BBG Watch Commentary
The independent Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB – cusib.org) has welcomed the confirmation by the U.S. Senate of Jeffrey Shell, Matthew C. Armstrong and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker to serve on the bipartisan Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).
CUSIB statement stresses “critical public oversight” role of BBG members in overseeing the agency in charge of U.S. international broadcasting.
CUSIB members have been active in supporting programming to China, Tibet, Russia and other countries without free media. They also defended dozens of Radio Liberty journalists who had been fired by the previous management of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). While the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) executives ignored the public diplomacy crisis in Russia, CUSIB worked with BBG Governors Victor Ashe, Susan McCue and Michael Meehan, former Under Secretary of State Tara Sonenshine, and later with new acting RFE/RL president Kevin Klose, offering support for efforts to bring management reforms to RFE/RL and to rehire dismissed reporters.
CUSIB Executive Director Ann Noonan said: “We are hopeful that the next BBG Chair, Mr. Jeff Shell, along with Mr. Matt Armstrong and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will strengthen the BBG’s efforts to inform and reach out to those who live without freedom and democracy. CUSIB offers our support to turn the tide in efforts to bring good management to the agency.”
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CUSIB Press Release
For Immediate Release
August 2, 2013
CUSIB Welcomes US Senate Confirmation of Three New BBG Members
The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB – cusib.org) congratulates Jeffrey Shell, Matthew C. Armstrong and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker upon their confirmation by the U.S. Senate to serve on the bipartisan Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).
“We are pleased that the U.S. Senate has made it their priority to confirm three new BBG Members to exercise critical public oversight over this federal agency overseeing U.S. international broadcasting,” stated CUSIB Executive Director Ann Noonan. “We are hopeful that the next BBG Chair, Mr. Jeff Shell, along with Mr. Matt Armstrong and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will strengthen the BBG’s efforts to inform and reach out to those who live without freedom and democracy. CUSIB offers our support to turn the tide in efforts to bring good management to the agency.”
CUSIB Director Ted Lipien said: “We encourage the new Members to strive for greater transparency and accountability and to support the work of journalists and language services among all BBG entities.”
The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB) is an independent, nongovernmental organization which supports free flow of uncensored news from the United States to countries without free media.
For further information, please contact:
The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB)
New York, New York
Ann Noonan, co-founder and Executive Director
Tel. 646-251-6069
Ted Lipien, co-founder and Director
Tel. 415-793-1642
Email: contact@cusib.org
www.cusib.org