Voice of America Hindi Radio Silent in India during Terrorist Attacks

by tedlipien - November 28, 2008 - 12:18 America/New_York
Voice of America, U.S. taxpayer-funded international broadcaster, was off the air with shortwave Hindi radio broadcasts to India during the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The decision to silence these radio broadcasts was made earlier this year by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, a U.S. Government agency.

Read the full story here :
http://freemediaonline.org/freemediaonlineblog/2008/11/28/voice-of-america-radio-silent-in-india-during-terrorist-attacks/

Gautam Sharma on VOA Hindi's swan song

Did you tune into Voice of America-Hindi's last transmission via shortwave on September 30, 2008 ???

If not, then ........ Mere Awaaz Hi Meri Pehchan Hai......

Yes, its by this song by Lata Mangeshkar & Bhupendar, Voice of America Hindi bids good bye to listeners via shortwave after nearly 53 years of dedicated service.There was a special programmes containing feedbacks of listeners via letters & also recorded interviews etc of listeners on the closer of VOA Hindi via shortwave. All long time presenters of VOA Hindi Shova Bedi (who is in VOA Hindi for nearly 43 years), Ashok Sarin & others like Nirmala Joshi,Rashmi Sukla,Vijay Lakshmi, Shashi Prakash etc shared their feelings on their association with VOA Hindi's radio transmission. Also VOA Hindi's New Delhi based representative Kanhaiya Lal Nandan aired his feelings etc. I was listening to this transmission via my Grundig YB 400 Rx on 7430 kHz. I was very sad & depressed after listening to this last transmission of VOA Hindi via shortwave. And I recalled my first listening experience VOA-Hindi wayback in 1983 perhaps during one of the most dark period of my home state Assam's history in my materal uncle's residence at nearly 10 years of age. I think its not a fair decision at all. I don't think BBG had taken into account listeners response & feedbacks etc before taking a decision of closing down VOA Hindi's shortwave transmission.

73 & 55
Gautam Kumar Sharma, Assam.

VOA Hindi final transmission

Those who missed the VOA Hindi final transmission can listen online using this link :
http://www.voanews.com/real/voa/sca/hind/hind1600a.ram

OR, can download using this link
http://www.voanews.com/hindi/audio_archive.cfm

VOA Restructures Bosnian, Hindi, Serbian, Macedonian, Russian Broadcasts

PRESS RELEASE - Washington, D.C., September 29, 2008 - The Voice of America (VOA) is ceasing radio broadcasts in Hindi, Bosnian, Serbian, and Macedonian on September 30, 2008, using available resources to reach audiences in those markets through television and the Internet. No VOA language service will be shut down and no jobs will be lost.
VOA also is discontinuing its 30-minute Russian weekly television program and will deliver text, audio, and video content to Russia's fast-growing Internet market. VOA will be accessible through digital devices, including mobile Internet devices, cell phones that receive text and multi-media messages, and MP3 players. VOA's Russian radio broadcasts ended in July 2008. The change in VOA Russian's program delivery reflects the crackdown on independent media and freedom of speech in Russia. Russian government pressure has forced almost all VOA local radio and television affiliates to drop VOA and other international broadcasts. Shortwave radio listenership also has continued to decline throughout the country, with fewer than 2% of Russians using this medium weekly.
"We owe great thanks to the VOA radio journalists who have broadcast to these countries over the years," said VOA Director Danforth Austin. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) will continue radio broadcasting to Russia, Bosnia, Macedonia, and Serbia. VOA and RFE/RL are part of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the independent government agency that oversees all U.S. international broadcasting.

New Frequency for VOA Bangla

from DXAsia News

From 1st October VOA Bangla service is moving on to 9320 kHz (to get good propagation) replacing 11835 kHz from Philippine relay at 1600-1700 hrs to South Asia and parallel 7260 kHz from Thailand relay continues. Currently this 9320 kHz is used by VOA Hindi which is due to close on 30th September 2008 -so the last chance of hearing VOA Hindi is on Tuesday 30th September at 1600-1700 hrs on 9320 and 7430 kHz.

(Alok Dasgupta, Kolkata, India)

Gautam Sharma on VOA Hindi Closer

Its very disappointing to read all the posts related to VOA Hindi Closer down.Heard a few editions of their Mailbag , no info related to its close down has been aired plus any e-mails etc related to it was aired. How can a few members of BBG sitting in Washington DC appointed from diverse fields outiside that organisation can decide a fate of Govt. funded organisation without going into details of listeners response etc etc of that service???

Its really seems to me very very strange!!!

As VOA-Hindi is getting tremendous response from listeners as is evident from number of listeners participating in their live calling shows etc etc .I think BBG silently taking these steps i.e.terminating language services etc etc. without any considerations to other matters.BBG has not ordered closer of VOA's Urdu,Bangla Services yet. Why??

I'm a listener of VOA Hindi trax. (on 7280 & 7430kHz now-a-days) during 1600-1700UTC for over nearly two decades.I was in first quarter of 1983 during the one of the most darkest period of Assam at nearly age of 10, I heard my first VOA Hindi Transmission. I was in Bilasipara in my maternal uncle residence.And it was from late 1989 that I began to tune into VOA Hindi Trax. from time to time. And from then to early 1997 during my passive period of radio listening, I just tuned into their transmission. And it was from early 1998 perhaps that I began to correspond with VOA Hindi.

They have improved their coverage of India from a few years with reports from India based reporters plus with their usual excellently produced feature programmes. Who knows VOA Hindi may be going of the air for forever on Sept.30 onwards...& never returns via shortwave again!!!!

I hope better sense will prevail on all!!!!!

73 & 55
Gautam Kumar Sharma
Abhayapuri, Assam, India.

Wrong Time to Give Up Voice of America Broadcasts to India

Free MediaOnline.org & Free Media Online Blog September 16, 2006, San Francisco -- In a show of bipartisanship, two powerful members of Congress sent a letter to the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) demanding that the BBG reverse its decision to terminate Voice of America (VOA) radio programs in Hindi to India. The BBG is a bipartisan body which manages VOA and several other taxpayer-funded U.S. international broadcasters.
The two Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), stressed in their letter to the BBG that over 70% of the Indian population lives in rural villages, many with no access to TV or the Internet. They expressed surprise that the BBG wants to terminate VOA Hindi radio at the time when the United States is expanding its strategic partnership with India. They asked the BBG to allow VOA Hindi radio broadcasts to continue.
Chances are slim, however, that the Broadcasting Board of Governors will reverse its decision on India or other countries, to which VOA programs have been terminated or will soon cease, unless the whole Congress acts to force the Board to give up these programming cuts.
Unfortunately for radio listeners in India and concerned Indian Americans, the BBG enjoys strong support on this issue from Senator Joe Biden, Jr. (D-DE), Senator Barak Obama's vice presidential running mate and a powerful member of the U.S. Senate.
Edward "Ted" E. Kaufman, Senator Biden's former chief of staff who now works on his vice presidential campaign, blocked attempts last week to resume Voice of America (VOA) radio programs to Russia and other countries, including India. As a Democratic member of the BBG, Ted Kaufman was responsible earlier with other Democrats and some Republican members for terminating VOA Russian-language broadcasts just 12 days before Russia attacked Georgia on August 8. He had also voted for ending VOA broadcasts to India and a number of other countries, including Georgia.
Last week, a Republican BBG member, radio journalist Blanquita Cullum, had requested a vote on resuming VOA broadcasts in Russian and suspending plans to stop broadcasts to other countries. India was one of the countries named in Cullum's proposal. Ted Kaufman was one of the key BBG members who refused to put the proposal to a vote, rejecting arguments that the earlier decision to terminate the broadcasts was wrong and that their resumption would send a strong message to Mr. Putin.
Ted Kaufman and others on Senator Biden's staff seem to be hoping that the mainstream media will not pay attention to this issue during the presidential election campaign, thus allowing them to play politics with U.S. international broadcasting to the benefit of the senator's constituents and longtime friends.
Taking away radio broadcasting to Russia from VOA benefits another BBG-managed broadcaster, semi-private Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which is incorporated in Delaware, Senator Biden's home state.
Senator Biden has been a strong supporter of his billionaire backer Norman Pattiz. Founder and chairman of media empire Westwood One, Pattiz had served on the BBG from May 2006 until March 2006. Pattiz pushed for the elimination of many Voice of America services to fund his news and entertainment broadcasting projects for the Middle East: Radio Sawa and Alhurra Television, which have attracted much controversy.
Even after Norman Pattiz resigned from the Board in March 2006, Senator Biden's former chief of staff continued to vote for eliminating or reducing VOA radio broadcasts to India, Russia, Tibet and other countries while supporting expanding broadcasts to the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Indian Americans and other supporters of U.S. international broadcasting and media freedom can contact Ted Kaufman through the BBG executive director Jeff Trimble: jtrimble@ibb.gov. 330 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20237, Tel: (202) 203-4400, Fax: (202) 203-4585.

Send a copy of your email to the BBG spokesperson Tish King, publicaffairs@bbg.gov, and request specifically that it be forwarded to Mr. Kaufman.

You may also wish to contact the Obama-Biden campaign staff, Tel. (866) 675-2008, and the Senate offices of Senator Biden, Tel: (202) 224-5042 Fax: (202) 224-0139, and Senator Obama, Tel: (202) 224-2854 Fax: (202) 228-4260.

THIS POST CAN BE REPUBLISHED with attribution to FreeMediaOnline.org.

FreeMediaOnline.org is a 501 (c) 3 media freedom nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, CA. Contributions to FreeMediaOnline.org are tax-deductible. Please support our work in defense of media freedom worldwide.

Copy of the letter by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) can be accessed at : http://alokeshgupta.googlepages.com/image009.jpg

Broadcasting Board of Governors Refuses to Vote on Restoring Voice of America

Read the report here :
http://freemediaonline.org/freemediaonlineblog/2008/09/11/broadcasting-board-of-governors-refuses-to-vote-on-restoring-voice-of-america-radio-to-russia/

India Set to Lose Voice of America

Read the Washington Post report here :
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103305.html

Pending VOA Hindi closure upsets fans

Posted By: RnM Team 11 Sep 08 11:39 IST

MUMBAI: The impending closure of Voice of America's Hindi service on 30 September appears to upset loyal listeners, particularly from the country's Hindi belt, who have been tuned into the service for years now. The services's Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has announced that the VoA Hindi radio service will be terminated from the end of this month, a move that has also stunned its stringers and correspondents based in India. Rajasthan based J Singh, who contributes to the Hindi service of Voice of America says, "Ideally, VOA should have increased the hour slots as it has huge listenership for its cultural and regional news.” VoA's Arab radio service, Alhurra and Sawa that rely more on popular music and entertainment are flourishing at the cost of reduced Hindi service timings, point out sources. VoA is currently available as an one hour slot from 9.30 pm on the shortwave. Says Singh, “It was a platform for listeners all over the globe to ask questions and get replies to their queries. Apparently, the radio station has lost about 30 per cent listenership, when the morning time slot (6 to 6.30 am) was removed." VoA's listeners are mainly concentrated in the Hindi belt, in areas where the television and internet has not flourished much. Chabbra based regular VoA listener Hiralal Soni says, “It was the only way to be internationally connected for many remote areas and shutting the services would be a drawback for these listeners.”

Read the full story here :
http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/pending-voa-hindi-closure-upsets-fans

VOA Hindi radio service to be shut down

Voice of America's Hindi radio service is on the chopping block. As you will see below from the message that's been circulated by those who work there, radio service will cease on September 30, 2008 (it was first launched inJuly 1955). About six staffers will lose their jobs. The website and aonce-a-week, seven-minute segment on Aaj Tak, a television channel in India,will continue. A senior VOA official (who wouldn't talk on the record to SAJA forum) told me that how the web and TV presence will evolve will bedecided after the radio service stops running. I have a call into other officials, seeking on-the-record comments and will update this post asnecessary. If you have thoughts, comments, etc, please post it in the comments section below. Tips, leads, welcome, too: saja[at]columbia.edu

In the message below, Ashok Sarin of VOA Hindi Service (Radio) -akumarsarin[at]yahoo.com - asks those interested to write to members ofCongress who might be able to influence this decision. He concludes bywriting: "Even writing a letter to Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post can serve a useful purpose."You will be sorry to know that the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has announced to the employees of the Voice of America , Hindi Service (Radio) that their broadcasts will be abolished on September 30, 2008. Thisdecision was presented as being the "will of the Congress". However, in December the FY 2008 funding bill for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which was PASSED by both houses and signed by the President, directed thatthis proposed cut be REVERSED. On July 16, 2008, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs marked up the Broadcasting Board ofGovernors FY 2009 budget and again directed this proposed cut be REVERSED. Excerpts from their recommendation: Language Service Reductions - The Committee recommends sufficient funding infiscal year 2009, including $8,000,000 provided in Public Law 110-252, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008, to maintain broadcasting in languages which the BBG proposed to reduce or eliminate. The Committee supports anongoing effort to improve audience reach by utilizing the most effectivemeans of transmission; however, the Committee does not support going silentin many critical regions.It appears that the Broadcasting Board of Governors is ignoring the will of the Congress.Hindi is the flagship and national language of India . There are severval million muslims in India (more than the population of Pakistan, who keenlylisten and ask questions about US strategic partnership with India and itsefforts in the Middle East . All Hindi VOA Radio Listeners depend on VOA Hindi Radio programming and news to keep themselves fully informed and thisis one of main reasons that in a recent survey 73 per cent people gave U.S.the most favored nation status. President George Bush has already launched an initiative to promote foreign languages in American schools including HINDI. U.S. is shifting more diplomats to India while reducing the numbers in Europe, boosting attention to the rising power and importance to India . The entire U.S. business is working on "India Strategy", but BBG is not thinking straight. Indo-US nuclear deal, India cooperation in the reconstruction of Iraq andAfghanistan , joint military exercises and several other issues figure prominently in Indo-US relationship which is going to be extremely substantial in the years to come.The Urdu Service of VOA for Pakistan, Dari and Pashto Services forAfghanistan, have been extended by several hours a day while the Hindi Radio Broadcast to India is only an hour a day and that too is likely to beeliminated. Shutting the Hindi Radio will be an insult to the people ofIndia . Radio is the only medium to reach all the 750 million Hindi speaking people of India.Given the strategic importance to India as the world's largest democracy, ade facto nuclear power, world's fifth largest economy and an important ally of the united States in the WAR AGAINST GLOBAL TERRORISM, shutting down the well established daily Hindi Radio programming since July 1955, should not be favored.I will urge you to please take this matter up with the members of India Caucus and other members of the Appropriation Committees of both the U.S.House of Representatives and the Senate, plead with them that they advise BBG Chairman and other members of the Board NOT to close down VOA HindiRadio Service. Some strong action is needed and I am hopeful that you will help us in ourmission.

Regards,

Ashok Sarin,

Voice of America, Hindi Service

Key appropriation committee members who can stop the Hindi Radio cuts:

1. Representative Chris Van Hollen, Jr., U.S. House of Representatives, 1707 Longworth House Office Building, Washington D.C. 20215 Fax: 202-225-0375
2. Representative Donna Edwards, U.S. House of Representatives, 2470 RayburnHouse Office Building, Washington D.C. 20215 Fax: 202-225-8714
3. Representative Steny Hoyer, U.S. House of Representatives, 1705 LongworthHouse Office Building, Washington D.C. 20215. Fax: 202-225-4300
4. Representative Roscoe Bartlett, U.S. House of Representatives, 2412Rayburn House Office Building, Washington D.C. 20215. Fax: 202-225-2193
5. Representative Frank R. Wolf, U.S. House of Representatives, 241 CannonHouse Office Building, Washington D.C. 20215. Fax: 202-225-0437
6. Representatives Thomas M. Davis III, U.S. House of Representatives, 2348Rayburn House Office Building, Washington D.C. 20215. Fax: 202-225-3071
7. Representative Robert J. Wittman, U.S. House of Representatives, 1123Longworth House, Washington D.C,. 20215. Fax: 202-225-4382
8. Representative James P. Moran, U.S. House of Representatives, 2239Rayburn House Office Building, Washington D.C. 20215. Fax: 202-225-0017
9. Hon. Howard Berman, Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Fax202-225-3196.
10. Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Member, House Committee on ForeignAffairs Fax: 202-225-5620
11. Hon. Nita Lowey, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Fax:202-225-0437
12. Patrick Leahy (Appropriations Subcommittee - State, Foreign Relationsand related Programs. Fax: 202-224-3479
13. Senator Jim Webb (Appropriations Subcommittee) Fax: 202-224-4024 MEMBERS OF

INDIA CAUCUS

1. Jim Mcdermott, 1035 Longworth HOB, Washington D.C. 20515. Phone: 202-225-2452 Fax: 202-225-2455

2. Joe Wilson, 212 Cannon House Office Building, Washington D.C. 20515.Phone: 202-225-2452 Fax: 202-225-2455

3. J. Crowley, Phone: 202-225-3965

Besides, India lovers like Palone and others can also provide help. It willbe a good idea to send faxes to almost all the above personalities. Evenwriting a letter to Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Postcan serve a useful purpose.We need help.Your Friends at VOA, Hindi.

http://www.sajaforum.org/2008/08/voa-hindi-servi.html?cid=127425910#comment-127425910