For outsiders interested in the ex-communist world, the English-language material produced by the research department of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is invaluable. But it will not be available much longer. The department is closing. Its analysts are job hunting. Some bulletins have stopped already. The reason is simple: budget cuts caused by the weak dollar.
The Econmist says that “At a time when billions are available for the projection of hard power, it is odd that a few millions can’t be found for something that embodies America’s much more effective soft power. That reflects badly on both politicians, and the ability of the radios’ management to lobby them.”
on May 16th, 2008 at 22:48
Strange. The big difference between VOA and the RFE/RL services was the intensive research the latter did into monitoring and analysing the media in their target areas. I can imagine the Economist Intelligence Unit must mourn its loss - it was a great free source of intelligence!
on May 17th, 2008 at 03:18
Kim Elliott notes in his blog that RFE/RL is not authorised to have English service. The only question is that why this semi-clandestine English publication of dubious quality was allowed to function for such a long time. I guess people who lost their jobs have good connetions at Economist.
Of course, this multi-tasking isn’t neew for RFE/RL. Its Armenian and Latvian services used to broadcast in Russian. That’s what Kazakh and Molodvan services keep doing quetly to this day. But both Belorussian and Ukrainian services have a ban on use of Russian language. It’s a bit less tight for Belorussian service, though. It now carries listeners’ Russian-langugage comments on the air. People there can freely call the station’s office in Minsk.
TV Marti is still hosting an English-language documentary on its site. It was produced by TV Marti in both Spanish and English.
on May 17th, 2008 at 11:56
Current American politics are unfortunately consumed by the effects of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. That means the lack of money, Bush’s insanity in continuing those wars, and the spending of money America doesn’t have. The RFE/RL cuts are a feeble, inane attempt to save a few pennies. Hey, bombs are expensive. Maybe things will get better on January 20th.