New Law Would Reorganize VOA

Control over U.S. government international broadcasting will be consolidated under a powerful chief executive, under legislation expected to soon be signed by President Barack Obama.

The changes were included as part of an annual defense funding bill, the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, which was passed last week by both houses of Congress.

Full story at :

http://www.voanews.com/a/new-law-would-reorganize-voa-other-us-government/3635977.html

All Quiet on the Western Front

2012 Challenges and Opportunities in the Five-Year Strategic Plan for U.S. International Broadcasting - by Alan L. Heil Jr.

As the Voice of America marks its 70th anniversary, what lies ahead for all of the world’s publicly-funded overseas networks in the year ahead? For Western broadcasters collectively, 2011 was the most potentially devastating year in more than eight decades on the air. Now, because of fiscal uncertainties in their host countries and rapidly evolving competition from both traditional and new media, they face huge cuts in airtime and operations. Can America step up to help fill the gap? A new strategic plan for U.S.-funded overseas broadcasting charts a possible path.

Read the article at :
http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/rev_item/2012/0106/ca/heil_quiet.html