The Foreign Service Journal, January 2004

fair, balanced and unbiased fashion. This is helping build a cadre of independent journalists with the skills needed to impart information to their fellow citizens. Cuba, where Fidel Castro stifles dissent and imprisons independent journalists, remains a priority for the BBG. As engineers try new radio frequencies to overcome jam- ming, Radio Marti has redesigned its programs to attract listeners. At TV Marti, broadcasters have added new pro- grams, and, as part of a transmission test, shows are being put on a popular, high-powered regional satellite. Other potential initiatives are in the works — increasing Urdu broadcasting to Pakistan with a lively, upbeat, youth- oriented service designed to run 24/7; refocusing on Africa, which holds about 40 percent of VOA’s audience; and ensur- ing comprehensive coverage of countries in Central Asia. Nearly 40 years ago, John Chancellor, the respected broadcaster and onetime VOA director, wrote in the Foreign Service Journal that there was a “spirit … that exists inside the Voice. … They understand that microsec- onds after they speak, what they say is communicating to people in bedrooms, living rooms, tents, cars, caravans as they enter the world of the listeners.” Chancellor’s description of the “magic of the Voice” persists. But it has grown— and the same magic now per- vades the expanding, vitally important world of interna- tional broadcasting. F O C U S 24 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 4 IBB (Engineering and technical services, management, direc- tion, program support) Budget: $219.583 million Positions: 1,048 (includ- ing FSNs) Voice of America Budget: $155.643 million Positions: 1,364 Bureaus: 22 (5 domestic and 17 international) RFE/RL Budget: $78.486 million Positions: 602 RFA Budget: $27.084 million Positions: 262 Radio/TV Marti Budget: $25.362 million Positions: 163 FY 2003 Budget and Staffing for U.S. International Broadcasting