Kelu Chao – BBG and USAGM Watch

4 minute read

Voice of America Ignored for 3 Days House Foreign Affairs Committee Report Alleging ‘Culture of Corruption’ Allowed by Senior USAGM Executives

June 14, 2024

USAGM Watch Commentary Several former Voice of America (VOA) senior reporters and managers, who retired several years ago…

1 minute read

Chairman McCaul decries extraordinary crisis of leadership at USAGM

February 8, 2024

USAGM Watch Commentary In a commentary published in National Review, Michael McCaul (R-TX) – chairman of the House…

2 minute read

McCaul Begins Investigative Interviews Into Corruption at U.S. Agency for Global Media

July 25, 2023

USAGM Watch Commentary House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) has announced the start of investigative interviews…

3 minute read

USAGM management’s failure to vet Voice of America journalists

June 16, 2023

USAGM Watch Commentary In November 2022, a group of Voice of America (VOA) Russian Service journalists protested against…

13 minute read

USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett Gave Evasive Answers About Internal Censorship of Voice of America News

March 15, 2023

USAGM Watch Commentary Testifying before the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related…

Voice of America Director Amanda Bennett in 2017. VOA Photo.

7 minute read

More Censorship at USAGM — VOA to Vietnam Censored by Management

November 17, 2022

Censorship at USAGM — U.S. Agency for Global Media has returned at the Voice of America (VOA) under…

4 minute read

Politico Blasts USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett’s Predecessor Michael Pack, Overlooks Her Record at VOA

November 15, 2022

In highlighting its interview with USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett, Politico blasted her short-time predecessor Michael Pack. Politico did…

VOA Director Amanda Bennett holding a USAGM umbrella for a publicity photo. In 2018, the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the federal agency in charge of VOA, changed its name to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). President Biden nominated Bennett to be USAGM CEO and she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 60-36 vote. She faces accusations of mismanagement and security lapses in her previous U.S. government position as the Voice of America (VOA) director.

7 minute read

Big Mistake in Rewarding Failed Voice of America (VOA) and U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) Managers

November 11, 2022

Big Mistake To Reward Failed Voice of America Managers A Commentary By The Federalist Quite possibly the worst…

Image included in a 2022 message to staff from VOA Acting Director Yolanda Lopez.

10 minute read

USAGM: Why the Latest OIG Report Matters

October 15, 2022

Commentary By Dan Robinson Inspector General reports likely don’t rank high on anyone’s list of favorite reading material,…

Amanda Bennett being sworn as VOA Director by Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) CEO John Lansing, April 18, 2016. Kelu Chao, a longtime VOA senior executive and later acting CEO of USAGM (BBG's name since 2018) is also in the photo.

7 minute read

USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett and her top aides ran a loose ship at the Voice of America, an OIG report shows

October 14, 2022

Amanda Bennett, the current CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and a former Voice of…

8 minute read

Extraordinary Leadership Dysfunction at USAGM Continues

October 4, 2022

The extraordinary leadership dysfunction at USAGM, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, continues under former Voice of America…

6 minute read

Miracle Explanation of VOA’s Afghanistan Disaster

August 26, 2022

Voice of America (VOA) Acting Director Yolanda López‘s miracle explanation of the U.S. Agency for Global Media’s (USAGM)…

6 minute read

Voice of America Acting Director Tweets ‘Iran Denies Link to Rushdie Stabbing’, But Why?

August 22, 2022

Acting Director of the Voice of America Yolanda López hopes to send a VOA correspondent to Afghanistan, has…

Afghanistan Image Brian Williamson VOA News Screen Shot 2021-08-20 at 4.59.56 PM

4 minute read

U.S. Agency for Global Media – The Absurd, The Surreal USAGM

July 29, 2022

The Absurd, The Surreal USAGM The surreal USAGM – U.S. Agency for Global Media’s Voice of America (VOA)…

2 minute read

Message from the USAGM Acting CEO Kelu Chao: Opportunity to Support the DHS Volunteer Force

July 21, 2022

USAGM Watch Commentary Because of its significance for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and the Voice…

2 minute read

USAGM Head Calls on VOA Journalists to Volunteer for Homeland Security Border Work

July 19, 2022

USAGM Watch Media Commentary The Daily Caller has reported that “U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) Acting Chief…

2 minute read

Members of Congress Criticize USAGM Management Over Cuts for OCB Cuba Programs

January 6, 2022

Cuts for OCB Cuba programs, proposed by the senior management of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM)…

2 minute read

The Death of Democracy at USAGM, says Michael Pack

November 15, 2021

The death of democracy at USAGM is claimed by former U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack.…

2 minute read

McCaul: “Disgraceful” State Dept. Left Hundreds of USAGM Journalists in Afghanistan

September 1, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary USAGM Watch applauds the statement by House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul about…

4 minute read

When The Best USAGM Leaders Can Do Is Sheer Incompetence

August 31, 2021

US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and the Voice of America (VOA) leaders in the $800 million federal…

6 minute read

Cut and Run and Chaos – The USAGM Contribution to the Afghan Failure

August 26, 2021

The USAGM contribution to the Afghan failure has been presided by U.S. Agency for Global Media and Voice…

19 minute read

USAGM or US Agency for Global Mayhem

August 19, 2021

USAGM or US Agency for Global Mayhem: Cut, Run and Lost Credibility A Commentary By The Federalist “In…

3 minute read

USAGM and VOA Chiefs on Security of Staff in Afghanistan, Ali A. Jalali Dismisses Fake News | EXCLUSIVE

August 16, 2021

Ali Ahmad Jalali, former Interior Minister of Afghanistan from 2003 to 2005 and former Voice of America (VOA)…

In 2016 Voice of America (VOA) produced this graphic to illustrate reports on Fidel Castro’s death. It was used as the VOA Spanish Service Facebook Cover image.

11 minute read

Communists in Cuba Getting Soft Treatment from Voice of America

July 30, 2021

Communists in Cuba getting soft treatment from the Voice of America under past and current VOA and U.S.…

9 minute read

Longtime Execs at Low Employee Morale USAGM Against Former Short-Time CEO

July 21, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary USAGM Watch offers a selection of links to media articles and official U.S. government documents…

5 minute read

U.S. Agency for Global Media – Here We Go Again

June 22, 2021

OPINION U.S. Agency for Global Media…Here We Go Again By The Federalist If there is one thing the…

9 minute read

USAGM Patterns of Manipulation

June 14, 2021

OPINION U.S. Agency for Global Media Patterns of Manipulation by Longtime Government Officials by The Federalist Perhaps the…

6 minute read

‘Voice of America listens to bullsh**,’ outraged independent Meduza journalist dismisses a VOA Russian Service report

June 11, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary Galina Timchenko, a Russian journalist and executive editor of Meduza, a Riga, Latvia-based independent online…

3 minute read

Voice of America is airing Ethiopian propaganda, South African Mail & Guardian reports

June 8, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary An article by Zecharias Zelalem an Ethiopian freelance journalist, which appears on the South African…

4 minute read

Charges of a Coverup by USAGM and VOA Management in Controversy Over Ethiopia Coverage

June 6, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary by Former VOA English and Foreign Language Reporters As sources underscore, to gain a thorough…

3 minute read

Rep. Michael McCaul Calls for Answers on Reports of Misuse of Money, Falsified Credentials at USAGM

June 3, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary Members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, may be beginning to realize that current senior…

4 minute read

Current and Former U.S. Agency for Global Media Executives Protected Controversial VOA Managers

May 28, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary by Former VOA English and VOA Foreign Language Reporters As we pointed out recently, problems…

3 minute read

Bad Management At Voice of America and USAGM Starts At The Very Top

May 26, 2021

Voice of America central English newsroom and VOA language services have in recent years been the focus of…

3 minute read

New Questions About Leadership at Voice of America and USAGM Regarding Ethiopia

May 26, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary by Former VOA English and VOA Foreign Language Reporters Here We Go Again: New Questions…

2 minute read

Voice of America (VOA) Failed Audiences in Iran, Ilan Berman Writes for The Hill

May 23, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, wrote in an…

2 minute read

Cubans desperately need a strong Radio Television Martí, says former OCB director Jeffrey Scott Shapiro

May 11, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary Former director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB) Jeffrey Scott Shapiro published an op-ed…

9 minute read

U.S. Agency for Global Media Notified Employees of Personal Information Security Breach Four Months After It Occurred

May 2, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary Former Voice of America senior White House correspondent Dan Robinson who has written occasional commentaries…

5 minute read

Anthony Blinken Meets Kelu Chao – USAGM Watch Holds Voice of America and USAGM Government Officials Accountable

April 30, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary In recent years, USAGM Watch has uncovered and commented on multiple management scandals and journalistic…

8 minute read

Catching Up on USAGM: Biden’s U.S. Agency for Global Media Head Reinstates Executives Suspended by Michael Pack, Criticizes Him and His Appointees

April 17, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary The Hill and other U.S. media reported in late February 2021 that five individuals, described in…

7 minute read

Voice of America Delayed For Five Days Posting Story on Senator Menendez Criticism of USAGM CEO OCB Appointment

April 12, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary It took the Voice of America (VOA), U.S. tax-funded broadcaster, five days after Senator Bob…

4 minute read

Voice of America Not Posting Story on Senator Bob Menendez’s Criticism of USAGM CEO’s Choice for OCB Director

April 11, 2021

USAGM Watch Commentary UPDATE: Five days after Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) issued his statement on Wednesday April 7,…

6 minute read

Senator Bob Menendez questions USAGM acting CEO’s decision to appoint Sylvia Rosabal as Director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting

April 9, 2021

New Announcement from USAGM Watch Citizen Journalists Citizen journalists working as unpaid volunteers for non-partisan and independent USAGM…

2 minute read

Voice of America director posts a comment to BBG Watch website

June 22, 2016

BBG Watch As reported earlier by BBG Watch, Voice of America (VOA) director Amanda Bennett has posted a…

1 minute read

VIDEO Swearing-in Ceremony for new VOA Director Amanda Bennett

April 19, 2016

BBG Watch The video of the swearing-in ceremony for new VOA Director Amanda Bennett on April 18, 2016…

4 minute read

Employees don’t want new VOA director Amanda Bennett co-opted by dysfunctional management

April 18, 2016

BBG Watch Commentary The first address by new Voice of America (VOA) director Amanda Bennett was generally well…

7 minute read

Voice of America reporters upset over VOA’s treatment of Brussels terror story

March 22, 2016

BBG Watch Commentary A screenshot taken of the Voice of America mobile site at 11:33 AM on Tuesday,…

7 minute read

Marginally better Voice of America still beaten on Nancy Reagan by BBC, DW, RFI, RT

March 6, 2016

BBG Watch Commentary Image: BBC Breaking News Headline on Nancy Reagan U.S. taxpayer-funded Voice of America (VOA) is…

2 minute read

Is VOA Charter reporting by Voice of America returning?

March 3, 2016

BBG Watch Commentary Over the last several years, U.S. taxpayer-funded Voice of America (VOA) strayed far away from…

3 minute read

Voice of America’s ‘First Live Facebook Report’ on Super Tuesday

March 1, 2016

BBG Watch Commentary The Voice of America (VOA) did what was presented as VOA’s “First Live Facebook Report.”…

3 minute read

BBG is also rotten far below its head, former employee says

February 25, 2016

BBG Watch Commentary A former Voice of America (VOA) journalist took issue with some of the observations in…