The following article by Michael Webber, IWP Class of 2012, appeared on the website of the Eurasia Review.
At the end of the Cold War, an important strategic asset, the United States international media presence run by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) had its budget cut by more than forty percent.
For fiscal year 2015, the BBG is requesting $721,000,000. The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent government agency given the mission by Congress to, “inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.” The BBG networks include Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty (RFERL) among others. Many believe that the need for this type of media has dwindled, that it is ineffective, and is a waste of taxpayer resources.