Kari Lake previews her plans for Voice of America in the next Administration.

[davideduardo]

VOA is by no means only or even primarily on shortwave.

The "is" should be "was".

In any case, the "alternative distribution" methods of VOA, such as leasing local stations or buying time on them, streaming services and such are all easily blocked or closed by repressive governments in those nations that are (or "were") the primary targets of the VOA offerings.

Over the decades... since the 1960's... that I have seen local market radio ratings for just about every "free" Spanish speaking country in Latin America, I have never seen the VOA appear in ratings nor have I seen it mentioned in my inspections of the local ratings questionnaires or documents.

 

[TheBigA]

I have never seen the VOA appear in ratings nor have I seen it mentioned in my inspections of the local ratings questionnaires or documents.

However, it's appearance in the ratings was not given as the reason Kari Lake shut it down. Neither she nor Elon Musk were authorized to shut down congressionally approved services. VOA is not a commercial service, and does no local sales where it's received. So ratings are not relevant.

Even Project 2025 saw the VOA and USAGM as important and useful. They recommended updating and improving it. But even they didn't recommend firing everyone and shutting it down.

 

[davideduardo]

However, it's appearance in the ratings was not given as the reason Kari Lake shut it down. Neither she nor Elon Musk were authorized to shut down congressionally approved services. VOA is not a commercial service, and does no local sales where it's received. So ratings are not relevant.

I use ratings as an indication that a statistical "nobody" listened... whether it was in 1965 or in 2025.

Ratings are "relevant" to any media service... whether they are listenership, viewers, circulation of stream counts. That data indicates whether what you are doing is liked and accepted by at least a small part of the available audience.

Even Project 2025 saw the VOA and USAGM as important and useful. They recommended updating and improving it. But even they didn't recommend firing everyone and shutting it down.

Project 2025 was mostly theoretical, not based on surveys or actual statistics in any area covered. It was/is a statement of principals of a group of conservatives. I have know way of knowing, but I suspect that nobody who wrote the part about the VOA had any international experience in media.

 

[TheBigA]

Ratings are "relevant" to any media service... whether they are listenership, viewers, circulation of stream counts. That data indicates whether what you are doing is liked and accepted by at least a small part of the available audience.

All of that is fine, but at no time did Kari Lake use it as a reason for shutting down VOA. It was all about her own personal views and taste in news.

People who work for this government need to understand that they don't represent themselves or an ideology or even this president. They represent the American people. We all pay for these services regardless of what certain people may think.

I suspect that nobody who wrote the part about the VOA had any international experience in media.

The specific person had previously served as an executive in USAGM and was as familiar with it as anyone. Keep in mind that Kari Lake has no international experience in media either.

 

[xmtrland]

Has any local market ratings listed other short broadcast from other nations like China or Russia? Did any shortwave stations that were state run show up?

 

[TheBigA]

The DOJ says it has no "succession plan" for USAGM now that Kari Lake's role has been voided.

DOJ Says Voice of America Parent Has No Succession Plan After Kari Lake Ruling

Department of Justice attorneys told a federal court on Wednesday that there could not be an acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media until President Donald Trump designates a permanent nominee to lead it.

www.thewrap.com

They're waiting for the president to appoint someone. His original appointee Brent Bozell dropped out over a year ago.

 

[davideduardo]

Has any local market ratings listed other short broadcast from other nations like China or Russia? Did any shortwave stations that were state run show up?

Nowhere that I have worked has ever shown international SW stations. However, in several nations like Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, domestic "tropical band" SW stations used to show up... but that was back in the 60's and 70's for the most part.

 

[TheBigA]

The president has now named Sarah Rogers as the new CEO of USAGM:

Trump names a new CEO for media agency led for months by Kari Lake

The White House move effectively acknowledges Lake could not hold the CEO's duties without confirmation and brings new Trump ally to media agency.

www.usatoday.com

She will now face senate confirmation. She has no experience in international media. She was Charlie Kirk's lawyer.

That seems to be the qualification for top government jobs. No experience. Just like the president.

 

[MarkW]

The president has now named Sarah Rogers as the new CEO of USAGM:

Trump names a new CEO for media agency led for months by Kari Lake

The White House move effectively acknowledges Lake could not hold the CEO's duties without confirmation and brings new Trump ally to media agency.

www.usatoday.com

She will now face senate confirmation. She has no experience in international media. She was Charlie Kirk's lawyer.

That seems to be the qualification for top government jobs. No experience. Just like the president.

Political ideology & political connections seem to be the only criteria that matter, sadly.

 

[davideduardo]

She has no experience in international media.

If the goal is to close the VOA / USAGM, then the main qualification likely is being a lawyer... which she is.

 

[TheBigA]

If the goal is to close the VOA / USAGM, then the main qualification likely is being a lawyer... which she is.

If that's the goal, then she won't get past the senate confirmation, since they obviously don't agree.

Why would congress appropriate more money to this agency if they really want to close it? Makes no sense.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Project 2025 was mostly theoretical, not based on surveys or actual statistics in any area covered.

There’s nothing theoretical about it. Being based on surveys or stats (nor facts) does not make it any less the playbook they are following over and over and over. The occasional deviation in one area does not negate that.

It was/is a statement of principals of a group of conservatives.

Who were then hired to implement their plans. That’s real, not theoretical.

I have know way of knowing, but I suspect that nobody who wrote the part about the VOA had any international experience in media.

The entire clown show of a regime is populated by people with no experience in things they stick their nose into.

 

[Mediafrog+]

If the goal is to close the VOA / USAGM, then the main qualification likely is being a lawyer... which she is.

There is less and less to revive for USAGM as far as shortwave goes. The only transmitter sites that haven’t been decommissioned are Greenville, Kuwait, and The Philippines. And the Kuwait facility could be an Iranian drone/missile attack away from being knocked out.

 

[TheBigA]

There is less and less to revive for USAGM as far as shortwave goes. The only transmitter sites that haven’t been decommissioned are Greenville, Kuwait, and The Philippines. And the Kuwait facility could be an Iranian drone/missile attack away from being knocked out.

What they need is someone who knows how to create a new media service that has the potential to reach beyond censors and governments.

I don't think that's where this administration is. But I think that seems to be what congress wants.

 

[davideduardo]

As a bit of perspective, here is a booklet about the Voice of America facility in Greenville, NC, from 1967. It's headline is the 4,800,000 watt total transmitter power. The VOA was 25 years old in 1967.

Loading…

www.worldradiohistory.com

Here is the transmitter room...

 

[Mediafrog+]

As a bit of perspective, here is a booklet about the Voice of America facility in Greenville, NC, from 1967. It's headline is the 4,800,000 watt total transmitter power. The VOA was 25 years old in 1967.

The Greenville site was built in the early 1960s, so still fairly new in 1967. It replaced a hodgepodge of east coast transmitter sites that had been in use by VOA (and previous operators) since the 1930s and 40s. They did keep the Bethany, Ohio facility and its vintage Crosley transmitters.

 

[gr8oldies]

All of that is fine, but at no time did Kari Lake use it as a reason for shutting down VOA. It was all about her own personal views and taste in news.

People who work for this government need to understand that they don't represent themselves or an ideology or even this president. They represent the American people. We all pay for these services regardless of what certain people may think.



The specific person had previously served as an executive in USAGM and was as familiar with it as anyone. Keep in mind that Kari Lake has no international experience in media either.

I was assured the US is now the private property of Donald Trump.

 

[TheBigA]

Today a judge order the VOA to reinstate 1000 employees who had been put on leave:

Judge orders Voice of America to reinstate 1,000 employees cut under Kari Lake

The same judge ruled this month that Lake's appointment as head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA, violated federal law.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Mediafrog+]

Today a judge order the VOA to reinstate 1000 employees who had been put on leave:

Trump will appeal this decision, so this will continue to drag out.

Any revival of VOA will likely be quite diminished from its previous incarnation. It appears much of the shortwave transmission infrastructure has already been decommissioned. Future efforts will likely be concentrated on various online platforms.

 

[TheBigA]

Any revival of VOA will likely be quite diminished from its previous incarnation. It appears much of the shortwave transmission infrastructure has already been decommissioned. Future efforts will likely be concentrated on various online platforms.

The problem is that neither Kari Lake nor the new person who will run VOA have any knowledge or experience in what it will take to make the VOA effective or useful, which will just feed their narrative that it should be shut down.