VOA(voice of America)

Broadcasts

first went on the air in 1942.is a multimedia international broadcasting

service.funded by the U.S. Government through

the Broadcasting Board of Governors. VOA broadcasts.

Fast Facts

Audience: 134 million weeklyMedia: radio, television, and the InternetLanguages:  45Budget: $190.2 millionHeadquarters: Washington, D.C.Employees: more than 1,100

approximately 1,500 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of 134 million people.

Mission:  To broadcast accurate, balanced,

and comprehensive news and information to an international audience.

Facilities: 

 27 radio broadcast studios 33 production and recording studios 30 professional audio mixing and dubbing

stations 4 television studios 21 video editing suites, and facilities for

master control, recording.

The VOA Charter

VOA will serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news. VOA news will be accurate, objective, and comprehensive.

VOA will represent America, not any single segment of American society, and will therefore present a balanced and comprehensive projection of significant American thought and institutions.

The VOA Charter

VOA will present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively, and will also present responsible discussions and opinion on these policies.

Since 1942, the Voice of America has built a global reputation as a consistently reliable source of news and information. Accuracy, balance, comprehensiveness, and objectivity are attributes audiences around the world have come to expect of VOA broadcasters and their product. These standards are legally mandated in the VOA Charter. Because of them, VOA has become an inspiration and information lifeline to nations and peoples around the world.

OBJECTIVE:

Accuracy and Balance:o VOA present a comprehensive description

of events, reporting an issue in a reliable and unbiased way.

o funded by the U.S. government, VOA airs all relevant facts and opinions on important news events and issues.

o If the balancing information cannot be obtained by the program deadline, and the balancing material will be broadcast as soon as it is available.

Sourcing:o VOA normally requires a minimum of two

independent (non-VOA) sources before any news writer, background writer, political affairs writer, correspondent, or stringer may broadcast information as fact in any language.

o VOA news and programming must be rigorously sourced and verified.

Fairness:o VOA is required to present a full and fair

account of events.o VOA has, "a decent respect for the

opinions of mankind.“o VOA broadcasters avoid fabricating,

distorting, or dramatizing an event.Context and Comprehensiveness:o VOA presents a comprehensive account of

America and the world, and puts events in context.

That means constant programs reflect America's, and the world's, political, geographical, cultural, ethnic, religious, and social diversity.

QUALITIES:

VOA reporters and broadcasters must strive for accuracy and objectivity in all their work.

They do not speak for the U.S. government. They accept no treatment or assistance

from U.S. government officials or agencies that is more favorable or less favorable.

VOA professionals, careful to preserve the integrity of their organization, strive for excellence and avoid imbalance or bias in their broadcasts.

Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)

The BBG is an independent federal agency that oversees all US international broadcasting, including the Voice of America.

Board is comprised of nine members, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, including the Secretary of State.

Its mission is "To promote and sustain freedom and democracy by broadcasting accurate and objective news and information about the United States and the world to audiences overseas."

VOA NEWS CENTRE:

VOA's News center is staffed 24 hours a day, providing between 150 and 200 news reports per day for all language services and programs.

There are also 22 domestic and 16 overseas correspondents, in addition to more than 90 part-time reporters, called "stringers".

"The news may be good. The news may be bad. We shall tell you the truth."