Hot Topic - RFE/RL

Foreign broadcasters not welcome - December 11, 2008
International broadcasters are either warmly welcomed or shunned entirely by host governments. When most listeners and viewers use radios and TVs of the terrestrial kind that’s the place broadcasters want to be. But politics, nationalism and greed are making those frequencies off limits to the people with a message from afar.

Catlett named COO RFE/RL Prague - January 19, 2008
...four executives named...

It's rather rare that international broadcaster RFE/RL adds several new people at once to its top ranks. President Jeff Gedmin has certainly been on a talent hunt. (Read RFE/RL release here)

I've known John Catlett since the Metromedia Radio days. He's an extraordinary manager with great depth in international broadcasting. (JMH)

When the Kremlin starts throwing bombs, be sure to look the other way - September 14, 2007
It was a great week for Russia watchers. Moscow prosecutors ruled the suspicious death of a military journalist a suicide. President Putin named a little known pal Prime Minister. And then they dropped a big bomb.

New US Broadcasting Chief Knows His Way Around a Newsroom - June 25, 2007
James K. Glassman has become Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the agency supervising US government international broadcasting. Answering questions via email this weekend, he offered a candid and optimistic appraisal of the agency and its mission.

Ogulsapar Muradova Died Violently Last Week. She Was a Journalist - September 18, 2006
Just less than 90 days after being arrested by Turkmen authorities, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) free-lance reporter died in prison. She had been convicted at a trial lasting 10 minutes and sentenced to serve six years, effectively a life-time. She was 58 years old.

RFE/RL and VOA in Russian Sights - July 10, 2006
International broadcasters are increasingly backed against a wall when it comes to finding easy broadcast licenses for the taking. Governments can prevent access to distribution or, at the very least, make life very uncomfortable for local media affiliates. The enduring rule of media and politics is that no government takes criticism easily, particularly from foreigners.

Belarus: Hot New Broadcast Market - September 12, 2005
Nothing attracts broadcasters attention like a hot new market. Even though Belarus is home to Europe’s last major dictator, broadcasters are lined up to get their share of the audience.

“Bad Guy” Interview Throws US ABC TV Network in Hot Water - August 4, 2005
Russian authorities complained bitterly about an interview broadcast on ABC News “Nightline” with Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev.

Uzbekistan: What Color is Your Revolution? - May 14, 2005
Media lock-down preceeded the civil unrest in Uzbekistan. And it continues. This dictator wants nothing to do with those “colorful revolutions.”

Fomenting Public Diplomacy - May 2, 2005
RFE/RL has a new logo, dumping that old bell for a new flame, RFI and DW partner-up and the BBC World Service wants to send more emails.