Shortwave is not a hot topic, BBG strategists are

BBG Watch Commentary reflecting contributions from several individuals.

Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) strategists have engaged in a bit of propaganda in trying to frame the legitimate debate on their competency and their strategy by focusing the discussion on the issue of shortwave broadcasts and portraying all their critics as shortwave radio dinosaurs. BBG Shortwave: Sorting The Fact From The Fiction

 

Sorry to say but most of the criticism of BBG strategists and their ideas have little to do with shortwave broadcasting. When looking at these opening statements from the BBG blog post, only parts of them are true:

The BBG Strategy Blog takes a look shortwave, one of the hottest topics in U.S. international broadcasting [NOT TRUE]:

Once the only tool, shortwave is now just one of many in the distribution toolbox. [TRUE but no one disputes that] But when, where, and how much the BBG should use SW has become a hot topic… [NOT TRUE]

Shortwave. It’s among the most hotly debated topics inside and outside the BBG. [NOT TRUE] Once the single go-to method of distribution, the medium is now just one of many tools employed by BBG broadcasters.[TRUE, but no one disputes that]

Sorry to disappoint BBG strategists, but shortwave is NOT a hot topic.

The hottest topic right now is their plan to eliminate Voice of America radio broadcasts to Tibet and to close down the VOA Cantonese Service: shortwave radio, satellite television, and Internet. Last year, it was their plan to kill all VOA Mandarin radio and television. That BBG plan was killed in unanimous bipartisan votes in Congress. 

Think of the impact of the latest proposal to deprive Tibetan Buddhist monks and others of VOA Tibetan radio broadcasts, which NPR reports are being listened to secretly, while Tibetans are self-immolating to shock the conscience of the world and the Chinese government is increasing arrests and repression. The idea to end these broadcasts came from BBG strategists. 

The hot topic is not shortwave per se, although it is part of it; it is the judgement and the understanding of the mission on the part of BBG strategists. Add to this their continued insistence on eliminating broadcasting services while keeping their own jobs and expanding their bureaucratic operations and outside contracting.

Isn’t there an inherent conflict of interest in their program cutting proposals?

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(Source : USG Broadcast, BBG Watch)