VOA’s Creole Service Reaches Millions in Haiti with Special News Reports; Comment Line
Washington, D.C., January 13, 2010 – Haitians, cut off from the world by a devastating earthquake, tuned in to special shortwave and satellite radio broadcasts from the Voice of America’s (VOA) Creole Service to learn the latest news and information.
Hours after Tuesday’s earthquake struck near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, VOA broadcast a 90-minute special program to the people of Haiti. The program included statements of support from President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; updates from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Red Cross, the United Nations and Haitian geologists; and interviews from Haiti. Up-to-date information is also available around the clock on www.VOANews.com/creole.
VOA also set up a special call-in number – 1-202-205-9942, mailbox 42 – for people to leave messages that will be broadcast to Haiti. Facebook and Twitter accounts are also being created.
Today, the service broadcast 30 minutes of news, including an interview with Haitian Ambassador Raymond Joseph. Another show is scheduled for 12:30pm EST/17300 UTC.
“In times of crises, VOA is a lifeline of information,” said VOA Director Danforth Austin. “Because of our technologies, we are able to reach people in their own languages when disasters strike. Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti, and we’ll continue to give them the latest, accurate news.”
Ronald Cesar, chief of VOA’s Creole Service, said it was difficult for people to get telephone lines out of Haiti. In addition, damage was severe to one of the VOA’s FM affiliates, Radio Guinen. “I talked with the manager and he said his tower was down,” Cesar said.
VOA is the leading international broadcaster in Haiti, with a weekly audience reach of 50%.
Note for Editors: If you would like to cover VOA’s Creole broadcasting to Haiti or interview the VOA staff, please contact VOA Public Relations at 202-203-4959 or askvoa@voanews.com.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
VOA at the Forefront of New Media Technologies
Just wanted to remind folks about how involved VOA is in new media technologies. For some reason, some members of Congress think we're still radio/television-only.
In fact, VOA (www.voanews.com), the largest U.S. international broadcaster reaching 125 million people in 45 languages, is actively engaged in using new media technologies -- along with radio and television -- to reach its worldwide audience. VOA has YouTube channels, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, RSS news feeds, blogs, mobile headlines and Podcasts.
In Iran, for instance, VOA's Persian News Network -- which reaches about one-in-four adult Iranians -- has embraced new media, but is careful to ensure traditional values of journalism are not sacrified. VOA has received thousands of videos from Iranians, and is planning to add an application to the iPhone and Android which will allow Iranians to download Farsi broadcasts.
Elsewhere, VOA has teamed up with mobile phone providers to allow SMS news and information in Nigeria, Kenya, China, Pakistan, Indonesia and Ghana, among other places.
VOA has many other exciting projects: an interactive English-learning website for Mandarin and Farsi speakers is just one.
VOA is at the forefront of delivering its content on a variety platforms to reach as many people as possible with accurate, fact-based news and information.
In fact, VOA (www.voanews.com), the largest U.S. international broadcaster reaching 125 million people in 45 languages, is actively engaged in using new media technologies -- along with radio and television -- to reach its worldwide audience. VOA has YouTube channels, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, RSS news feeds, blogs, mobile headlines and Podcasts.
In Iran, for instance, VOA's Persian News Network -- which reaches about one-in-four adult Iranians -- has embraced new media, but is careful to ensure traditional values of journalism are not sacrified. VOA has received thousands of videos from Iranians, and is planning to add an application to the iPhone and Android which will allow Iranians to download Farsi broadcasts.
Elsewhere, VOA has teamed up with mobile phone providers to allow SMS news and information in Nigeria, Kenya, China, Pakistan, Indonesia and Ghana, among other places.
VOA has many other exciting projects: an interactive English-learning website for Mandarin and Farsi speakers is just one.
VOA is at the forefront of delivering its content on a variety platforms to reach as many people as possible with accurate, fact-based news and information.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
VOA Buzz! The latest from VOA
VOA’s Ukrainian Service celebrated 60 years of broadcasting on December 11 with a reception and two panel discussions. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, joined BBG Governor Blanquita Cullum, Ukrainian Ambassador Oleh Shamshur, and VOA Director Danforth Austin in celebrating the event.
Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in the House and co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, said VOA has long played a role in delivering “accurate, balanced and comprehensive news and information” to Ukraine.
In an interview with VOA’s Indonesian Service, Maya Soetoro-Ng, President Obama's half-sister, said her brother, who lived in Indonesia as a child, has a broad world view and "recognizes that we need to work in concert" with people around the world. Ms. Soetoro-Ng also praised her late mother, S. Ann
Dunham, who wrote her Ph.D thesis about village life in Indonesia.
Ronald Cesar, chief of VOA’s Creole Service, spoke to Foreign Service Officers at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Va., about the growing role of Haitian-Americans in U.S. politics. Haiti’s constitution prevents dual citizenship.
Cub Scout Pack 420 from Leonardtown, Md., took took the VOA Studio Tour in December. Gy Williams and Piero Ciancio talked to them after the tour. Other visitors to VOA included Chinese news editors, American University students and Scripps Howard staff.
Spozhmai Maiwandi, director of VOA’s South Asia Division, and Bart Childs of VOA’s TV Enhancement Team, traveled to Dubai to train eleven VOA Afghan stringers in new television techniques. The training was funded under a grant from the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in the House and co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, said VOA has long played a role in delivering “accurate, balanced and comprehensive news and information” to Ukraine.
In an interview with VOA’s Indonesian Service, Maya Soetoro-Ng, President Obama's half-sister, said her brother, who lived in Indonesia as a child, has a broad world view and "recognizes that we need to work in concert" with people around the world. Ms. Soetoro-Ng also praised her late mother, S. Ann
Dunham, who wrote her Ph.D thesis about village life in Indonesia.
Ronald Cesar, chief of VOA’s Creole Service, spoke to Foreign Service Officers at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Va., about the growing role of Haitian-Americans in U.S. politics. Haiti’s constitution prevents dual citizenship.
Cub Scout Pack 420 from Leonardtown, Md., took took the VOA Studio Tour in December. Gy Williams and Piero Ciancio talked to them after the tour. Other visitors to VOA included Chinese news editors, American University students and Scripps Howard staff.
Spozhmai Maiwandi, director of VOA’s South Asia Division, and Bart Childs of VOA’s TV Enhancement Team, traveled to Dubai to train eleven VOA Afghan stringers in new television techniques. The training was funded under a grant from the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
Friday, December 4, 2009
VOA Afghan Service Chief at SAIS
http://www.sais-jhu.edu/news-and-events/index.htm#jawad
Voice of America’s Beth Mendelson, Chief of VOA’s Afghan Service, was a
panelist today at a John’s Hopkins University School of Advanced
International Studies discussion, “Afghanistan: Where Do We Go From Here?”
with keynote speaker Said Tayeb Jawad.
The event, sponsored by SAIS’s Center on Politics and Foreign Relations and
moderated by CPFR Director Robert Guttman, examined the Afghan perspective
on the Obama administration’s new war strategy for Afghanistan which
includes a major military surge of 30,000 additional U.S. troops and an 18
month timetable to drawdown American forces serving in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Jawad acknowledged his land-locked country will have a steep task
accommodating the arrival of 30,000 fresh troops, the first of which are set
to deploy within weeks. The ambassador added efforts to improve relations
with neighboring countries will help ensure there is support for the new
recruits.
The ambassador also said the U.S. success in Afghanistan will involve
efforts to engage and understand the needs of the Afghan people.
Along with Ambassador Jawad and Mr. Guttman, Mendelson was joined on the
panel by Daniel Dombey, diplomatic correspondent at the Financial Times. Video
and audio of the discussion can be seen at the SAIS Web site at
http://www.sais-jhu.edu/index.html.
Voice of America’s Beth Mendelson, Chief of VOA’s Afghan Service, was a
panelist today at a John’s Hopkins University School of Advanced
International Studies discussion, “Afghanistan: Where Do We Go From Here?”
with keynote speaker Said Tayeb Jawad.
The event, sponsored by SAIS’s Center on Politics and Foreign Relations and
moderated by CPFR Director Robert Guttman, examined the Afghan perspective
on the Obama administration’s new war strategy for Afghanistan which
includes a major military surge of 30,000 additional U.S. troops and an 18
month timetable to drawdown American forces serving in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Jawad acknowledged his land-locked country will have a steep task
accommodating the arrival of 30,000 fresh troops, the first of which are set
to deploy within weeks. The ambassador added efforts to improve relations
with neighboring countries will help ensure there is support for the new
recruits.
The ambassador also said the U.S. success in Afghanistan will involve
efforts to engage and understand the needs of the Afghan people.
Along with Ambassador Jawad and Mr. Guttman, Mendelson was joined on the
panel by Daniel Dombey, diplomatic correspondent at the Financial Times. Video
and audio of the discussion can be seen at the SAIS Web site at
http://www.sais-jhu.edu/index.html.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
VOA Expands Audience: The Washington Post
VOA's Expands Audience -- Nice piece that quotes me! in today's Front Section of the Washington Post. check it out
Voice of America expands audience
Latin America becomes a focus as leaders there criticize U.S.
Washington Post - November 24, 2009
MIAMI -- Facing a group of presidents loudly critical of Washington, the U.S. government's Voice of America broadcast is expanding its audience in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, VOA officials said.
...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/23/AR2009112303863.html
Voice of America expands audience
Latin America becomes a focus as leaders there criticize U.S.
Washington Post - November 24, 2009
MIAMI -- Facing a group of presidents loudly critical of Washington, the U.S. government's Voice of America broadcast is expanding its audience in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, VOA officials said.
...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/23/AR2009112303863.html
Monday, November 23, 2009
Afghan Star
Just wanted to make sure people know that Afghan Star -- Daoud Sediqi -- who was the American Idol of Afghanistan is now working for VOA
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