Editorials

The Voice of America long has served as a lifeline of freedom to many regions of the world, but in recent years that voice has faded in some critical areas.

A fresh example is the country of Georgia which has been in the news as a result of a Russian attack a few days ago.

Russian is the principal language in both Russia and a large portion of Georgia, a region plagued by media censorship and human rights violations.

So Georgia plunged into a media blackout as the government shut down broadcasting of Russian TV and blocked Web sites. This is a significant, but not unexpected failure, said Helle C. Dale, a Heritage Foundation foreign affairs specialist.

In recent years, the Broadcasting Board of Governors has slashed funding for programming in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia in favor of broadcasts in the Middle East and Asia.

Additionally, the Russian government has pursued a campaign to eliminate U.S. broadcasts by intimidating and harassing Voice of America's local private sectors partners, Dale pointed out.

Since 1953, the VOA has played a unique role among U.S. broadcasting entities. It is the only agency mandated by law that explains U.S. foreign policy, presents "responsible discussion and opinion on (U.S. policy)", and offers a "balanced and comprehensive projection of significant American thought and institutions."

After the end of the Cold War the VOA has declined, and in particular since the demise of the U.S. Information Agency in 1999.

Authority for U.S. broadcasting now lies with the BBG. While the global audience for U.S. broadcasting has increased by 75 percent, this growth has been almost exclusively in the Middle East and Asia, at the detriment of broadcasting in other regions, Dale said.

New funding there can be blamed for such disproportionate growth, along with outsourcing to some semi-private entities with dubious track records, it is pointed out.

The BBG has outsourced many VOA programs to semi-private entities in the Middle East, claiming they are less bureaucratic and attract larger audiences. But Dale said these organizations, especially Radio Sawana and Al-Hurra television, have suffered from several scandals due to biased reporting and mismanagement.

"Thus, while attracting larger audiences, these semi-private entities are inadequately representing America abroad," the analyst declared.

Meanwhile, funding for VOA broadcasts in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia area has either flat-lined or declined. Over the past several years, VOA has ceased virtually all English language broadcasts and cut programs in 21 other languages, mostly in these regions.

Since coming to power in 2000, Valdimir Putin has systematically brought Russia's media under control of the state or state-friendly businesses, Dale noted. Also, Russia remains one of the world's most hostile environments for independent journalism.

Yet, Dale contends it is not too late for the United States to reassert its broadcasting presence. But it will require actions by Congress and the administration.

Establishing a doctrine for U.S. broadcasting is a first objective. Currently, the BBG lacks clearly defined strategic objectives.

Other important goals are clearly delineating the mission of U.S. broadcasting and specifying the roles of each organization along with a process for targeting defined audiences, clearing and assessing messages. Reform of the BBG also is needed to eliminate a pattern of shortsighted program cuts and waste of public funds, Dale added. And Congress should ensure funding is spread to regions outside the Middle East and Asia.

Need for a powerful Voice of America has not waned. In its annual report on press freedom, Freedom House described the past year as one of "global decline." Of 64 countries surveyed, one-third had a press that was "not free."

Clearly, the lifeline of freedom needs to be revised to provide these critical regions uncensored news and tell the American story.

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