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The United States Government Manual
United States Agency for Global Media
330 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20237
202-203-4545
http://www.usagm.gov
Office of the Chief Executive Officer
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | Kelu Chao, Acting |
| Deputy Director | Brian Conniff |
| Deputy Director for Operations | Matthew Walsh |
| Executive Director | H. Oanh Tran |
Heads of Offices
| CHIEF OFFICERS | |
| Financial | Grant K. Turner |
| Information | James Reeves |
| Risk | Nnake Nweke |
| Strategy | Shawn Powers |
| DIRECTORS | |
| Congressional Affairs | (vacancy) |
| Management Services | (vacancy) |
| Public Affairs | (vacancy) |
| Technology, Services, and Innovation | P. Terry Balazs |
| General Counsel | David Kligerman |
Federal Networks
| DIRECTORS | |
| Office of Cuba Broadcasting | Sylvia Rosabal |
| Voice of America | Yolanda Lopez, Acting |
Grantee Networks
| PRESIDENTS | |
| Middle East Broadcasting Networks | Kelley Sullivan, Acting |
| Radio Free Asia | Bay Fang |
| Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty | Jamie M. Fly |
Open Technology Fund
| President | Laura Cunningham |
Office of Inspector General
| Inspector General for the U.S. Department of State | Diana Shaw, Acting |
The U.S. Agency for Global Media informs, engages, and connects people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
On April 30, 1994, President William J. Clinton approved Public Law 103–236, which includes the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994. The Act "established within the United States Information Agency a Broadcasting Board of Governors." The first Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) was sworn in on August 11, 1995.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-108/pdf/STATUTE-108-Pg382.pdfFour years later, on October 21, 1998, President Clinton approved Public Law 105–277, which includes the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681–761). On October 1, 1999, the BBG became an independent and autonomous entity as a result of the legislation.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-112/pdf/STATUTE-112-Pg2681.pdfOn December 23, 2016, President Barack H. Obama approved Public Law 114–328, which also is cited as the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. Title XII, which is dedicated to matters relating to foreign nations, contains a section that modifies the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994. The modifications included terminating the position of the Director of the International Broadcasting Bureau and transferring the responsibilities, offices, authorities, and immunities of that position to the Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (130 Stat. 2549). Another modification authorized the agency to rename itself after giving notification to the U.S. Congress of the intended change (130 Stat. 2551).
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-114publ328/pdf/PLAW-114publ328.pdfOn August 22, 2018, as part of a modernization effort, the agency changed its name from the BBG to the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The USAGM continued to use the name BBG when referring to its nine-member board until its dissolution in 2020.
https://www.usagm.gov/who-we-are/historyThe USAGM posts an organizational chart on its website.
https://www.usagm.gov/who-we-are/organizational-chartSTATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
"Chapter 71—United States International Broadcasting" is assigned to 22 U.S.C. The chapter comprises sections 6201–6216 and contains codified statutory material affecting Radio Free Afghanistan, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Liberty, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title22/chapter71&edition=prelim"Chapter V—Broadcasting Board of Governors" is assigned to 22 CFR. The chapter comprises parts 500–599 and contains codified regulatory material associated with the agency.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=44d20bb4bea6e9db09b28364c465d15c&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title22/22chapterV.tplACTIVITIES
USAGM broadcast services adhere to the broadcasting standards and principles of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (108 Stat. 433).
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-108/pdf/STATUTE-108-Pg382.pdfThe statute's principles and standards support reliable, accurate, and comprehensive news; balanced and comprehensive presentations of U.S. thought, institutions, and policies, as well as discussions on those policies; information on developments throughout the world; and a variety of opinions from nations around the world.
https://www.usagm.gov/who-we-areMiddle East Broadcasting Networks
The Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) is a nonprofit news organization that operates Alhurra and Alhurra-Iraq Television, Radio Sawa, and MBN Digital under a grant from the USAGM. Alhurra Television, Radio Sawa, and MBN Digital offer an open line of communication between the people of the Middle East and the United States. These networks deliver accurate information on the United States, its policies, and its people, from a range of perspectives and with an exchange of ideas on relevant issues. They reach an audience of nearly 25 million Arabic-speakers in 22 countries across the Middle East and North Africa.
https://www.usagm.gov/networks/mbnAlhurra TV
http://www.alhurra.comRadio Sawa
https://www.radiosawa.comOffice of Cuba Broadcasting
The Office of Cuba Broadcasting operates the Martís from its headquarters in Miami, FL. The Martís are a multimedia hub of news, information, and analysis that provides the people of Cuba with interactive programs each day of the week. To broadcast their message, the Martís rely on a combination of high- and low-tech approaches: DVDs, emails, flash drives, Internet, satellite television, shortwave and AM radio, and SMS text. Combined with martinoticias.com, they constitute a unique service that brings accurate information to the Cuban people.
https://www.usagm.gov/networks/ocbMartinoticias
http://www.martinoticias.comRadio Free Asia
Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a private nonprofit news organization that operates under a grant from the USAGM. Broadcasting daily in nine languages to Asian audiences whose governments restrict media, RFA delivers award-winning, reliable news and information. It also allows a range of voices and opinions from within Asia to be heard as a demonstration of freedom of expression over the airwaves, on television, and online. Through shortwave, medium wave, satellite and transmission television, social media, and the Internet, RFA broadcasts in Cantonese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Myanmar, Uyghur, Vietnamese, and in three Tibetan dialects. Headquartered in Washington, DC, it has eight overseas bureaus and a network of correspondents around the world.
https://www.usagm.gov/networks/rfaRadio Free Asia—English
https://www.rfa.org/englishRadio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a private nonprofit multimedia broadcasting corporation whose funding comes from a USAGM grant. It reaches nearly 34 million people in 23 countries—including Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and Ukraine—in 26 languages. Its journalists provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate. RFE/RL uses digital technologies—the Internet, SMS text messaging, online video, satellite radio, and popular social media networks—and conventional broadcast radio to reach people in some of the most closed societies on Earth. With nearly 70 years of surrogate broadcasting experience, it continues to bring diverse, immediate, and interactive content to audiences.
https://www.usagm.gov/networks/rferlRadio Free Europe / Radio Liberty—English
https://www.rferl.orgVoice of America
The Voice of America (VOA) is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. Government through the USAGM. It began broadcasting in 1942 and now reaches more than 275 million people worldwide. The VOA provides accurate, comprehensive, and trustworthy news and information, as well as informed discussion on the United States and the world. It engages audiences in regions deemed critical to the United States through whatever medium—radio, television, Internet, or digital media—the people of those regions prefer. It broadcasts approximately 1,800 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to a global audience. Programs are produced in 46 languages.
https://www.usagm.gov/networks/voaVoice of America—English
https://www.voanews.comSources of Information
Archived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that BBG records have been assigned to record group 517. The BBG is the predecessor agency to the USAGM. See the above "Establishment and Organization" section. Record group 517 does not have a description currently associated with it.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/index-numeric/501-to-600.htmlAt a Glance
The "Who We Are" web page features a 60-second video that captures the essence of USAGM core activities: informing people, engaging them in support of democracy, and connecting with them on a global scale.
https://www.usagm.gov/who-we-areAwards
The USAGM has won awards for its productions in a variety of categories: documentary, education, investigative journalism, promotional programming, special reporting, video, and more.
https://www.usagm.gov/awardsBusiness Opportunities
Information on contract opportunities and instructions on how to do business with the USAGM are available online.
https://www.usagm.gov/who-we-are/partnerwithus/contract-opportunitiesCareer Opportunities
The USAGM work environment is diverse, multicultural, and professional. In addition to American citizens, the agency also hires non-U.S. citizens for positions that require foreign language skills. Internships are available in the fields of engineering, public affairs, public diplomacy, and research.
https://www.usagm.gov/work-with-usThe USAGM provides training opportunities for reporters and students of media on five continents.
https://www.usagm.gov/our-work/media-developmentIn 2019, the USAGM ranked 23d among 25 midsize agencies in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/IB00Climate Change
The USAGM is committed to developing a better understanding of the effects of climate change and to addressing climate change adaptation.
https://www.usagm.gov/our-work/strategy-and-results/strategic-priorities/research-reports/strategic-sustainability-performance-planThe USAGM has provided media training aimed at equipping journalists in the Latin America and the Caribbean region with skills and practices needed to report accurately and effectively on changes in the climate.
https://www.usagm.gov/2016/09/29/covering-climate-changeFederal Register
Documents that the USAGM recently published in the Federal Register are accessible online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/united-states-agency-for-global-mediaDocuments that the BBG published in the Federal Register are accessible online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/broadcasting-board-of-governorsFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The FOIA provides a statutory basis for public access to official agency information previously restricted from public view. Through the FOIA, Congress affirmed that citizens have the right to know what their Government does. Under the act, official information is available to "any person" without regard to need for or interest in the material. The USAGM and its FOIA staff are committed to ensuring the fullest possible disclosure that is consistent with the letter and spirit of the law.
https://www.usagm.gov/foia | Email: foia@usagm.govThe FOIA requires agencies to disclose, proactively and electronically, certain categories of records to the public. Records that the USAGM has previously released to the public under the FOIA and that are the subject of subsequent requests or likely to be the subject of subsequent requests are proactively disclosed in the USAGM's electronic reading room for public access. Records that the USAGM determines are of sufficient public interest to warrant automatic disclosure are also proactively disclosed in the electronic reading room.
https://www.usagm.gov/foia/electronic-reading-roomHistory
"The news may be good for us. The news may be bad. But we shall tell you the truth." These words, American journalist and writer William Harlan Hale spoke during the Voice of America's first radio show. For 75 years, U.S. international media have been broadcasting to audiences abroad. Visit the "History" web page to learn more about a story that continues to be heard around the world today.
https://www.usagm.gov/who-we-are/historyLearn English
The Voice of America's website features resources for learning American English.
https://learningenglish.voanews.comLegislation / Congressional Committees
The USAGM receives its mandate to supervise all broadcasting activities and to provide strategic management for the agency from various public laws. The U.S. Congress oversees the USAGM, which is an independent executive branch agency, by monitoring, reviewing, and supervising its activities, programs, and policy implementation.
https://www.usagm.gov/who-we-are/oversightNetworks
The USAGM's website provides convenient access to the home pages of all of its networks.
https://www.usagm.gov/networksNews
USAGM-related news and information are available online.
https://www.usagm.gov/news-and-informationThe latest press releases from the USAGM and its networks are available online.
https://www.usagm.gov/news-and-information/press-releasesOpen Government
The USAGM supports the Open Government initiative by promoting collaboration, participation, and transparency.
https://www.usagm.gov/our-work/strategy-and-results/strategic-priorities/research-reports/open-government | Email: opengov@bbg.govPronunciation Guide
The VOA "Pro • nounce" website is a pronunciation guide with an audio feature. The guide helps people from around the globe pronounce challenging words that have been or are currently trending in media sources.
https://pronounce.voanews.comServices and Technology To Evade Censorship
The Open Technology Fund advances global Internet freedom by supporting research and development and the implementation and sustainability of technologies that facilitate the free flow of information, increase digital security, and enable freedom of expression online.
https://www.opentech.fund/aboutSite Map
The website map allows visitors to look for specific topics or to browse content that aligns with their interests.
https://www.usagm.gov/sitemapSocial Media
The USAGM has a Facebook account.
https://www.facebook.com/USAGMgovThe USAGM tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/USAGMgovThe USAGM posts videos on its YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvYge67D7cpRJ6aYn2E9pPwStudents and Youth Worldwide
Voice of America's "Student Union" section offers students and youth international news that relates to them.
https://www.voanews.com/student-union