Radio Mashaal & RFERL’s North Macedonia Service to close down on 31st March '26

RFE/RL’s North Macedonia Service (@RSE_Makedonski) and Pashto-language service, Radio Mashaal (@MashaalRadio) will close on March 31, 2026.

RFE/RL President & CEO @SteveCapus :

“The closure of these two services is a loss for the audiences they serve. But RFE/RL’s current budgetary environment compels us to reprioritize how we distribute our resources. This decision was made with a profound appreciation for the work these teams have done, and the standard of excellence they have upheld.”

@RFERL on X

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Hungarian Service Ceases Operations

RFE/RL's Hungarian Service is closing down from midnight on November 21, some five years after relaunching to provide Hungarians with accurate, independent news and information.

In a message to its audience, the service said its team had "worked with dedication to provide independent journalism for audiences in Hungary."

The service's content will remain available online.

"We are deeply grateful for the trust, engagement, and support our readers have shown us," the statement said.

RFE/RL President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Capus praised the work of the Hungarian Service's journalists.

"Their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering contribution to our mission have shaped our success in meaningful ways, and we remain profoundly grateful for everything they have brought to this organization," he said.

The Hungarian service was relaunched in 2020 at the direction of the US Congress. Prior to that, it had operated between 1950 and 1993.

The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), an independent government agency that oversees RFE/RL, Voice of America, and other US-funded broadcasters,, notified Congress on November 5, 2025, that it intended to terminate RFE/RL's Hungarian Service. The termination is effective November 21, 2025.

"We are grateful for the audience's attention and support from the first day of our new operation and were honored to provide them unique and original stories," Tibor Vovesz, the head of the Hungarian service, said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org

RFE/RL Expands Broadcasts to Afghanistan Despite Taliban Ban

RFE/RL Expands Broadcasts to Afghanistan Despite Taliban Ban

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) award-winning programming is now available 24 hours a day for millions of Afghan listeners who have come to rely on the broadcaster in the last two decades. Two months after the Taliban removed RFE/RL from AM and FM radio transmitters in Afghanistan, Azadi, as RFE/RL is known locally, is doubling its time on air providing Afghans with independent news in the Dari and Pashto languages. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time Azadi is broadcasting on mediumwave on 1296 kHz, while during the second half of the day programming is available on shortwave.

This broadcasting milestone comes on Azadi's 21st anniversary, and further solidifies RFE/RL's role as a true public broadcaster – the only non-governmental radio broadcaster available 24/7 in Afghanistan. In the last two decades Azadi has become a staple of everyday life. Afghans frequently referred to Azadi as their "national broadcaster," and its mix of news and information is commonly heard in public settings in the country, from marketplaces to taxis.

"Our expanded programming for Afghan audiences is indicative of the resilience and creativity of our team and their dedication to continue to reach our audiences in Afghanistan in the face of extreme Taliban pressure," said RFE/RL President and CEO Jamie Fly. "Azadi will now be available for Afghans day and night to give them hope for a better future."

Despite significant pressure from the Taliban, RFE/RL continues to provide bold coverage of stories suppressed by state media. Azadi has given a platform for the most vulnerable -- women and girls, victims of violent extremism, the LGBTQI+ community, and youth -- to share their experiences. At every step, Azadi has responded to the Taliban's restrictive governance: when the Taliban forbade music, Azadi continued to play music on air; when the Taliban banned women from public life, Azadi gave women space to tell their stories; when the Taliban barred girls from attending school, Azadi and Learn Afghanistan provided a rigorous curriculum over the radio. For 21 years, Azadi has helped the powerless find community and hope.

In contrast to official Taliban claims, Afghans have again and again expressed their appreciation and gratitude to RFE/RL for providing a vital public service. RFE/RL will continue to find new and innovative ways to reach audiences.

Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, and RFE/RL journalists have paid the ultimate price for their commitment to a free press. In 2018, three Radio Azadi journalists -- Maharram Durrani, Abadullah Hananzai, and Sabawoon Kakar -- were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul. In 2020, Mohammad Ilyas Dayee was killed in a targeted bomb attack.

About RFE/RL

RFE/RL relies on its networks of local reporters to provide accurate news and information to more than 40 million people every week in 27 languages and 23 countries where media freedom is restricted, or where a professional press has not fully developed. Its videos were viewed 15 billion times on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram in 2022. RFE/RL is an editorially independent media company funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress through the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

(Press Release)

USAGM CEO Bennett condemns media restrictions in Afghanistan

December 1, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to orders from Taliban officials to stop broadcasting all USAGM-funded programming on FM and AM transmitters operated by Radio Television Afghanistan, CEO Amanda Bennett issued the following statement:

"This action by the Taliban will be seen for what it truly is — an effort to restrict Afghan citizens' access to uncensored information," said Bennett. "The people of Afghanistan have the right to know all of the facts, including the information the Taliban is hoping to censor in this flagrant attack on press freedom."

USAGM research in 2022 indicates that Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty content is reaching 66% of Afghan adults with access to a mobile phone on a weekly basis.  

"Afghan citizens are seeking out independent, fact-based journalism from Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and this action by the Taliban is a reminder of the importance of press freedom," Bennett added. "Repressive governments around the world like this one clearly understand the power of independent media — that is why they spend so much time and effort fighting it. We are already exploring alternate transmissions, and we will not let this action deter us."

For more information, contact USAGM Office of Public Affairs at (202) 920-2000.

The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is an independent federal agency, overseeing public service media networks that provide unbiased news and information in countries where the press is restricted. USAGM entities include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti), Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa) and Open Technology Fund. USAGM programming has a measured audience of 410 million in more than 100 countries and in 63 languages.

‌
(‌Press Release)

RFE/RL Condemns Cutoff Of Its Broadcasts In 13 Afghan Cities

RFE/RL Condemns Cutoff Of Its Broadcasts In 13 Afghan Cities

RFE/RL has condemned a decision by the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan to cut off its broadcasts in 13 Afghan cities and said it will continue to broadcast from outside the country despite the move.

More at :

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-cuts-off-rferl-radio-broadcasts-afghanistan/32156965.html

Radio Azadi FM Broadcasts Banned in 13 cities of Afghanistan

KABUL (BNA) The Ministry of Information and Culture has banned the broadcasting of Radio Azadi FM in 13 major cities of the country with effect from 1st Dec '22.

More at :

https://bakhtarnews.af/en/broadcasts-radio-azadi-fm-banned-in-13-cities-of-afghanistan/

Related :

Taliban Bans VOA, RFE/RL Radio in Afghanistan

https://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-bans-voa-rfe-rl-radio-in-afghanistan/6856697.html

USAGM networks recognized for excellence with Edward R. Murrow Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) networks-Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia (RFA)-have been named winners of the prestigious 2019 National Murrow Awards. This is the first time the two networks have received this honor, presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) for excellence in electronic journalism.

"I am thrilled that the RTDNA's Edward R. Murrow Awards have recognized the high-caliber reporting that RFE/RL and RFA produce," said USAGM CEO John F. Lansing. "My heartfelt congratulations go to the skillful journalists and storytellers who offer our global audiences accurate and professional journalism-the bedrock of what we do at USAGM."

CEO Lansing added, "Edward R. Murrow, who in the early 1960s led the U.S. Information Agency, a predecessor to USAGM, would be proud of our modern media organization's wide-reaching impact."

Daisy Sindelar, Acting President of RFE/RL, and Libby Liu, President of RFA, offered praise for their award-winning networks, which provide compelling, uncensored and locally-oriented news and information to audiences in some of the harshest media environments around the world.

"We are honored to receive this recognition for providing our audiences with unique stories, powerfully told, on the most influential formats in our coverage area," said Sindelar.

RFE/RL received the National Murrow Awards' top honor for Multimedia in the Television Network category. Judges reviewed eleven examples of RFE/RL's impressive domestic news coverage ranging from Armenia to Uzbekistan.

RFA Mandarin's "The Women Against the State" won in the juried contest's Excellence in Video category. The piece focuses on the aftermath of China's "709 crackdown"- a nationwide roundup of lawyers and legal activists that began in July 2015 - and the wives of those still held in custody today.

"RFA Mandarin's digital team deserves full credit for this prestigious award. Their hard work to spotlight these brave individuals and share their stories speaks to Radio Free Asia's critical journalistic mission," said Liu.

Although this marks the first time that RFA has won a National Murrow Award, the network won several Regional Murrow Awards in years past.

The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international media, whose mission is to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. USAGM networks include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti), Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa). USAGM programming has a measured audience of 345 million in more than 100 countries and in 60 languages.

(Press Release)

       

Pakistani authorities orders closure of Radio Mashaal

Pakistan's Interior Ministry on January 19 ordered the closure after Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency accused the private, U.S.-government funded broadcaster of airing programs "against the interest of Pakistan" and "in-line with [a] hostile intelligence agency's agenda."

"The order to close Radio Mashaal is a draconian move by Pakistani authorities and a direct threat to press freedom," said Steven Butler, the Committee to Protect Journalism's Asia program coordinator.

Full story at :

https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-orders-closure-rferl-bureau-islamabad/28985164.html

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty announces Thomas Kent as new President

WASHINGTON - Thomas Kent a long time Associated Press journalist has been appointed the new President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Chairman of the network's Board of Directors Jeff Shell announced today.

"Tom was chosen in a competitive selection process from a strong field of candidates," Shell said. "RFE/RL will benefit enormously from such an outstanding leader. His track record in digital news expansion and his collaborative leadership style aligns with the board's vision of a unified, innovative and effective U.S. International Media."

Mr. Kent is a skilled media executive with extensive experience in management, international reporting and journalism standards development. He has worked at The Associated Press since 1972, filling roles such as Moscow Bureau Chief, International Editor, Deputy Managing Editor and, most recently, Standards Editor. In these positions, he played a leading role in the editorial and technical transformation of AP into a fully digital news organization. He has also been involved in corporate strategic planning and the development of new multimedia services.

Commenting on Kent's appointment, BBG CEO and Director, John F. Lansing said, "Our winning strategy is our talented staff. Tom joins a cadre of committed journalists around the world with the simple goal of ensuring that everyone has access to impartial, independent and professional news and information about their communities that helps citizens take more control over their lives.

"He brings extensive experience in developing successful digital media strategies and joins us at a highly dynamic time when BBG networks are streamlining and employing content in creative and impactful ways. I am thrilled to welcome him on board."

"I am honored to be leading RFE/RL," Kent said. "I look forward to joining its highly skilled team as we create great journalism across languages and geographies."

Kent has served as a member of the advisory board of the Ethical Journalism Network, leader of the Online News Association's Build Your Own Ethics Code project, advisor for the Society of Professional Journalists and international reporting juror for the Pulitzer Prize Prizes. He has written and spoken extensively on journalism ethics and has a particular interest in Russian news media. Kent has taught at the Harriman Institute at Columbia University and has guest lectured at Yale University, Moscow State University, St. Petersburg University of Trade Unions, Columbia Law School, and New York University, among others. He speaks four languages and is fluent in Russian. He is a graduate of Yale University.

Shell and Lansing praised Acting RFE/RL President Nenad Pejic for his leadership and guidance since taking over after Kevin Klose stepped down in 2015.

"I am delighted to hand over the reins to Tom." said Nenad Pejic, Acting RFE/RL President. "I believe his passion for journalism will ensure that RFE/RL continues to deliver programs that have a positive effect on people's lives."

(Press Release)

U.S. International Media Attract Record Audience of 215 Million

WASHINGTON — The BBG's networks draw a record-high audience of 215 million people each week, according to a new report released today. This includes noteworthy increases in competitive media markets, on television and online.

 

More at ....

 

www.bbg.gov/blog/2014/11/17/u-s-international-media-attract-record-audience-of-215-million/

 

Performance and Accountability Reports

www.bbg.gov/about-the-agency/research-reports/performance-accountability/

 

BBG's 2014 audience overview

 

www.bbg.gov/wp-content/media/2014/11/2014-Global-Audience-Overview-Factsheet-FINAL.pdf

RFE/RL and VOA Affiliate Stations Forced Off the Air in Ukraine

WASHINGTON- Television and radio stations in eastern Ukraine carrying programming of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America have been forced off the air, depriving audiences of popular sources of unbiased news and information.

 

On May 12 at 10:30 a.m. local time, unidentified, Russian-speaking armed men forced employees to turn off the transmitter at a station in Donetsk used by RFE/RL broadcast affiliate Radio Era FM. The men then reconfigured the transmitter to broadcast programming from "Radio Respublika," a previously unknown station airing Russian state radio programs and other pro-Russian content. RFE/RL programs normally run on Radio Era FM from 6-7 a.m. and 9-10 p.m. Monday through Friday but are currently off the air. This follows a shutdown of Radio Era's FM transmitter in Crimea on March 9.

 

RFE/RL Editor-in-Chief Nenad Pejic condemned the Radio Era FM takeover, stating that "millions of Ukrainian citizens are being deprived of access to accurate, verifiable information about what is happening around them, at a crucial juncture in their lives. The seizure of Radio Era FM's transmitter is a deplorable violation of the universal right to freedom of opinion and expression."  

 

Voice of America is also experiencing disruptions to its programming in the area. Channel 5, which broadcasts the VOA Ukrainian Service  news program Chas-Time, has lost its terrestrial signal in several cities in the eastern part of the country, including Donetsk and Luhansk. According to Channel 5, several cable providers in the region have also been threatened, potentially further disrupting distribution via cable.

 

Despite the increasingly dangerous environment for reporters in the region, VOA and RFE/RL  have been providing much-needed news and information. Threats to journalists in Ukraine have been escalating, and on May 1, an RFE/RL video crew was attacked while covering a demonstration in Kharkiv.

 

On May 2, masked, angry men carrying knives and axes threatened two VOA video reporters in Donetsk. In addition, a VOA reporter working in the Donetsk area returned to Kyiv for a few days after being warned that he was on a "snatch list" of journalists targeted for capture.   He has since returned to Donetsk.

 

(BBG Press Release)

Website Showcasing News From Around the World Debuts

Washington, DC - Breaking international news gathered by one of the world's most extensive networks of journalists can now be found in one place thanks to a new online initiative by the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

Today marks the launch of the BBG's Global News Dashboard, which pulls together the English-language news from the more than 50 bureaus, production centers and offices supported by the agency's staff journalists and more than 1500 stringers around the globe.

"This site showcases the depth and reach of the high-quality journalism that the BBG produces," said Richard M. Lobo, director of the BBG's International Broadcasting Bureau. "There are millions of

English-speakers worldwide who get their news from the individual websites of our broadcasters. It makes sense to pool our resources and put them to work to serve our audiences even better."

The new site's English-language content will come from Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Asia. Users who access stories will be directed to the original content on the sites of the three broadcasters. The Global News Dashboard also will include links to original content in Spanish of Radio/TV Martí and the Arabic-language online offerings of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

Before development of the Dashboard, people interested in the work of the BBG would have to visit the websites of five separate broadcasters. This tool, built on the Pangea content management system developed by RFE/RL and used by the majority of BBG's broadcasters to power their websites, makes that search easier.

"It's such a simple tool, but it will have a resounding effect," said Robert Bole, director of BBG's Office of Digital and Design Innovation. "Bringing all these sources of information together makes a powerful statement about this agency and the way we do business. We're so much greater than just the sum of our parts."

The Global News Dashboard can be found at http://www.globalnewsdashboard.com

(BBG Press Release)

RFE/RL's Radio Azadi marks 10 years of broadcasting in Afghanistan.

Radio Azadi: Ten Years Of Impact In Afghanistan
This week, RFE/RL's Radio Azadi marks 10 years of bringing news and information to the people of Afghanistan. During a special day of programming, the station which reaches over 60% of Afghans weekly asked listeners to call or write to share what Radio Azadi programming means to them.
The reaction was overwhelming as Radio Azadi received thousands of SMS and telephone messages, including from listeners in the country's most remote villages and from all walks of life.
"We tried to play as many of the messages as we could," says Radio Azadi Director Hashem Mohmand. "Listeners who didn't have their tributes aired should know that we still heard their voices."
"It was humbling to see such an outpouring of affection both for the radio as a whole and for individual presenters," Mohmand adds. "It was very emotional day for many of us. We are truly honored to do what we do." Praise for Radio Azadi was not limited to Afghans. House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), and Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) each penned letters of congratulations to Radio Azadi, which were also shared with listeners.
Radio Azadi is the second incarnation of RFE/RL broadcasting to Afghanistan in the Dari and Pashto languages. "Radio Free Afghanistan" served audiences throughout the country from 1985 to 1993, during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
For more on Radio Azadi, and to listen in Dari or Pashto, check this link :
http://bit.ly/aAdO4s

(Press Release)

RFE's Pakistan Broadcasts Boosted To Nine Hours A Day

September 15, 2010
(PRAGUE/ISLAMABAD) RFE's programs in the Pashtun regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan are expanding from six to nine hours a day, starting today. Amid the growing number of extremist-controlled radio stations in the region, Radio Mashaal ("Torch" in Pashto) covers local and international news with independent reports on terrorism, politics, women's issues, and health care.

Recently, a mother who was the sole survivor of a 2008 Taliban attack on a prominent anti-Taliban family in the Swat Valley told her story on the air. Radio Mashaal also interviewed the only survivor of a Taliban attack on a local jirga earlier this year that killed 30 people.

"People don't know these stories," says Acting Radio Mashaal Director Amanullah Ghilzai. "The more we broadcast Taliban atrocities, the more people come forward to share their experiences."

In May, Radio Mashaal's Daud Khattak interviewed a 26 year-old Pakistani father of two whose hands were chopped off by the Taliban after being accused of theft. Two others also had their hands cut off, but local residents - including the men's families - never reported the incident to authorities for fear of Taliban retribution.

Radio Mashaal's extensive coverage of the devastating floods in Pakistan last month included live reports from affected areas, interviews with government officials, and reaction from the international community. One Radio Mashaal correspondent, Shah Nawaz Khan, reported on the devastation from Pakistan's remote northwest, venturing further into isolated areas than any other journalist in the region.

One of Radio Mashaal's most popular programs, My Home, My Village,takes an in-depth look at the people, history, and culture of villages across the region. Because of limited means, difficult terrain, and a dangerous security environment, listeners often know little about other people and places in the tribal areas.

RFE President Jeffrey Gedmin calls Radio Mashaal's increasing popularity "proof that people will never fail to choose truth over falsehood when given a fair chance to decide."

About Radio Mashaal
Radio Mashaal was established in January 2010 to broadcast independent news and information in the local Pashto dialect of the tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It operates out of a new bureau in Pakistan and broadcasts from RFE's Prague headquarters. Radio Mashaal shares a frequency with VOA's Radio Deewa and transmits via FM and shortwave. Online, Radio Mashaal's website provides a live stream of its broadcasts.

(RFE/RL Press Release)

RFE/RL Kyrgyz Programs Off The Air in Bishkek

March 12, 2010
Radio Free Europe's popular Kyrgyz television and radio programs have been off the air in the capital city of Bishkek since Wednesday, shortly after affiliate managers reported that they had been pressured by Kyrgyz officials.

(Prague, Czech Republic) Radio Free Europe's popular Kyrgyz television and radio programs have been off the air in the capital city of Bishkek since Wednesday, shortly after affiliate managers reported that they had been pressured by Kyrgyz officials.

RFE/RL's Bishkek television affiliate station "Echo of Manas" was warned by Kyrgyz authorities that they would face difficulties in renewing their broadcast license if they continued to air the Kyrgyz Service's widely viewed "Inconvenient Questions" and "Azattyk Plus" programs. Radio affiliates in Bishkek and the northern city of Naryn have also stopped carrying Kyrgyz Service programming.

"The Kyrgyz government has been hostile to freedom of the press for some time," said Jeffrey Gedmin, president of RFE/RL. "This incident is the latest effort by the government to restrict access to free, unbiased and independent news. Unfortunately, as Freedom House noted in its most recent 'Freedom in the World' report, the situation is only getting worse."

"This incident is the latest effort by the [Kyrgyz] government to restrict access to free, unbiased and independent news." The broadcasting of RFE/RL programs was halted just days before expected rallies and protests marking the fifth anniversary of the country's so-called Tulip Revolution.

The U.S. State Department's just released annual report on human rights in Kyrgyzstan noted that, while "the law provides for freedom of speech and of the press... the government at times restricted these rights in practice, especially through withdrawal of broadcasting rights and reportedly through intimidation of journalists." [read the Kyrgyzstan country report].

RFE/RL's difficulties in Kyrgyzstan are not new. In late 2008, UTRK, Kyrgyzstan's state broadcaster, suspended Radio Azattyk programming, calling its political content "too negative and too critical." The company later offered to resume broadcasts on condition that all programming be submitted to state authorities for prior approval. RFE/RL rejected the proposal.

About RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service
Online and on the air, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Radio Azattyk, has been a consistent and dependable provider of independent information in Kyrgyzstan for more than 50 years. Today, Radio Azattyk is a trusted source within Kyrgyzstan, with its stories - both broadcast and online - regularly cited and reprinted by local and regional media.

(Press Release)

RFE/RL Launches Radio Station in Pakistan's Pashtun Heartland

(PRAGUE, Czech Republic) On January 15, RFE/RL will begin broadcasting in the local Pashto dialects to Pakistan and the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The new station - called Radio Mashaal ("Torch" in Pashto) - will offer an alternative to the growing number of Islamic extremist radio stations in the region.

"There is an urgent need for accurate, objective news and information in Pakistan's tribal areas," says U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke. "Radio Mashaal's commitment to professional journalism in the local language will be an important contribution toward peace, reconciliation and democracy in the region."

Veteran Pakistani journalist and author Ahmed Rashid says he hopes Radio Mashaal "will provide people the kind of information they need to make the right decisions about their lives."

One surprise in store for listeners will be the reappearance of Haroon Bacha, a popular Pashtun singer who fled the region last year amid death threats from the Taliban. The 36-year-old recording artist - whose dozens of albums, music videos and television appearances made him one of the most famous entertainers in the region - will be hosting a cultural affairs show for Radio Mashaal. [see The New York Times: "U.S. Refuge for Singer Fleeing the Taliban," 10/12/08] There is an urgent need for accurate, objective news and information in Pakistan's tribal areas

The first broadcast will air live on January 15 at 4pm local time. Radio Mashaal's correspondents will be covering local and international news with in-depth reports on terrorism, politics, women's issues, and health care (with an emphasis on preventive medicine). The station will feature roundtable discussions and interviews with tribal leaders and local policymakers in addition to regular call-in programs aimed at giving listeners the opporturnity to be heard.

Radio Mashaal will operate out of a new bureau in Pakistan and broadcast from RFE/RL's Prague headquarters. The station will share a frequency with VOA's Radio Deewa and transmit via FM and shortwave. Online, Radio Mashaal's website will provide a live stream of its broadcasts.

(RFE/RL Press Release)

IBB names Andre V. Mendes Director of Engineering

Washington, DC, 01/07/2010
Andre V. Mendes has been named Director of Engineering and Technical Services for the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), effective December 21, 2009. The IBB provides engineering support for the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which encompasses the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB).

Mendes is responsible for overseeing the management of the Agency's complex network of engineering and technical systems used to distribute programming worldwide over radio, television, the Internet and new media. Mendes will lead the development and enhancement of delivery strategies for BBG transmitting stations, digital satellite systems, and information technology functions, to meet the fast-changing needs of BBG?s global audience.

Mendes most recently served as senior vice president, strategic planning and global CIO, for Special Olympics International, managing the organization's global technology infrastructure, the development of the 2011-2015 Special Olympics Strategic Plan and administering the Christmas Record Trust Fund.

Previously he served as Chief Technology Integration Officer for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), where he was responsible for both Information Technology and Broadcast Engineering during the Service's $1.8 billion transition to digital television and managed PBS' migration from a legacy tape-based environment to a ground breaking, entirely file-driven content workflow. Earlier in his career, Mendes was a technology and business-development executive for several start-up companies in the health-care and bio-technology arenas.

As a globally recognized thought leader in the convergence of media and information technology, Mendes has received numerous industry awards for his work, including one of the 2008 MIT Awards for IT Innovation. Mendes holds a degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland University College. Under the supervision of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) provides the administrative and engineering support for U.S. government-funded civilian international broadcasting.

(BBG Press Release)

Iraq planned attack on Radio Free Europe

AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTp2L7M544sJld-B432LbjRSpfLgD9C9PC582

RFE/RL To Broadcast To Abkhazia, South Ossetia

October 07, 2009
PRAGUE -- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has announced plans to launch daily broadcasts to the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia beginning in November. The 60-minute daily program will be produced by journalists in RFE/RL's Prague headquarters and correspondents in Georgia (including South Ossetia and Abkhazia) and Russia. The new broadcasts will be in Russian and will be available on shortwave radio frequencies every day in the evening. Broadcasts may also be available on FM frequencies. The broadcasts will include news and features and will be interactive with listeners. A website known as "Caucasus Echo" will debut simultaneously with the first broadcasts in November. The web presence will be optimized for dial-up connections, which predominate in the region. The new program's major objective is reconciliation among people in the regions and the bridging of different viewpoints expressed by the parties to the processes in the region.

(Source : RFE/RL)

BBG Broadcasters Offer Afghans Unprecedented Access to Candidates in Advance of Presidential Election

Washington, DC, 08/11/2009

Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, reaching the largest combined audience of any radio broadcaster in Afghanistan, are helping Afghans engage with presidential candidates in the lead up to the August 20 presidential election.VOA and RFE/RL, overseen by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, both air in Dari and Pashto and will give audiences unprecedented access to the candidates. RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan is hosting call-in shows where presidential candidates take questions from the audience, and is airing interviews with each of the 41 contenders. VOA's Radio/TV Ashna will also interview the three top prospects, as well as Shahla Atta, one of two women in the running. The BBG broadcasters both produce programming in Dari and Pashto, the most widely spoken languages in Afghanistan.On August 16, RFE/RL plans to co-host with Afghan State TV a debate among presidential candidates including current president and leading contender Hamid Karzai, who has declined to appear in other debates. Radio Free Afghanistan Director Akbar Ayazi will moderate the debate, which will be seen and heard nationwide.Three days of live TV shows from Kabul will cap off VOA's extensive coverage, which also includes live radio shows, while RFE/RL plans 12 hours of live programming around the election, keeping voters informed of the latest developments and analyzing them as they happen.Broadcast media are critical sources of information for the largely rural and illiterate people of Afghanistan. TV has expanded dramatically since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, but radio remains the nationwide medium of choice for daily news. Only word of mouth, with Afghans turning to friends, family, and tribal elders, rivals radio as a source of information.VOA and RFE/RL are also highlighting the views and opinions of ordinary Afghans both within and outside the country. VOA will host a series of six talk shows broadcast from Kabul University and from a camp for internally displaced Afghans, and will feature reports from remote locations throughout Afghanistan. In-depth coverage has been examining topics from the role of religious leaders to the effect of young voters.In addition, VOA's Deewa Radio, targeted at the Afghan-Pakistan border region, will report the attitudes of the two million Afghan refugees in Pakistan who are ineligible to vote, as well as the perspectives of Afghans living in the United States.VOA's Persian News Network and Arabic-language Alhurra TV have sent reporters to Kabul to cover the election for viewers in the Middle East, and broadcasts in many other languages will also focus on the election.VOA and RFE/RL broadcast to Afghanistan a combined 24 hours a day on radio in Dari, Pashto and Special English, and VOA broadcasts an additional 6 hours a week on television. The programs are also available online. VOA and RFE/RL broadcasts reach over 56% of Afghans each week, almost 10 million people.VOA also operates Deewa Radio with nine hours daily of live Pashto-language programming targeted at the Afghan-Pakistan border region.

(BBG Press Release)