By many accounts, US international broadcasting’s mission is unclear, its attachment to US foreign policy strategies tenuous, and its organizational structure ineffective. Many see the entire enterprise as broken. For a new assessment, “Reassessing US International Broadcasting,” co-authors S. Enders Wimbush and Elizabeth M. Portale interviewed some 30 individuals with extensive experience in foreign policy strategy, international relations, international broadcasting, public diplomacy, and promotion of human rights and democracy. Join us in a panel discussion chaired by A. Ross Johnson addressing these questions:
- What is US international broadcasting supposed to do, and how should it do it?
- What kind of strategic instrument is US international broadcasting today?
- What is the nature of the connection between US international broadcasting and US foreign and security policy?
- How should US international broadcasting be organized to optimize both mission and strategy?
Two of the report interviewees – James Glassman and Carl Gershman – along with R. Eugene Parta (co-author of a previous report on US international broadcasting reform) will offer their perspectives on these issues.
A. Ross Johnson
Wilson Center Senior Scholar; Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution; former Director, Radio Free Europe (moderator)
James Glassman
Former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs ; Chairman and CEO of Public Affairs Engagement, LLC; Visiting Fellow, American Enterprise Institute; former Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (commentator)
Carl Gershman
President, National Endowment for Democracy (commentator)
R. Eugene Parta
Former Director, Audience and Opinion Research, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; former Chair, Conference on International Broadcasting Audience Research (commentator)
Elizabeth M. Portale
Former Vice President and Chief of Staff, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (presenter)
S. Enders Wimbush
Former Governor, Broadcasting Board of Governors; former Director, Radio Liberty (presenter)
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