Dr. Helle Dale of the Heritage Foundation, who keeps a close eye on the Broadcasting Board of Governors and U.S. international broadcasting, noted in the foundation’s blog that the Senate Committee on Appropriations put a break this week on the BBG’s plans to end Voice of America radio and television broadcasts to China. Pointing out [...]

While cutting $8 million from the China branch, there will be an increase of $9 million for BBG and IBB management; while eliminating 45 core journalistic positions, the BBG and IBB will have 48 more managers. — Huchen Zhang, Senior Editor, Voice of America China Branch On Valentine’s Day, the BBG announced to all the [...]

On Valentine’s Day, the BBG announced to all the employees of the VOA’s China branch its proposal to eliminate VOA shortwave radio and TV broadcasts to China on October 1. By switching to Web-only operations, the BBG told us, $8 million would be saved. Forty-five journalists (38 Mandarin and seven Cantonese, 59 percent of the [...]

Unless Congress steps in, there is a real danger that a strategic asset of great value to the United States and to freedom-loving listeners around the world will be wasted. The battle for hearts and minds did not end with the Cold War (which broadcasting can help win, by the way). Far from it. Helle [...]

Participants in a panel discussion held in Washington in May by the Heritage Foundation criticized the Broadcasting Board of Governors’s (BBG) plan to end Voice of America (VOA) radio and TV broadcasts to China in Mandarin and Cantonese as a retreat for U.S. international broadcasting, public diplomacy, and journalism in support of human rights. A [...]