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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.

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.

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.

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

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

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Pakistan's Audience in NWFP Hears More VOA

Pasto-speaking Pakistanis are able to hear the popular Deewa Radio more effectively as of this week thanks to an arrangement that allows the broadcasts on AM radio. Already, the new transmission is getting a good reaction. People are calling the live call-in shows to report they are hearing the programs more clearly on AM 540 from Peshawar. Deewa produces 9 hours a day of high-quality programs.