The Foreign Service Journal, January 2004

F O C U S 32 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 Think about all the facets of Foreign Service life that are, at least in theory, intended to make life a little less stressful, a bit more comfortable and secure. Now take them all away. No diplomatic or official passport. No embassy housing or furnishings. No cars or drivers. No customs assistance for household goods. No medical care. No APO. No two-way radios or security escorts. No PX or commissary or cafeteria. No duty-free cars or booze. Think of anything else and take that away, too. What kind of Foreign Service life would that be? Especially in hardship locations? Probably pretty diffi- cult, and perhaps totally unattractive. But that is precisely the way Foreign Service special- ists who are correspondents with the Voice of America are required to live overseas — totally separated from U.S. missions. It is the price they pay to protect their journalistic independence and integrity from possible interference by ambassadors, PAOs and others in the “official” American diplomatic community abroad. There are, at present, fewer than 10 such tenured, fully-sworn and full-fledged VOA specialists (plus about a dozen others who are domestic employees on foreign excursion tours or limited appointment “contract” cor- respondents). Attrition and a lack of replenishment have depleted the ranks. No one has been hired into the Foreign Service at VOA as a prospective career foreign correspondent for more than a decade. But none of them feels particularly disgruntled or dis- advantaged. Most VOA correspondents consider them- selves journalists first, not Foreign Service officers. VOA veteran Mike Drudge, now posted in London as a roving “fireman,” says he didn’t even know what the Foreign Service was when he was hired. After all, he notes, he didn’t join VOA to be a Foreign Service officer but to report the news to a worldwide audience. He says the independence of VOA is essential to the credibility of its news. “I don’t want (our) listeners thinking VOA journalists are flunkies for the State Department,” Mr. Drudge says, adding, “We don’t do diplomacy, we report the news, and the VOA Charter and our independence should help us defend that tradition.” — Alex Belida The Price of Independence The Embassy Plan Overseas Insurance Personal Auto & Contents Coverage Experience that helps you avoid the pitfalls of a highly complex business. Repeat business that results from providing what’s best for the customer not the agent nor the insurance company. Since 1969, Harry M. Jannette International has provided dependable coverage with U.S. carriers with a financial rating of A+ or higher to thousands of Foreign Service Personnel worldwide. Thus you gain the broadest U.S. terms and conditions and flexible value limits often not available from other insurance carriers. MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED: SEE OUR WEBSITE APPLICATIONS Harry M. Jannette International, L.L.C. 8111 LBJ Freeway, Suite 585 Dallas, Texas 75251-1334 Toll Free (800) 256-5141 (972) 783-4915 Fax (972) 783-0545 E-mail: hmjintl@jannetteintl.com www.jannetteintl.com • WORLDWIDE COVERAGE Fire, theft, comprehensive and collision protection are available at foreign posts. • U.S. AUTO LIABILITY Available for short term on home leave, change of assignment, and new auto purchase prior to foreign departure. This coverage must be issued in combination with an “Embassy Plan” policy. • FOREIGN LIABILITY Contact your post for compliance with local laws, Excess liability limits are available over local liability coverage. • PERSONAL COVERAGE Household goods and transit, valuable articles, personal liability, life insurance . • EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION INSURANCE Employee association insurance Including directors and officers. Your Reliable Choice