Voice of America
Voice of America (VOA) is a U.S. government broadcasting organization established in February 1942, originally as part of the Office of War Information during World War II. Its primary mission is to provide accurate information about the United States to international audiences, particularly in regions experiencing totalitarian control or limited access to diverse viewpoints. Throughout its history, VOA has aimed to counteract propaganda, support human rights, and promote democratic values by delivering objective news and commentary across various languages and cultures.
Over the decades, VOA expanded its reach, especially during the Cold War, when it offered specialized broadcasts to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, while also targeting developing nations. As an essential tool for informing global listeners about American society, policies, and history, VOA has maintained a reputation for credibility and quality. It has adapted to technological advancements, including satellite broadcasting and the Internet, to enhance its accessibility. Today, VOA continues to combat misinformation and promote the free flow of information in areas where independent news sources are scarce, reflecting its enduring commitment to fostering open dialogue and understanding across the globe.
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Voice of America
- FOUNDED: February 1942
- TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: U.S. government broadcasting organization
- SIGNIFICANCE: Voice of America transmits its broadcasts worldwide, providing information about the United States to international listeners
The US government created Voice of America (VOA) during World War II as the radio division of the Office of War Information. The VOA had several objectives. One was to broadcast to populations in areas under totalitarian control, thereby countering Axis propaganda and fighting against restricted access to alternative sources of information. Another goal was to reach America’s wartime allies. Broadcasts to nonaligned nations, including those in Latin America, also presented information about the culture and history of the United States. These programs opposed the censorship practices of dictatorships and supported human rights and democratic political institutions. Beginning in February 1942, the VOA established a high level of credibility among listeners for the accuracy and quality of its programming.
The emergence of the Cold War between the Western democracies and communist nations following the end of World War II created new opportunities for the VOA as a part of the United States Information Agency. The goal remained the same: to provide objective news and balanced commentary and inform listeners in other nations about America’s people, policies, culture, and history. Specialized organizations broadcast specifically to the Soviet Union (Radio Liberty) and communist states of Eastern Europe (Radio Free Europe); the VOA generally expanded its programming to many world regions. This especially was directed to developing nations. Geographical transmission divisions in the VOA include East Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and Africa. By 1990, forty-three languages were included in regular daily broadcasts, with programs in other languages occasionally.
Congressional legislation in 1976 reaffirmed the objectives of the VOA as the government’s “global radio network” in the VOA charter. Satellite interconnect systems offered the ability to broadcast programs into remote areas of the world. The VOA’s total budget in 1989 was $170 million. VOA programs included politics, economics, sports, music, history, current affairs, drama, commentary, and news. The original goal of providing information in an “open” forum continued. The VOA’s importance as an opponent of broadcast censorship could be seen in authoritarian systems whose news censorship was jeopardized by these independent broadcasts reaching their citizens. These governments periodically attempted to jam transmissions, attesting to the VOA’s significance.
During the 1980s, the United States criticized proposals introduced by the United Nations to establish a worldwide supervisory committee to oversee international broadcasting, arguing that this would interfere improperly with the free flow of information. This New World Information and Communication Order initiative never became a reality due to opposition from the United States and other Western nations. With the 1990s came the end of the Cold War, and VOA was forced to shift its mission and priorities. VOA began to promote democracy and human rights in other global areas besides the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. VOA also began embracing emerging technology, such as the Internet. In the twenty-first century, VOA continued to work to counter propaganda and misinformation among populations lacking independent news sources.
Bibliography
Cowan, Geoffrey. "Perspectives - Why the Voice of America Remains a Vital Force in the World." University of Southern California Center on Public Diplomacy, Mar. 2017, doi.org/10.25549/cpd-c119-824. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
Gypson, Katherine. "USAGM Chief Tells Lawmakers Global Information Wars at 'Inflection Point.'" VOA, 3 May 2023, www.voanews.com/a/usagm-chief-tells-lawmakers-global-information-wars-at-inflection-point/7077688.html. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
Lipien, Ted. "Voice of America in 1957 and 1972 – VOA's International Broadcasting Successes and Failures." Cold War Radio Museum, 15 Oct. 2023, www.coldwarradiomuseum.com/voice-of-america-in-1957-and-1972-voas-international-broadcasting-successes-and-failures. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
"VOA History." InsideVOA.com, www.insidevoa.com/p/5829.html. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.