GAO Seeks Strategic Plan On Broadcasts to Arab World

GAO SEEKS STRATEGIC PLAN ON BROADCASTS TO ARAB WORLD
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
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. To improve monitoring of the broadcasts' effectiveness, the GAO recommended development of a long-term strategic plan. The report also called for improving contractors' methods of audience research and providing regular editorial training. Kenneth Tomlinson, the former chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, is the chairman of the BBG.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/05/AR2006090501206.html
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* MANAGEMENT OF MIDDLE EAST BROADCAST SERVICES COULD BE IMPROVED
[SOURCE: Government Accountability Office]
The Broadcasting Board of Governors’ (BBG) broadcasting services, Radio Sawa, and the Alhurra satellite television networks -- collectively known as the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) -- currently aim to reach Arabic speakers in 19 countries and areas throughout the Middle East. Annual spending for current activities amounts to about $78 million. GAO reviewed MBN’s 1) strategic planning to address competition in the Middle Eastern media market, 2) implementation of internal control, 3) procedures MBN has developed to ensure compliance with its journalistic standards, and 4) performance indicators and whether targets have been met. GAO is making several recommendations to the chairman of the BBG to improve the efficiency and operations of MBN. These include fully implementing strategic planning, internal control, and regular program reviews, as well as addressing weaknesses in the conduct and reporting of its audience research. (GAO-06-762, August 4)
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-762
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06762high.pdf