VOA's Outreach to Iran

I forgot to post this earlier in the week, but here's VOA's response to John Brown’s blog “A Note to Obama and YouTube.” (http://publicdiplomacypressandblogreview.blogspot/com/
John:
"Your blog post of Friday, March 20 implies President Obama, in his address to the Iranian people on Nowruz, bypassed U.S. international broadcasting, including the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), the two U.S. government broadcasters that provide news and information directly to Iran.

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The White House provided VOA, the largest Persian-language broadcaster, with Obama’s three-minute taped address in advance, embargoed for release at 11:30 p.m. Thursday EDT. VOA provided the tape to its sister broadcastes, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL); Radio Free Asia (RFA); Middle East Broadcasting Network (Al Hurra TV and Radio Sawa) and Radio/TV Marti.

By the time the embargo was lifted, the Obama video was posted on www.voanews.com, www.voanews.com/persian/, and VOA’s partner YouTube channels as well as on other U.S. international broadcasting sites.

VOA reaches more than 29 people million people weekly with its Persian News Network – satellite television, radio and Internet. RFE/RL runs Radio Farda which broadcasts into Iran."

VOA Briefing From IFES

VOA reporters just had terrific briefing from staffers at IFES -- The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). The non-partisan, non-profit organization, which works in about 60 countries and is supported by the U.S. Government, among others. IFES provides provides countries with technical advice and tools to run democratic elections. Chris Hennemyer, vice president for communications and compliance, said IFES doesn't view elections as isolated events but rather as processes that unfold over time." IFES is working all over the world -- including places like Sudan.

VOA Visits UVA

Here is Beth Mendelson (left), Henna Ayub (middle) and me (right)

This weekend, I visited the University of Virginia where a wonderful senior named Henna Ayub, head of UVA's Afghan Students Association, organized a discussion about drug trafficking in Afghanistan. Henna, whose family came to the United States from Kandahar, Afghanistan put the event together after she saw VOA's documentary "A Fateful Harvest" on YouTube. (check it out!) More than 30 people came out to discuss how VOA covers Afghanistan -- particularly the war on drugs. Beth Mendelson, chief of VOA's Afghan Service, talked about VOA's ability to gain access to health clinics and drug busts -- and capture it all on tape.

Henna, who wants to be a doctor, brought her family, including her wonderful mother, who cooked delicious Afghan food for the occasion.

Visiting schools and colleges is one of the best parts of working in public relations for VOA. When you meet energetic, resourceful, engaged students like Henna and her friends, you realize how many talented people live in this country.

If you'd like VOA to visit your school, please email me at jmower@voanews.com

VOA response to Daniel Pipes

If anyone has read the Daniel Pipes piece, here's our response. Thanks! The Voice of America (VOA) regularly provides guidance to our journalists on style and usage to enable writers to communicate with audiences clearly, precisely and consistently. It was in this context that Jennifer Janin wrote to the Urdu Service, reinforcing guidelines in the VOA News Stylebook, which is updated regularly. What Mr. Pipes' readers may not know is that VOA is governed by the VOA Charter, which became a law in July 12, 1976 was reiterated in the more recent U.S. International Broadcasting Act of 1994. It mandates the U.S. international broadcaster “will serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news. VOA news will be accurate, objective, and comprehensive.”

VOA reaches an estimated 134 million people around the world in 45 languages by radio, television and Internet. A major reason for our success is our credibility, which reflects our vigorous adherence to the Charter and VOA’s Journalistic
Code, calling for reliable and unbiased reporting.

Finally, Mr. Pipes' comments about Spozhmai Maiwandi are unacceptable.
Ms. Maiwandi, director of VOA's Southeast Asia Division, is a professional journalist, a loyal American citizen and a longtime, valued employee of the Voice of America.

Joan Mower

Director, public relations

Voice of America

VOA Scoops!

Although I'm in VOA public relations, I'll always be a journalist at heart. That's why I'm always thrilled when I hear about scoops by VOA reporters.

Here's a good one:
Last Friday (Feb. 27), Mariam Kurtz, who a journalist from Tanzania who worked in our office while in school, called to say she knew the name of the main who was auctioning off glasses and sandals that used to belong to Mahatma Gandhi. The owner, James Otis of California, would be willing to talk with a VOA reporter, Mariam said. (Mariam's husband, Lester Kurtz, and Otis are working on a documentary film about non-violence.)

Shortly after the call, Niharika Acharya, a broadcaster with VOA's Hindi's service, called Otis who told her the whole story. A peace activist, Otis never imagined the auction would cause a controversy. He hoped the artifacts would go on tour to help teach non-violence.

Nelson Lopes, another VOA staffer with the Portuguese, has excellent connections in Guinea Bissau. So good that after the country's president and the army chief of staff were killed, Lopes reached the Minster of Defense to confirm the killings.

That's the kind of access VOA reporters have -- around the world. We're broadcasting in 45 languages -- and we've got people in every corner. Literally.