BBG Spreads Freedom and Democracy

America’s prominent news stations, CNN, Fox News, ABC, CBS, and NBC, broadcast to millions each day. But combined, none have as many viewers or as many hours of footage as the BBG—the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

BBG is “the independent federal agency responsible for all U.S. government and government sponsored, non-military, international broadcasting,” according to the Broadcasting Board of Governors Web site.

James K. Glassman, Chair of the BBG, said that although the BBG is telecast around the world, the organization focuses on three countries which are critical to U.S. national security: Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Glassman said that 28 percent of Iranian adults listen to Voice of America at least once a week and discover critical information about their country that they would not otherwise learn.

“…[Some] governments keep truths from their people,” said Glassman. “[Because of BBG], Iranians learned about how their government is trading arms and training in Iraq.”

Right now, a large portion of Africans and Arabic people listen to BBG. In the future, BBG hopes to have more success in other countries with censored presses such as Venezuela. However, the BBG is probably most critical in Iraq. “At this point in history, Iraq needs BBG,” Glassman said.

This organization, founded in 1999, broadcasts its programs to more than 155 million viewers worldwide in over 60 different languages.

Glassman spoke at the Heritage Foundation on May 15 about the BBG post-September 11. He said that BBG’s audience, mostly those in countries without a free press, such as Iran, has increased 75 percent in the seven years since the September 11, 2001 attacks upon the United States.

“[BBG] is a professional press that promotes freedom…and the focus is on countries where free flows of information are scarce,” said Glassman. “The people we most need to reach do not speak English.”

Glassman, Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Affairs, said that the BBG, a result of the 1998 Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act, reports objective news without pushing political agendas.

“[BBG] plays a key role in the overall public diplomacy of this nation,” said Glassman. “BBG is a platform and its infrastructure is used to promote freedom, explain America and enhance U.S. government global outreach.”

Glassman said that BBG does not sugarcoat the news, and if the United States makes a mistake, the BBG reports about it without censoring vital information.

“We tell the truth even if the truth might appear harmful to the U.S. in the short run,” said Glassman. “Congress and the President have required us to work as an objective, balanced news organization.”

Because of its reputation, millions around the world listen to one or more of BBG’s nine broadcasts including Voice of America (VOA), Alhurra Radio Sawa and Radio Free Asia (RFA), to name a few. Glassman said that listeners tune in to learn about events within their own country. Viewers trust and accept BBG’s information.

“We have nothing if we have no credibility,” said Glassman. “By sticking to objective journalism we can influence foreign audiences.”

Melinda Zosh is an intern at the American Journalism Center, a training program run by Accuracy in Media and Accuracy in Academia.