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

BBG’s Victor Ashe raises employee morale issues

  • October 15, 2011
In a rare move for a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), a struggling federal agency which oversees U.S. government-funded news and information broadcasts for foreign audiences, BBG Governor Ambassador Victor Ashe raised the issue of employee morale at the Voice of America (VOA), one of the broadcasting entities managed by the BBG. Speaking at an open BBG meeting on October 13, 2011, Ambassador Ashe acknowledged that despite a minor improvement in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, BBG remains near the very bottom among all federal agencies in terms of employee morale.
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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

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.

Forum restarted; Politburo Media Review launched

  • September 25, 2011
We have restarted BBG Watch Forum. There are still some bugs, but it works. We have also launched BBG Watch “Politburo Media Review.” The name is somewhat humorous but the purpose is serious

“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…

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…