heritage Foundation, “despite having adopted a new strategic plan, the board then spent a good 10 minutes of its October 13 meeting discussing contracting an independent firm to perform a feasibility study of consolidation.” If consolidation of services is part of a plan already adopted—and to some degree already underway—” Dr
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  • 1 minute read

Putin goes after Radio Svoboda on Russian TV — CUSIB and BBG Watch

  • October 21, 2011
In a prime-time interview aired on October 17 with the heads of Russia’s three largest television stations, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that during the Cold War, his former employer — the KGB — viewed Radio Svoboda as a branch of the CIA engaged in spying in the former Soviet Union, the Committee for U.S.

BBG executives unnerved by Ashe’s interest in employee morale — BBG Watch

  • October 19, 2011
According to BBG Watch sources, Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) executives, including International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) senior staffers, were surprised by BBG member Victor Ashe’s public raising of the issue of employee concerns at the October 13 BBG meeting. Sources tell us they were even more surprised to receive a request from Ashe for a written report and a formal response on how they plan to address these concerns
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  • 2 minute read

Employees are expendable collateral — The Federalist — BBG Watch

  • October 18, 2011
More on the BBG Employee Survey by The Federalist In the October 2011 meeting of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the open session was made notable by remarks from Ambassador Victor Ashe, a member of the board. Ambassador Ashe commented at some length about the recent employee survey. He noted some slight improvements in the survey results and other observations on employee-related subjects (both career staff and contractors).
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  • 6 minute read

The “New” BBG Strategic Plan — The Federalist — BBG Watch

  • October 18, 2011
by The Federalist     On Friday, October 14, the Broadcasting Board of Governors put out a press release heralding its “new” alleged “strategic plan.”   Well, really, this isn’t something “new.”  It’s more a case of something being recycled and repackaged.  The goals are the same: the destruction of effective US international broadcasting.  Someone inside the Cohen Building must think they are being clever.
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  • 2 minute read

NGOs defend media freedom against Kim Jong-Il's regime

  • October 10, 2011
Free media NGOs and shortwave radio stations help to bring uncensored news to North Korea. One of them is Voice of America. VOA and its parent agency, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, however, are also criticized for promoting to what amounts to a North Korean propaganda video.

Newly-formed Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting vows to defend media freedom journalism

  • October 6, 2011
BBG Watch has learned that individuals associated with U.S. human rights, labor, and media freedom organizations have formed the Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB) with the aim of working with the Administration, Congress and media to promote free flow of uncensored news from the United States to countries in which journalists are threatened or lack sufficient resources.

The Long Slow Crawl Up The Mountain — BBG Watch

  • October 3, 2011
The numbers are in for the 2011 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (formerly known as the Human Capital Survey). Once again, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) solidly maintains its position as one of the worst work environments in the Federal workplace. Here are some of the “highlights:” • 33rd of 37 in job satisfaction; • 35th of 37 on results-oriented performance culture; • 36th of 37 on talent management; and, • 37th of 37 on leadership and knowledgeable management

From BBG website – Pyongyang is a vibrant city and busy with activity

  • October 1, 2011
BBG Watch, which is not in any way affiliated with the Broadcasting Board of Governors, wonders who signed off on the press release on the BBG official website, BBG.gov, quoting Voice of America journalist Sungwon Baik, who just completed a rare reporting assignment to North Korea, as saying that the country’s capital city Pyongyang is “vibrant and busy with activity.” Relative to what? — BBG Watch wonders — the Gulag? What are they smoking, or have we missed the opening of a new shopping mall with chic boutiques in downtown Pyongyang?

‘America the Beautiful’ on Chinese TV

  • October 1, 2011
International media reported that Chinese state TV played the music of “America the Beautiful” (without lyrics) during the historic launch of the country’s first space laboratory. BBC: ‘America the Beautiful’ accompanies China rocket launch BBC reported that some Chinese people say that CCTV must have made a mistake with the music

BBG ‘s PR gurus come and go quickly, wrong strategy remains

  • September 30, 2011
Al Kamen reported in his Washington Post In the Loop column that longtime State Department employee Diane Zeleny, who several weeks ago got a new job as director of communications and external relations at the Broadcasting Board of Governors, announced that she is leaving her post. She told her colleagues that she will be leaving shortly to start a job as VP for Strategy and Communications at the Legatum Institute. The Institute is based in London, but she will work mostly from Washington with frequent trips to London and Dubai where Legatum has offices.

Director Ensor says VOA to China will not go silent on October 1

  • September 29, 2011
This email just in less than 10 minutes ago, from David Ensor, Voice of America Director. Colleagues in the China Branch, I want to take this opportunity to share information with you about the FY 2012 budget and its possible impact on the Mandarin and Cantonese Services. I have been working closely with other senior agency managers on developments relating to VOA China programs and can confirm for you today that the proposed reductions to the VOA Mandarin and Cantonese Services will not take place on October 1.

“Potentially Damaging Content”

  • September 18, 2011
The latest revelations by BBG Watch regarding the Broadcasting Board of Governors describe an organization that is at…
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  • 1 minute read

BBG management style

  • September 11, 2011
When did the BBG executives announce their decision to fire 45 VOA Chinese journalists? Chinese New Year Mao’s…

Mistakes Repeated

  • February 2, 2009
 FreeMediaOnline.org & Free Media Online Blog, February 2, 2009, San Francisco — This commentary is by The Federalist, one of…

When A Federal Agency Goes Bad

  • January 15, 2009
 FreeMediaOnline.org & Free Media Online Blog  The Federalist Commentary, January 8, 2009, San Francisco — This commentary is by The…

The Worst of Times

  • January 8, 2009
 FreeMediaOnline.org & Free Media Online Blog  The Federalist Commentary, January 8, 2009, San Francisco — This commentary is by The…

Thinking About The Unthinkable

  • January 6, 2009
 FreeMediaOnline.org & Free Media Online Blog  The Federalist Commentary, January 6, 2009, San Francisco — This commentary by The…

Transition

  • December 12, 2008
 FreeMediaOnline.org & Free Media Online Blog  The Federalist Commentary, December 9, 2008, San Francisco — One of our regular…