History of Voice of America in Timeline
Voice of America (VOA) is the U.S. government's international broadcasting network, the largest and oldest of its kind. Funded by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, it creates digital, TV, and radio content in 48 languages, primarily targeting non-American audiences outside the U.S. VOA distributes its content through affiliate stations worldwide. In November 2022, VOA's reporting reached 326 million adults weekly across platforms, highlighting its extensive global reach and influence as a U.S. government-funded media outlet.
1939: FCC Policy and the Good Neighbor Policy
In 1939, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission set a policy to enforce the US State Department's Good Neighbor Policy. Some broadcasters viewed this as an attempt at censorship.
1940: Countering Nazi Propaganda in Latin America
Around 1940, shortwave signals to Latin America were considered vital to counter Nazi propaganda. CBS developed "La Cadena de las Américas" radio network to improve broadcasting to South America.
December 1941: US Government Provides War News
Even before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the U.S. government began providing war news and commentary to American shortwave radio stations through its Foreign Information Service (FIS). Direct programming started a week after the United States' entry into World War II.
1941: Asian Transmissions Start
In 1941, Asian transmissions started with one transmitter in California; services were expanded by adding transmitters in Hawaii and the Philippines after recapture.
February 1, 1942: First Broadcast to Germany
On February 1, 1942, the first broadcast to Germany, called "Stimmen aus Amerika" (Voices from America), was transmitted. It was introduced by the “Battle Hymn of the Republic" and included a pledge to tell the truth about the war.
1942: VOA Part of Office of War Information
From its founding in 1942, Voice of America was part of the Office of War Information.
1942: Voice of America Established
In 1942, the Voice of America (VOA) was established as an international broadcasting entity.
1942: Viva America Musical Show
In 1942, the musical show Viva America was created by the Columbia Broadcasting System. It featured the Pan American Orchestra and musicians from North and South America.
1944: Bethany Relay Station Operational
In 1944, the Bethany Relay Station became operational in Ohio.
1945: Viva America Broadcasts on CBS Network
By 1945, broadcasts of the show Viva America were carried by 114 stations on CBS's "La Cadena de las Américas" network in 20 Latin American nations, supporting President Roosevelt's Pan-Americanism policy.
1945: VOA Becomes a Function of the State Department
From 1945, Voice of America became a function of the State Department.
1945: VOA Services Discontinued and Transferred
In 1945, about half of VOA's services, including the Arabic service, were discontinued. In late 1945, VOA was transferred to the US Department of State.
1947: VOA Begins Broadcasting to Soviet Citizens
In 1947, VOA started broadcasting to Soviet citizens in Russia, aiming to counter Soviet propaganda against American leaders and policies.
1948: Charles W. Thayer Heads VOA
Charles W. Thayer headed VOA in 1948–49. The U.S. government debated the best role of Voice of America.
1948: VOA Forbidden to Broadcast Directly to American Citizens
From 1948, Voice of America was forbidden to broadcast directly to American citizens due to the Smith-Mundt Act.
April 24, 1949: Soviet Union Begins Jamming VOA Broadcasts
On April 24, 1949, the Soviet Union responded to VOA broadcasts by initiating electronic jamming of VOA broadcasts.
1949: Foy Kohler Becomes Director of VOA
In 1949, Foy Kohler became the director of VOA and strongly believed that the VOA was serving its purpose, which he identified as aiding in the fight against communism.
January 1, 1950: Arabic Service Resumes
On January 1, 1950, the Arabic service of VOA resumed with a half-hour program.
August 1952: Billy Brown's Program Begins
From August 1952 through May 1953, Billy Brown, a high school senior, had a Monday night program where he shared everyday happenings in Yorktown Heights, New York.
1952: VOA Mobile Broadcasting Ship
Between 1952 and 1960, Voice of America used a converted U.S. Coast Guard cutter Courier as a first mobile broadcasting ship.
1952: Analysis of Listener Letters
In 1952, an analysis of listener letters was done to determine their effectivness. It was found that broadcasts in different countries were having different effects.
March 1953: Charges Dropped against VOA Personnel
During 1953, VOA personnel were subjected to McCarthyist policies. The charges were dropped after one month of court hearings in February and March 1953.
May 1953: Billy Brown's Program Ends
From August 1952 through May 1953, Billy Brown, a high school senior, had a Monday night program where he shared everyday happenings in Yorktown Heights, New York. It ended due to its popularity
1953: Control of VOA passes to US Information Agency
In 1953, Control of VOA passed from the State Department to the U.S. Information Agency when the latter was established to transmit worldwide, including to the countries behind the Iron Curtain and to the People's Republic of China.
1953: VOA Placed Under USIA
In 1953, VOA was placed under the U.S. Information Agency (USIA).
1953: Analysis of Listener Letters
In 1953, an analysis of listener letters was done to determine their effectiveness, and it was found that broadcasts in different countries were having different effects.
1954: VOA Headquarters Moved
Around 1954, VOA's headquarters were moved from New York to Washington D.C.
1955: Voice of America Jazz Hour
From 1955 until 2003, VOA broadcast American jazz on the Voice of America Jazz Hour.
1956: Hungarian Revolution and VOA Broadcasts
During the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, VOA's broadcasts were deemed controversial, as Hungarian refugees thought that VOA insinuated the possible arrival of Western aid.
1956: Arabic Program Expansion during Suez Crisis
During the Suez Crisis of 1956, the Arabic program grew to 14.5 hours daily on VOA.
1956: South Africa Program
In 1956, A program aimed at South Africa broadcast two hours nightly, and special programs such as The Newport Jazz Festival were also transmitted.
1956: Polish Republic Stops Jamming VOA
In 1956, Polish People's Republic stopped jamming VOA transmissions, but People's Republic of Bulgaria continued to jam the signal through the 1970s.
1958: Arabic Program Hours
By 1958, the Arabic program on VOA was six hours a day.
1959: Principles for VOA Programming
Under the Eisenhower administration in 1959, VOA Director Henry Loomis commissioned a formal statement of principles to protect the integrity of VOA programming and define the organization's mission.
1960: VOA Mobile Broadcasting Ship
Between 1952 and 1960, Voice of America used a converted U.S. Coast Guard cutter Courier as a first mobile broadcasting ship.
1960: VOA Programming Directive
In 1960, VOA Programming Directive was issued by Director George V. Allen as a directive.
1962: Murrow Endorses VOA Programming Directive
In 1962, USIA director Edward R. Murrow endorsed VOA Programming Directive.
1963: Bethany Relay Station Transmitter Upgrades
Around 1963, major transmitter upgrades were undertaken at the Bethany Relay Station, including building and rebuilding shortwave and medium-wave transmitters.
1963: VOA Covers "I Have a Dream" Speech
In 1963, VOA covered Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, marking a significant moment in civil rights history.
1966: Edward R. Murrow on Jamming Costs
In 1966, Edward R. Murrow said that: "The Russians spend more money jamming the Voice of America than we have to spend for the entire program of the entire Agency. They spend about $125 million ($1,200,000,000 in current dollar terms) a year jamming it."
1969: VOA Covers First Moon Walk
In 1969, VOA covered Neil Armstrong's first walk on the Moon, drawing an audience estimated at between 615 and 750 million people.
1973: Soviet Jamming Ceases
In 1973, due to the détente policies in the Cold War, Soviet jamming of the VOA ceased.
1976: Jamming of Chinese Broadcasts Ends
Chinese-language VOA broadcasts were jammed beginning in 1956 and extending through 1976.
1976: VOA Charter Signed into Law
In 1976, the Voice of America (VOA) charter was signed into law by U.S. President Gerald Ford, formalizing its mission and operational guidelines.
1976: VOA Charter Established
The Voice of America Firewall was put in place with the 1976 VOA Charter to ensure the integrity of VOA's journalism.
1979: Soviet Jamming Restarts
In 1979, Soviet jamming of the VOA restarted after a period of détente.
September 1980: VOA Starts Broadcasting to Afghanistan
In September 1980, VOA started broadcasting to Afghanistan in Dari.
1980: VOA Starts Broadcasting to Afghanistan
In September 1980, VOA started broadcasting to Afghanistan in Dari.
1981: VOA Opens Bureau in Beijing
In 1981, VOA opened a bureau in Beijing, China, expanding its international presence.
1982: VOA Broadcasts in Pashto
In 1982, VOA started broadcasting to Afghanistan in Pashto. Also, the VOA began regular exchanges with Radio Peking.
1982: Amharic Service Started
In 1982, Voice of America started the Amharic Service, staffed by former members of the EPRP and US-educated individuals. Reporting was primarily critical of the Derg led by Mengistu Haile Mariam.
1983: VOA Polish Broadcasts Expanded
During the implementation of the Martial law in Poland between 1981 and 1983, VOA's Polish broadcasts expanded to seven hours daily.
1985: VOA Europe Creation
In 1985, VOA Europe was created, broadcasting in English via satellite to affiliates across Europe, featuring music, news, and local interest content.
1986: VOA opposed to TPLF/EPRDF
From 1986, Voice of America became opposed to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF)/Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which took control of Ethiopia in 1991.
1989: VOA Expands Programming to China
In 1989, Voice of America expanded its Mandarin and Cantonese programming to reach millions in China and inform them about the pro-democracy movement, including events in Tiananmen Square.
1990: U.S. Consolidates International Broadcasting
Starting in 1990, the U.S. government consolidated its international broadcasting efforts by establishing the Bureau of Broadcasting.
1993: Clinton Administration Proposes Funding Cuts
In 1993, the Clinton administration proposed cutting funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which led to the International Broadcasting Act.
1994: International Broadcasting Act
In 1994, US President Bill Clinton signed the International Broadcasting Act into law establishing the International Broadcasting Bureau as part of the USIA and established the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
1994: VOA on the Internet
In 1994, Voice of America became the first broadcast-news organization to offer continuously updated programs on the Internet.
1994: Laws Passed to Ensure Integrity of VOA Journalism
In 1994, laws were passed to assist in ensuring high standards of journalism.
1994: Bethany Relay Station Ceases Operation
In 1994, the Bethany Relay Station ceased operations. The site is now a recreational park and museum.
January 1997: VOA Europe Closure
In January 1997, VOA Europe was shut down as a cost-cutting measure without prior public announcement.
1998: Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act
In 1998, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act was signed into law, mandating the BBG to become an independent federal agency.
July 4, 1999: VOA Music Mix Revamp
On July 4, 1999, VOA Express was revamped and renamed VOA Music Mix.
October 1, 1999: BBG Becomes Independent Agency
On October 1, 1999, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) became an independent federal agency, as mandated by the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act.
1999: VOA Placed Under BBG
In 1999, when the USIA was abolished, VOA was placed under the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).
2000: Criticism of VOA's Impact on Kurds
In 2000, Kurdish Life published claims that VOA's service in Iran had a negative impact on Kurds and Kurdistan, alleging the VOA exacerbated conflict and covered up wrongful imprisonments and the building of extremist mosques.
2002: Arabic Service Replaced by Radio Sawa
In 2002, the Arabic Service was abolished and replaced by the Middle East Radio Network, also known as Radio Sawa, offering Western and Middle Eastern pop music with brief news updates.
2003: Voice of America Jazz Hour
From 1955 until 2003, VOA broadcast American jazz on the Voice of America Jazz Hour.
February 14, 2004: Alhurra Launch
On February 14, 2004, the Arabic Service expanded to television with the launch of Alhurra.
May 16, 2004: Worldnet Becomes VOA TV
On May 16, 2004, the US government's international English language TV service Worldnet, became part of VOA as "VOA TV".
April 2, 2007: Abdul Malik Rigi Interview
On April 2, 2007, Abdul Malik Rigi, the leader of Jundullah, appeared on Voice of America's Persian-language service.
July 2008: End of Russian Radio Programs
In July 2008, radio programs in Russian ended as part of a restructuring effort.
September 2008: VOA Eliminates Hindi-Language Service
In September 2008, VOA eliminated the Hindi-language service after 53 years, along with other language services.
September 2010: VOA Starts Radio Broadcasts in Sudan
In September 2010, VOA began radio broadcasts in Sudan to provide free information as U.S. interests in South Sudan grew.
2010: Abdul Malik Rigi Executed
In 2010, Abdul Malik Rigi was captured by the Iranian security services and executed in Evin Prison in Tehran.
February 2013: VOA Denies Instigating Self-Immolations
In February 2013, VOA denied instigating self-immolations after a Chinese station reported that VOA broadcasts motivated a Tibetan man's self-immolation attempt.
March 2013: VOA Radiogram Launched
In March 2013, VOA Radiogram, an experimental program, was launched to transmit digital text and images via shortwave radiograms.
2013: VOA Ends Some Foreign Language Transmissions
In 2013, VOA ended foreign-language transmissions on shortwave and medium wave to several regions, as well as English-language broadcasts to the Middle East and Afghanistan, due to budget cuts.
2013: Smith-Mundt Act Amended
In 2013, the Smith-Mundt Act was amended, allowing American citizens access to VOA content.
July 1, 2014: VOA Cuts English and Foreign Language Transmissions
On July 1, 2014, VOA cut most of its English-language transmissions to Asia and shortwave transmissions in several languages due to budget cuts.
October 2014: Current Time TV Launched
In October 2014, RFE/RL launched the Russian language Current Time TV.
November 1, 2014: VOA1 Rebranding
On November 1, 2014, VOA Music Mix was rebranded as VOA1, offering stations a new programming option.
2014: VOA English-Language Broadcasts in 2014
As of 2014, the Voice of America website had five English-language broadcasts: worldwide, Learning English, Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and Tibet. The VOA website also had versions in 48 foreign languages.
2015: VOA DEEWA Radio Airs in Pakistan
In 2015, VOA's DEEWA Radio aired in Pakistan, some listeners were suspicious it was promoting an American agenda, while others reported empowerment and that it gave a voice to the voiceless.
January 2016: BBG Chairman Deported from Russia
In January 2016, Russian authorities detained and deported Jeff Shell, the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, upon his arrival in Moscow, without providing an explanation.
2016: VOA Audience Reach in 2016
In 2016, VOA had a weekly worldwide audience of 237 million. By 2022, the audience had grown to approximately 326 million people.
2016: Laws Passed to Ensure Integrity of VOA Journalism
In 2016, laws were passed to assist in ensuring high standards of journalism.
January 2017: VOA Tweets Support Trump's Statements
In January 2017, following Donald Trump's inauguration, Voice of America (VOA) tweets appeared to support White House press secretary Sean Spicer's statements concerning crowd size and media bias, raising concerns about Trump's potential politicization of VOA.
February 7, 2017: Round-the-clock Broadcasting of Current Time Begins
On February 7, 2017, round-the-clock broadcasting of Current Time began.
April 19, 2017: VOA Mandarin Service Interview with Guo Wengui Cut Short
On April 19, 2017, the VOA Mandarin Service interviewed Chinese real estate tycoon Guo Wengui. The interview was abruptly cut short after Guo alleged corruption among the members of the Politburo Standing Committee of China.
June 2017: VOA Radiogram Ended
In June 2017, VOA Radiogram ended after 220 editions due to the retirement of the program producer.
June 25, 2017: Shortwave Radiogram Began Transmission
On June 25, 2017, Shortwave Radiogram began transmission from the WRMI transmitting site in Okeechobee, Florida.
December 2017: VOA Deemed 'Foreign Agent' in Russia
In December 2017, Voice of America was designated as a "foreign agent" in Russia under the Russian foreign agent law.
2018: VOA Africa Head Meets Ethiopian Prime Minister
In 2018, Negussie Mengesha, head of the VOA Africa division, met the newly appointed Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed, which influenced the perception of the service.
2018: Pakistani Authorities Block VOA Website
In 2018, Pakistani authorities blocked the website of VOA's Pashto and Urdu language radio service.
April 10, 2020: White House Criticizes VOA Coverage
On April 10, 2020, the White House published an article in its daily newsletter criticizing VOA's coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the CDC instructed its employees to avoid interview requests from VOA contributors.
June 3, 2020: Michael Pack Confirmed to Lead USAGM
On June 3, 2020, Michael Pack, a conservative filmmaker, was confirmed by the US Senate to head the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA. Following this, VOA's Director Bennet and deputy director Sandy Sugawara resigned.
June 2020: Biden Pledges to Fire Pack if Elected
In June 2020, Joe Biden's presidential campaign stated that if elected, Biden would fire Michael Pack from his position at USAGM.
July 20, 2020: Lawsuit Filed to Reverse Pack's Replacement of OTF Board
On July 20, 2020, District of Columbia attorney general Karl A. Racine filed suit under the District's Nonprofit Corporations Act to reverse Pack's replacement of the Open Technology Fund (OTF) board.
August 12, 2020: USAGM Officials Removed from Positions
On August 12, 2020, USAGM chief financial officer Grant Turner and general counsel David Kligerman were removed from their positions and stripped of security clearances, reportedly for opposing what Turner called "gross mismanagement."
November 2020: Pack Violated First Amendment Rights
In November 2020, a US District Court Judge Beryl Howell found that Michael Pack violated the First Amendment rights of Voice of America journalists.
December 2020: Pack Refuses to Cooperate with Biden's Transition Team
In December 2020, Michael Pack refused to cooperate with President-elect Biden's transition team. He also replaced VOA Acting Director Biberaj with Robert Reilly, who had a history of critical writings about Muslims, gays, and lesbians.
January 11, 2021: VOA Reporter Removed from White House Beat
On January 11, 2021, VOA interim director Reilly ordered veteran reporter Patsy Widakuswara off the White House beat after she questioned Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Dozens of VOA journalists subsequently called for Reilly's resignation.
January 2021: Setareh Derakhshesh Sieg Terminated
In January 2021 Setareh Derakhshesh Sieg was terminated for falsifying her education credentials, severe abuses of taxpayer dollars for personal benefit, and engaging in a pattern of favoritism.
May 2021: VOA's Amharic Service Accused of Bias
In May 2021, VOA's Amharic service, under Negussie Mengesha, was accused by former employees of being biased in favor of the government of Abiy Ahmed and failing to report atrocities during the Tigray War. Journalist Jason Patinkin resigned, citing VOA's siding with the perpetrators.
June 2021: Mail & Guardian Report on VOA Tigray War Coverage
In June 2021, Mail & Guardian reported on an investigation into VOA's Horn of Africa service during the Tigray War, alleging biased coverage favoring the Ethiopian government and restrictions on reporting Tigrayan viewpoints. The report also stated that VOA was the only major foreign news service not harassed by Ethiopian security services.
June 2021: Roskomnadzor Complains about VOA
In June 2021, Russia's state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor complained that the foreign agent Voice of America radio station challengingly refused to observe Russian law because it had not established a Russian legal entity.
2021: VOA Launches 52 Documentary Series
In 2021, Voice of America launched '52 Documentary,' a series publishing weekly films about human experiences.
February 2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian authorities increased censorship of independent journalism, anti-war protests, and dissenting voices.
June 30, 2022: Turkey Blocks VOA Website
On June 30, 2022, Turkey's RTÜK blocked access to VOA's website in Turkey because VOA had not applied for the necessary license.
November 2022: VOA Reaches 326 Million Adults Weekly
In November 2022, the Voice of America (VOA) reached 326 million adults per week across all platforms. This reporting reached non-American audiences outside the US borders.
2022: VOA's Worldwide Audience and Staffing
As of 2022, VOA had a weekly worldwide audience of approximately 326 million people and employed 961 staff with an annual budget of $267.5 million.
April 2023: Twitter Labels VOA as "Government-Funded"
In April 2023, after Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, Voice of America's (VOA) Twitter account was labelled as "government-funded," a move that VOA criticized, asserting that it implied a lack of editorial independence and emphasizing its protected independence by regulations.
May 2023: Russia Bans VOA Chief Yolanda Lopez
In May 2023, Russia banned then-acting VOA chief Yolanda Lopez from ever entering the country.
August 2023: Turkey Blocks Alternate VOA Website
In August 2023, VOA Turkish broadcast over a different VOA website domain name, voaturkce.com, and was blocked as well in Turkey after the initial website was blocked in June 2022. VOA stated it could not comply with censorship directives.
September 2023: Yolanda Lopez Resigns
In September 2023, Lopez abruptly resigned as the Committee intensified its investigation.
October 7, 2023: VOA Editorial Guidance After Hamas Attack
Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, VOA issued editorial guidance regarding terminology, leading to criticism from Republican members of Congress. USAGM clarified that there was no policy prohibiting the use of words like 'terrorist', but the controversy led to budget cuts for USAGM.
June 12, 2024: House Foreign Affairs Committee Finds Evidence of Corruption
On June 12, 2024, the House Foreign Affairs Committee concluded that there was "credible evidence of corruption" regarding the matter of Setareh Derakhshesh Sieg, the former director of Voice of America's Persian News Network (PNN).
June 2024: Committee Finds that the original allegations had merit and were supported by substantial evidence
In its June 2024 report, the Committee found that the original allegations had merit and were supported by substantial evidence. Sieg remains employed at VOA.
July 2024: Michael Abramowitz Assumes Director Position
In July 2024, Michael Abramowitz became the director of VOA.
December 2024: Trump to Nominate Kari Lake as Director
In December 2024, president-elect Trump announced his intention to name former news anchor Kari Lake as the director of VOA.
