Iranians Watched Obama Speech on VOA

As Christiane Amanpour pointed out on CNN, Iranians were watching President Obama's spech on VOA -- which is illegal in Iran! There's a lot people breaking the law out there! Our surveys show one in four adults in Iran watches VOA. More later..

Also moderated a terrific panel at the Center for International Media Assistance (www.cima.ned.org) It looked at Radio's Role in Democracy and Development. Three of the most inspiring journalists ever -- Santoso of Indonesia, Tasneem Ahmar of Pakistan and Grace Githaiga of Kenya talked about their work. More to come

More on VOA Broadcasting in Pakistan

I'd like to pass along Kim Andrew Elliott's comments (http://kimelli.nfshost.com) about Rep. Mark Kirk's call for an investigation of VOA quotes from Taliban officials. Kim has succinctly defined VOA's role:

"Broadcasts that provide only the non-Taliban side of the story would not be "counter-programming." They would just be more propaganda. Real counter-programming is accurate, reliable, balanced news, which must necessarily include coverage of what opponents are doing and saying. If decision makers want to use broadcast media to transmit one-sided broadcasts into Afghanistan and Pakistan, they can do so. They can be public diplomacy under State, or information operations under Defense, as long as they are not part of or confused with US international broadcasting under the Broadcasting Board of Governors. While Taliban one-sided broadcasting might appeal to local prejudices and ideologies, US one-sided broadcasting would not (unless it is an uncommonly clever "black" clandestine operation). The latter would therefore probably not have much of an audience.

Washington Times Doesn't Tell the Whole VOA Story

Today's Washington Times (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/02/voice-of-taliban-on-voa-queried/) features a story about VOA's coverage of Pakistan. REp. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., has called for an investigation of VOA for quoting the Taliban in stories. I think VOA Director Dan Austin says it all when he points out that in order to be a credible news source, VOA does have to quote sides. But VOA doesn't provide a platform for terrorists, has strict editorial guidelines and puts interviews in context. In sum: We are a news organization -- not a propaganda machine. And some people-- particularly those in the U.S. Government -- have a hard time getting their head around this notion that U.S. taxpayers fund news. That, by the way, is exactly how BBC's World Service works. Austin also points out that the Deewa stringers in the region -- there are about 20 of them -- are often threatened by the Taliban. They are brave journalists who we admire and respect.

And by the way, don't take my word for it. Please visit www.voanews.com to see the kind of work we are doing. and I invite everyone to take the VOA Studio Tour in Washington.

Meantime, please post your comments about the Washington Times story --call let me know your thoughts.

VOA in Iran

Roxana Saberi came to VOA last week to talk -- in Farsi --about her time in a jail in Iran on trumped up charges of spying. Saberi lived in Iran for six years --and worked for VOA some of that time -- and she knows the impact VOA's Persian News Network has. In fact, one in four adult Iranians is listening to PNN. PNN anchor Setareh Derakhshesh is no doubt as well-known in Iran as any of the American network anchors are in the United States.

But don't take it from me -- Haleh Vazeri, who studies media for the survey research company, Intermedia, told a conference at the Center for International Media Assistance last week that PNN is the the most successful example she knows about in reaching young people. (Intermedia does research for the Broadcasting Board of Governors.)

Finally, Jim Glassman's blog -- he's got it right. VOA is not in the image-building business -- we're in the news and information business!

Reaching Pakistanis on Radio in the NWFP

I hope everyone has been following what's been going on in the northwest of Pakistan. The army is trying to root out Taliban militants -- and civilians, as usual, are the collateral damage. More than 1 million people have displaced in the northwest region -- and it's hot. Temperatures are up to 114 degrees, sanitation is poor. BUT AT LEAST PEOPLE HAVE DEEWA. VOA's Deewa is a radio program that broadcasts 6 hours a day. News and information -- and culture. Here's the press release we put out today.

Washington, D.C., May 20, 2009 – Pakistanis calling in to the Voice of America’s (VOA) Deewa Radio today from camps in the country’s war-torn northwest praised the United States for providing aid and urged transparency in its distribution.

Callers to Deewa’s news and current affairs show said they were grateful for the U.S. decision, announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Tuesday, to give Pakistan $110 million in assistance, including food, tents, water and radios. They said the aid must be channeled to the most deserving people in an open manner.

Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmad, who is heading Pakistan’s relief effort, called the U.S. relief “significant.” And Iftikhar Hussain, information minister for Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) said in an interview with Deewa that he hoped other countries will follow the U.S. lead by giving assistance.

U.N. officials say more than 1.1 million people have been displaced in the northwest since Pakistan’s military launched an offensive against Taliban militants in the region. Many people are living in Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camps where sanitation is poor.

Deewa, which broadcasts in the Pashto language, can be heard on shortwave, FM and the Internet (www.voanews.com/Deewa) throughout the affected region. With 20 stringers in the Pashto-speaking part of Pakistan and 15 staff members here, Deewa broadcasts six hours daily of original programs that feature news, current affairs and call-in shows.
Started in September 2006, Deewa regularly engages with young people, women and artists in the region. It also airs shows on Muslims in America, youth, health, culture and literature.

VOA Broadcasting to Pakistan

A couple of years ago, VOA started Deewa Radio -- it's aimed at people who live in Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province where there's fighting between the Taliban and the Pakistan Army. Deewa is terrific. Most people in Pakistan speak Urdu, but people living in NWFP speak Pashto. Deewa has been doing a great job of covering the area -- examining the Taliban's efforts to disrupt life including shutting down schools for girls. If you speak -- I don't -- you can listen to Deewa at www.voanews.com. Deewa has a staff of 13 with some 21 stringers in the region. If you are in Washington, let me introduce Deewa to you.

Town Hall at the Newseum/

We're getting ready for a really cool program at the Newseum on May 5 -- it's a Town Hall bringing in people from around the world. And everyone can participate -- advance. You can send questions to obama100days@voanews.com
Or you can log onto www.voanews.com and send a video.

Check it out!