Informal
notes
Voice of America
by Alayne Moody
November 21, 2001
VOA FACT SHEET
"The Voice of America (VOA) is an international multimedia broadcasting service funded by the U.S. Government. VOA broadcasts over 900 hours of news, informational, educational, and cultural programs every week to an audience of some 91 million worldwide. VOA programs are produced and broadcast in English and 52 other languages through radio, satellite television, and the Internet. "http://www.ibb.gov/pubaff/faq.html
VOA's BUDGET
- $106 million for programming
- $170 million for engineering and transmission (shared with WorldNet)
- Funding is 20-percent lower than during the 1980s.
AUDIENCE
- 91 million listeners are concentrated in Nigeria, Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan.
- Even in countries in which the United States is unpopular -- i.e., Iran and Afganistan -- more people listen to VOA than any other international radio station.
ADMINISTRATION
- During its life, VOA has been a part of the Office of War Information, the U.S. Information Agency, and the
EFFECTS OF VOICE OF AMERICA
- In Yugoslavia, VOA might have contributed to the Milosevic government's allow the banned independent station Radio B-92 back on the air by airing news reports from stringers who had once worked for the station.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?
- Moving into satellite broadcasting.
- Working with independent affiliates in foreign countries.
- Efforts have been made to enhance VOA's autonomy
- Reporters are trying to appear independent from government control in order to improve credibility.