About USAGM
The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is both the name of the independent federal agency that oversees all U.S. civilian international media and the name of the board that governs those broadcasts.
The USAGM's mission is to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. Every week, more than 206 million listeners, viewers, and Internet users around the world turn on, tune in, and log on to U.S. international broadcasting programs.
While the "Broadcasting Board of Governors" is the legal name given to the federal entity encompassing all U.S. international broadcasting services, the day-to-day broadcasting activities are carried out by the individual USAGM international broadcasters: the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Alhurra, Radio Sawa, with the assistance of the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB).
About our Broadcasters
Voice of America (VOA)Voice of America produces popular news, information and cultural programs in 45 languages and reaches more than 164 million people around the world every week on television, radio, web and mobile platforms.
From its Washington headquarters, VOA produces more than 70 television shows, and more than 200 radio programs. VOA's digital TV master control sends signals to multiple direct-to-home satellite networks simultaneously, and shortwave, FM and AM transmitters beam VOA to hot spots around the world. Individual language services each maintain their own websites, mobile platforms and social media sites.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reaches more than 23 million people in 28 languages and in 21 countries, including Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia. RFE/RL journalists provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate. RFE/RL uses the latest digital technologies - the Internet, SMS text messaging, online video, satellite radio, and popular social media networks - and trusted broadcast radio to reach people in some of the most closed societies on earth.
With more than 60 years of surrogate broadcasting experience, RFE/RL continues to bring audiences the rich, immediate, and interactive content they seek. RFE/RL is funded by a grant from the USAGM.
Radio Free Asia (RFA)
Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a private, non-profit news organization operating under a grant from the USAGM. Broadcasting daily in nine languages to listeners in Asia whose governments restrict media, RFA delivers award-winning, reliable news and information, along with a range of voices and opinions from within Asia, to demonstrate freedom of expression over the airwaves, on television, and online.
Through shortwave, medium wave, satellite TV transmissions, social media, and the Internet, RFA broadcasts in Mandarin, Cantonese, Uyghur, three Tibetan dialects, Burmese, Vietnamese, Korean, Lao, and Khmer. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., RFA has seven overseas bureaus and a vast network of correspondents around the world. Call-in programs and multimedia websites provide the audience with a forum in which they can freely express views and exchange ideas.
Alhurra TV, Radio Sawa
The Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) is the non-profit news organization that operates Alhurra Television and Radio Sawa under a grant from the USAGM. These networks provide the United States an undistorted line of communication with the people of the Middle East. They deliver accurate and objective information about America, American policies and its people with a broad range of perspectives and an open exchange of ideas on issues of importance to the audience.
Each day, Radio Sawa provides more than seven hours of up-to-date news and information with an upbeat mix of mainstream Western and Arabic popular music. Broadcast 24/7 and mostly on FM, Sawa reaches a significant portion of the influential under 35 population in the region.
USAGM and Broadcast Entity Mission Statements
Mission
The mission of United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is to inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. The Agency’s mission is reinforced by those of the individual broadcasters that are overseen by USAGM.
Voice of America
President Gerald Ford signed the VOA Charter (Public Law 94-350) into law in 1976. It protects the independence and integrity of VOA programming. The long-range interests of the United States are served by communicating directly with the peoples of the world by radio. To be effective, the Voice of America must win the attention and respect of listeners. These principles will therefore govern Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts:
VOA will serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news. VOA news will be accurate, objective, and comprehensive.
VOA will represent America, not any single segment of American society, and will therefore present a balanced and comprehensive projection of significant American thought and institutions.
VOA will present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively, and will also present responsible discussions and opinion on these policies.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
RFE/RL’s mission is to promote democratic values and institutions by reporting the news in countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. Our journalists provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.
Radio Free Asia
Radio Free Asia’s mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press.
Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa)
The mission of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks is to provide objective, accurate, and relevant news and information to the people of the Middle East about the region, the world, and the United States. MBN supports democratic values by expanding the spectrum of ideas, opinions, and perspectives available in the region’s media.