Voice of America Radio:
Voice of America, otherwise known as the “voice”, is a government funded news source that provides radio, television, and internet broadcasts around the world. The Voice has successfully created dialogue and promoted liberty abroad since its beginning in the 1940s. It is important to understand the history of Voice of America in order to completely understand its impact. Voice of America was established in 1942 as a radio station that explained America’s policies during World War 2. The “voice” then continued into the Cold War, attempting to halt the spread of communism. During this time period two other similar stations emerged as well, they were Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe. Both stations had similar …show more content…
They include the use of foreign employees, attempting to convey popular aspects of America, and broadcasting where free speech and other freedoms were limited. In order to create dialogue and more connection overseas, “the voice employs over 2,000 people, many of whom are foreign nationals” (Heil 16). By employing more foreign nationals, Voice of America was able to create stronger relationships with the outside world and with countries they broadcasted in. These employees worked as anchors, performers, and diplomats and typically had a connection with the country they were working in. The “voice” was well known for conveying the popular aspects of America to the outside world. Voice of America reports on the popular aspects of American news such as agriculture, technology, travel, and most importantly, jazz. Jazz, being universal, was beloved everywhere, and people around the world would tune in every day to hear artists like Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. Voice of America also reported on important events, such as the berlin riots and the space race. Another way Voice of America created dialogue was by broadcasting its news to countries where free speech was limited and certain freedoms did not exist. “In February 1947, VOA began its first Russian-language broadcasts into the Soviet Union. Many reports from behind the Iron Curtain indicated that Voice of America programs, …show more content…
Radio Free Europe broadcasted to Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Rumania in the native language. Radio Liberty focused more on the Soviet Union, and like Radio Free Europe, they both broadcasted anti-communist propaganda. These stations encouraged their listeners to fight communist minded beliefs and stand up for their freedoms. Much like Voice of America, both stations staff are mostly foreign nationals. Uttaro states “the staff is composed largely of emigres from the target countries. The idea is to achieve "empathy in communication" by having "Poles talking to Poles and Bulgarians to Bulgarians, not as a spokesman for some foreign government but as fellow countrymen concerned with the best interests of the country they and their listeners call home” (Uttaro). While Voice of America focused more on informing countries of America, Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe focused more on telling the people of oppressed countries about
Voice of America, otherwise known as the “voice”, is a government funded news source that provides radio, television, and internet broadcasts around the world. The Voice has successfully created dialogue and promoted liberty abroad since its beginning in the 1940s. It is important to understand the history of Voice of America in order to completely understand its impact. Voice of America was established in 1942 as a radio station that explained America’s policies during World War 2. The “voice” then continued into the Cold War, attempting to halt the spread of communism. During this time period two other similar stations emerged as well, they were Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe. Both stations had similar …show more content…
They include the use of foreign employees, attempting to convey popular aspects of America, and broadcasting where free speech and other freedoms were limited. In order to create dialogue and more connection overseas, “the voice employs over 2,000 people, many of whom are foreign nationals” (Heil 16). By employing more foreign nationals, Voice of America was able to create stronger relationships with the outside world and with countries they broadcasted in. These employees worked as anchors, performers, and diplomats and typically had a connection with the country they were working in. The “voice” was well known for conveying the popular aspects of America to the outside world. Voice of America reports on the popular aspects of American news such as agriculture, technology, travel, and most importantly, jazz. Jazz, being universal, was beloved everywhere, and people around the world would tune in every day to hear artists like Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. Voice of America also reported on important events, such as the berlin riots and the space race. Another way Voice of America created dialogue was by broadcasting its news to countries where free speech was limited and certain freedoms did not exist. “In February 1947, VOA began its first Russian-language broadcasts into the Soviet Union. Many reports from behind the Iron Curtain indicated that Voice of America programs, …show more content…
Radio Free Europe broadcasted to Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Rumania in the native language. Radio Liberty focused more on the Soviet Union, and like Radio Free Europe, they both broadcasted anti-communist propaganda. These stations encouraged their listeners to fight communist minded beliefs and stand up for their freedoms. Much like Voice of America, both stations staff are mostly foreign nationals. Uttaro states “the staff is composed largely of emigres from the target countries. The idea is to achieve "empathy in communication" by having "Poles talking to Poles and Bulgarians to Bulgarians, not as a spokesman for some foreign government but as fellow countrymen concerned with the best interests of the country they and their listeners call home” (Uttaro). While Voice of America focused more on informing countries of America, Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe focused more on telling the people of oppressed countries about