WP: GAO Seeks Strategic Plan On Broadcasts to Arab World

[maddezmom]

Wednesday, September 6, 2006; Page A13

Despite claims of success by the Bush administration, radio broadcasts and satellite telecasts by the U.S. government to the Arab world lack reliable audience estimates and accuracy checks. That is the conclusion of the Government Accountability Office, Congress's watchdog agency.

The GAO also said, in a report released yesterday, that the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees Radio Sawa and Alhurra satellite television, has not established a detailed strategic approach to compete with TV networks funded by Arab governments.


Radio Sawa and Alhurra -- funded by the U.S. government -- are a major part of the public diplomacy effort directed by the State Department and have been cited by the administration as a key component in the campaign against terrorism.

Claims that Radio Sawa and Alhurra TV each reached an audience of about 21.6 million last year are questionable, the GAO report said, because of limited survey methods and documentation.

more:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/05/AR2006090501206.html