The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is an independent federal agency responsible for all non-military broadcasting sponsored by the U.S. government. Once a part of the United States Information Agency, BBG oversees seven international broadcasters. BBG seeks to “promote and sustain freedom” through the broadcast of news and information about the United States and the world to overseas audiences. Some of BBG’s networks were created to promote a pro-American message to audiences in the Middle East—but instead they have broadcast unflattering accounts of the U.S. In addition, the leadership of the BBG has been the source of its own, unwanted, news for misuse of federal funds for gambling and to reward personal friends.
In 1990, all U.S. government international broadcasting services began to work more closely, as new media made newsgathering faster and more prevalent. That year, the U.S. Information Agency established the Bureau of Broadcasting to consolidate its three broadcasting services: the Voice of America, WORLDNET Television and Film Service, and Radio and TV Marti. These three came together under one organization and were supported by the Office of Engineering and Technical Operations. In 1991, the Bureau of Broadcasting created the Office of Affiliate Relations and Audience Analysis (renamed the Office of Affiliate Relations and Media Training in 1996). This office was charged with establishing and maintaining a network of affiliated radio and television stations around the globe to broadcast Voice of America and WORLDNET produced programs. Today, more than 1,200 radio and television stations receive programming through the Office of Affiliate Relations.
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is responsible for all non-military international broadcasting sponsored by the federal government. In order to “promote and sustain freedom,” the BBG seeks to broadcast accurate and objective news about the United States and the world overseas audiences. BBG’s work involves reaching mass audiences by programming content for AM, FM, audio and video satellite, shortwave radio and the Internet, through seven independent broadcasting organizations that collectively broadcast in 65 languages in more than 125 markets around the world. The BBG is composed o The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is responsible for all non-military international broadcasting sponsored by the federal government. In order to “promote and sustain freedom,” the BBG seeks to broadcast accurate and objective news about the United States and the world overseas audiences. BBG’s work involves reaching mass audiences by programming content for AM, FM, audio and video satellite, shortwave radio and the Internet, through seven independent broadcasting organizations that collectively broadcast in 65 languages in more than 125 markets around the world. The BBG is composed o The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is responsible for all non-military international broadcasting sponsored by the federal government. In order to “promote and sustain freedom,” the BBG seeks to broadcast accurate and objective news about the United States and the world overseas audiences. BBG’s work involves reaching mass audiences by programming content for AM, FM, audio and video satellite, shortwave radio and the Internet, through seven independent broadcasting organizations that collectively broadcast in 65 languages in more than 125 markets around the world. The BBG is composed The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is responsible for all non-military international broadcasting sponsored by the federal government. In order to “promote and sustain freedom,” the BBG seeks to broadcast accurate and objective news about the United States and the world overseas audiences. BBG’s work involves reaching mass audiences by programming content for AM, FM, audio and video satellite, shortwave radio and the Internet, through seven independent broadcasting organizations that collectively broadcast in 65 languages in more than 125 markets around the world. The BBG is composed of nine members, eight of whom are appointed by the President.
The BBG spent more than $848 million on 30,536 contractor transactions during the period of FY 2002 to FY 2012. According to USASpending.gov, BBG paid for a variety of services, from communication, engineering and data storage to special studies and analyses in support of its programs.
BBG Networks Broadcast Anti-American Material
Should the Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S. Government-Sponsored Broadcasts Spend more Time Emphasizing American Values?
James K. Glassman (June 2007 to December 2007)
Richard Stengel, who had a long career at Time magazine before joining the Obama administration, was nominated on November 28, 2016, to serve as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Stengel is from New York City. He went to Princeton University, where he played on the basketball team, including on the winning squad in the 1975 National Invitation Tournament. He graduated in 1977 and went on to study English and history at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
Stengel began at Time in 1981, initially writing for them as well as for other publications such as The New Yorker and Rolling Stone. He covered the 1988 presidential campaign for Time. In 1990, he came out with the book “January Sun: One Day, Three Lives, A South African Town,” which covered the period just before apartheid ended. The book caught the notice of Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress, and Stengel was retained to ghostwrite Mandela’s autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom.” Stengel subsequently wrote “Mandela’s Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life, Love and Courage,” about the time he spent with Mandela, and “You’re Too Kind, A Brief History of Flattery.”
Stengel returned to Time, and covered the 1996 presidential race. He left in 1999, when he took a leave of absence from the magazine to write speeches for Sen. Bill Bradley, who was running for president. Stengel had met Bradley when Bradley spoke to one of his classes at Princeton. Stengel also taught journalism classes at his alma mater during this period.
After Bradley’s campaign ended in 2000, Stengel went back to Time to lead Time.com. He subsequently served as culture editor and nation editor. Stengel stayed at the magazine four years before leaving again, this time to become president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, a museum in Philadelphia.
However, that lasted only two years before being named in 2006 as Time’s managing editor. The magazine was at somewhat of a crossroads, dealing like most print publications with declining circulation. Stengel revamped the magazine, putting more focus on analysis and hard news. He even changed Time’s publication day to Friday, giving the magazine to subscribers for their weekend reading. Lowlights of his tenure included many layoffs and criticism for Time’s choice as 2006 Person of the Year: You.
Stengel left Time in 2013 and the following year joined the State Department as Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Among other parts of his job, he was tasked with countering ISIS’ message. Stengel remained in that job until he was nominated for the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
If Stengel is confirmed by the Senate, he probably shouldn’t get too comfortable. His term expires August 13, 2017.
Stengel is married to Mary Pfaff, whom he met while in South Africa working with Mandela. They have two sons, Anton, and Gabriel, who is Mandela’s godson.
-Steve Straehley
To Learn More:
The Time of Their Lives (by Joe Hagen, New York)
Richard Stengel Is Chosen to Be Top Editor at Time (by Katharine Q. Seelye, New York Times)
Q&A: Richard Stengel ’77 on Nelson Mandela (by Louis Jacobson, Princeton Alumni Weekly)
Biography (Wikipedia)
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), a controversy and scandal plagued independent federal agency responsible for all non-military broadcasting sponsored by the U.S. government, is set to get a new chairman. President Obama on September 12 announced his intent to nominate broadcasting executive Jeffrey Shell, currently President of NBCUniversal International, to succeed Walter Isaacson, who has been chair since June 2010.
Born circa 1965, Shell earned B.S. degrees in Economics and Applied Mathematics at the University of California at Berkeley in 1987. After working two years at Wall Street investment banking firm Salomon Brothers, Shell later told an interviewer “I wanted to work for a real business,” and returned to school to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1991.
Shell began his career on the business side of television working in the Corporate Strategic Planning Group at the Walt Disney Company, and then in a variety of positions at Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, including as president of the FOX Cable Networks Group. Shell worked for Gemstar TV Guide International from 2002 to 2005, starting as co-president and co-chief operating officer and ending as CEO.
Shell was president of Comcast Programming Group from 2005 to 2011, responsible for Comcast’s national and regional television networks, including E! Entertainment Network, Style Network, G4, the Golf Channel, PBS KIDS Sprout, VERSUS, TV One, International Channel networks, and eleven regional sports networks run under the aegis of Comcast Sports Group. Since 2011, Jeff Shell has been president, but not CEO, of NBCUniversal, based in London, U.K., and responsible for overseeing International TV Distribution, Global Television Networks, and International Television Production.
Shell serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including the National Constitution Center, and is active in a number of organizations involved in public school reform. A Democrat, Shell has made political contribution totaling $222,950 since 1995, mostly to Democratic candidates and committees, including $82,600 to the Democratic National Committee, $16,500 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and thousands to numerous Democratic candidates, mostly at the Senatorial level. He has also contributed $42,000 to two broadcasting-related PACs: $25,000 to ComCast PAC and $17,000 to the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. According to the website OpenSecrets, Shell has contributed to neither of President Obama’s presidential campaigns, nor to his 2004 Senate campaign.
Shell and his wife Laura have a daughter, Anna.
-Matt Bewig
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is an independent federal agency responsible for all non-military broadcasting sponsored by the U.S. government. Once a part of the United States Information Agency, BBG oversees seven international broadcasters. BBG seeks to “promote and sustain freedom” through the broadcast of news and information about the United States and the world to overseas audiences. Some of BBG’s networks were created to promote a pro-American message to audiences in the Middle East—but instead they have broadcast unflattering accounts of the U.S. In addition, the leadership of the BBG has been the source of its own, unwanted, news for misuse of federal funds for gambling and to reward personal friends.
In 1990, all U.S. government international broadcasting services began to work more closely, as new media made newsgathering faster and more prevalent. That year, the U.S. Information Agency established the Bureau of Broadcasting to consolidate its three broadcasting services: the Voice of America, WORLDNET Television and Film Service, and Radio and TV Marti. These three came together under one organization and were supported by the Office of Engineering and Technical Operations. In 1991, the Bureau of Broadcasting created the Office of Affiliate Relations and Audience Analysis (renamed the Office of Affiliate Relations and Media Training in 1996). This office was charged with establishing and maintaining a network of affiliated radio and television stations around the globe to broadcast Voice of America and WORLDNET produced programs. Today, more than 1,200 radio and television stations receive programming through the Office of Affiliate Relations.
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is responsible for all non-military international broadcasting sponsored by the federal government. In order to “promote and sustain freedom,” the BBG seeks to broadcast accurate and objective news about the United States and the world overseas audiences. BBG’s work involves reaching mass audiences by programming content for AM, FM, audio and video satellite, shortwave radio and the Internet, through seven independent broadcasting organizations that collectively broadcast in 65 languages in more than 125 markets around the world. The BBG is composed o The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is responsible for all non-military international broadcasting sponsored by the federal government. In order to “promote and sustain freedom,” the BBG seeks to broadcast accurate and objective news about the United States and the world overseas audiences. BBG’s work involves reaching mass audiences by programming content for AM, FM, audio and video satellite, shortwave radio and the Internet, through seven independent broadcasting organizations that collectively broadcast in 65 languages in more than 125 markets around the world. The BBG is composed o The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is responsible for all non-military international broadcasting sponsored by the federal government. In order to “promote and sustain freedom,” the BBG seeks to broadcast accurate and objective news about the United States and the world overseas audiences. BBG’s work involves reaching mass audiences by programming content for AM, FM, audio and video satellite, shortwave radio and the Internet, through seven independent broadcasting organizations that collectively broadcast in 65 languages in more than 125 markets around the world. The BBG is composed The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is responsible for all non-military international broadcasting sponsored by the federal government. In order to “promote and sustain freedom,” the BBG seeks to broadcast accurate and objective news about the United States and the world overseas audiences. BBG’s work involves reaching mass audiences by programming content for AM, FM, audio and video satellite, shortwave radio and the Internet, through seven independent broadcasting organizations that collectively broadcast in 65 languages in more than 125 markets around the world. The BBG is composed of nine members, eight of whom are appointed by the President.
The BBG spent more than $848 million on 30,536 contractor transactions during the period of FY 2002 to FY 2012. According to USASpending.gov, BBG paid for a variety of services, from communication, engineering and data storage to special studies and analyses in support of its programs.
BBG Networks Broadcast Anti-American Material
Should the Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S. Government-Sponsored Broadcasts Spend more Time Emphasizing American Values?
James K. Glassman (June 2007 to December 2007)
Richard Stengel, who had a long career at Time magazine before joining the Obama administration, was nominated on November 28, 2016, to serve as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Stengel is from New York City. He went to Princeton University, where he played on the basketball team, including on the winning squad in the 1975 National Invitation Tournament. He graduated in 1977 and went on to study English and history at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
Stengel began at Time in 1981, initially writing for them as well as for other publications such as The New Yorker and Rolling Stone. He covered the 1988 presidential campaign for Time. In 1990, he came out with the book “January Sun: One Day, Three Lives, A South African Town,” which covered the period just before apartheid ended. The book caught the notice of Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress, and Stengel was retained to ghostwrite Mandela’s autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom.” Stengel subsequently wrote “Mandela’s Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life, Love and Courage,” about the time he spent with Mandela, and “You’re Too Kind, A Brief History of Flattery.”
Stengel returned to Time, and covered the 1996 presidential race. He left in 1999, when he took a leave of absence from the magazine to write speeches for Sen. Bill Bradley, who was running for president. Stengel had met Bradley when Bradley spoke to one of his classes at Princeton. Stengel also taught journalism classes at his alma mater during this period.
After Bradley’s campaign ended in 2000, Stengel went back to Time to lead Time.com. He subsequently served as culture editor and nation editor. Stengel stayed at the magazine four years before leaving again, this time to become president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, a museum in Philadelphia.
However, that lasted only two years before being named in 2006 as Time’s managing editor. The magazine was at somewhat of a crossroads, dealing like most print publications with declining circulation. Stengel revamped the magazine, putting more focus on analysis and hard news. He even changed Time’s publication day to Friday, giving the magazine to subscribers for their weekend reading. Lowlights of his tenure included many layoffs and criticism for Time’s choice as 2006 Person of the Year: You.
Stengel left Time in 2013 and the following year joined the State Department as Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Among other parts of his job, he was tasked with countering ISIS’ message. Stengel remained in that job until he was nominated for the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
If Stengel is confirmed by the Senate, he probably shouldn’t get too comfortable. His term expires August 13, 2017.
Stengel is married to Mary Pfaff, whom he met while in South Africa working with Mandela. They have two sons, Anton, and Gabriel, who is Mandela’s godson.
-Steve Straehley
To Learn More:
The Time of Their Lives (by Joe Hagen, New York)
Richard Stengel Is Chosen to Be Top Editor at Time (by Katharine Q. Seelye, New York Times)
Q&A: Richard Stengel ’77 on Nelson Mandela (by Louis Jacobson, Princeton Alumni Weekly)
Biography (Wikipedia)
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), a controversy and scandal plagued independent federal agency responsible for all non-military broadcasting sponsored by the U.S. government, is set to get a new chairman. President Obama on September 12 announced his intent to nominate broadcasting executive Jeffrey Shell, currently President of NBCUniversal International, to succeed Walter Isaacson, who has been chair since June 2010.
Born circa 1965, Shell earned B.S. degrees in Economics and Applied Mathematics at the University of California at Berkeley in 1987. After working two years at Wall Street investment banking firm Salomon Brothers, Shell later told an interviewer “I wanted to work for a real business,” and returned to school to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1991.
Shell began his career on the business side of television working in the Corporate Strategic Planning Group at the Walt Disney Company, and then in a variety of positions at Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, including as president of the FOX Cable Networks Group. Shell worked for Gemstar TV Guide International from 2002 to 2005, starting as co-president and co-chief operating officer and ending as CEO.
Shell was president of Comcast Programming Group from 2005 to 2011, responsible for Comcast’s national and regional television networks, including E! Entertainment Network, Style Network, G4, the Golf Channel, PBS KIDS Sprout, VERSUS, TV One, International Channel networks, and eleven regional sports networks run under the aegis of Comcast Sports Group. Since 2011, Jeff Shell has been president, but not CEO, of NBCUniversal, based in London, U.K., and responsible for overseeing International TV Distribution, Global Television Networks, and International Television Production.
Shell serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including the National Constitution Center, and is active in a number of organizations involved in public school reform. A Democrat, Shell has made political contribution totaling $222,950 since 1995, mostly to Democratic candidates and committees, including $82,600 to the Democratic National Committee, $16,500 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and thousands to numerous Democratic candidates, mostly at the Senatorial level. He has also contributed $42,000 to two broadcasting-related PACs: $25,000 to ComCast PAC and $17,000 to the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. According to the website OpenSecrets, Shell has contributed to neither of President Obama’s presidential campaigns, nor to his 2004 Senate campaign.
Shell and his wife Laura have a daughter, Anna.
-Matt Bewig
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