http://www.insidevoa.com Voice of America is an international news and broadcast organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries http://www.voanews.com/img/voa/rssLogo_VOA.gif http://www.insidevoa.com en 2012 - VOA 60 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 08:29:56 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA The Voice of America will launch a new English-language learning program on Lao National Television March 5th to teach American-style English. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-introduces-lao-english-teaching-program/3217902.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-introduces-lao-english-teaching-program/3217902.html Thu, 03 Mar 2016 09:21:21 -0500 Press Releases The top candidates for the position of Tibet’s political leader in exile (Sikyong, or prime minister) faced off this week in an exclusive prime time internet, radio, and television broadcast to Tibet, aired and hosted by the Voice of America. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-presents-exclusive-tibetan-election-debate/3216426.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-presents-exclusive-tibetan-election-debate/3216426.html Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:57:37 -0500 Press Releases VOA Urdu journalist Tabinda Naeem found herself in the spotlight recently when she was profiled prominently in the Daily Express, one of the largest Urdu-language newspapers in Pakistan. The profile piece features Naeem’s education and professional background in Pakistan, as well as her life and work in the United States as a journalist for the Voice of America. Having started her career in print journalism, Naeem worked her way up to become a TV journalist & producer and the founding member of Pakistan’s first 24/7 TV News Channel, Geo News. She then moved to Washington D.C. ten years ago when she was hired for VOA Urdu’s first TV program, Khabron se Aage. “VOA has taught me to stay objective as a journalist, even when faced with the most compelling and emotional stories where journalists often find it difficult to separate facts from emotions” says Naeem in the interview. Naeem’s hard work, dedication and character is not only valued by her VOA Urdu family in DC, but also by her fans back home in Pakistan, where undoubtedly she is a well-respected celebrity. Based in Lahore, Pakistan, the Daily Express circulates widely throughout the country. An electronic version of the daily paper is also featured on its website. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/article/3212850.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/article/3212850.html Mon, 29 Feb 2016 10:54:08 -0500 Highlights VOA Persian has launched its television program New Horizon with Payam Yazdian followed by C-Street, the first of its Farsi language documentary series produced by Bloomberg Television. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-launches-new-prime-time-programs-for-iran/3209835.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-launches-new-prime-time-programs-for-iran/3209835.html Fri, 26 Feb 2016 13:59:41 -0500 Press Releases Shaka Ssali, host and managing editor of VOA's TV and radio program Straight Talk Africa, was selected to serve as one of three moderators for the Uganda presidential debate in Kampala, Uganda on February 13, 2016. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voas-shaka-ssali-to-moderate-ugandan-presidential-debate/3188606.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voas-shaka-ssali-to-moderate-ugandan-presidential-debate/3188606.html Fri, 12 Feb 2016 13:24:05 -0500 Press Releases VOA’s Khmer Service recently aired a 60-minute Facebook Live broadcast during its regularly scheduled radio program, setting a service record for audience reach on the social media site. The February 3 broadcast (8:30-9:30 p.m. Cambodian local time) featured Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy in Washington and received nearly 35,000 views and reached more than 200,000 Facebook users within two hours. Audience engagement also soared, with nearly 4,000 comments, more than 9,000 likes and some 1,300 shares. During the interview with VOA Khmer’s Kimseng Men, Rainsy responded to a fan’s question regarding his Facebook page receiving more “likes” than that of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.Rainsy said, “Facebook ‘likes’ are only one measure of citizen engagement, in addition to comments and shares.But the real [impact] is people's true willingness to engage and the inter-active nature of the page." “This was quite revolutionary, and a great tool to integrate live TV and radio. It is a bridge between traditional and new media. The engagement aspect adds to the next step of multi-media,” said Sophat Soeung, digital media coordinator and reporter for the Khmer Service. With more than 2.8 million fans, VOA Khmer has the most popular Facebook page in Cambodia. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-khmer-fb-live-broadcast-reaches-record-audience/3185531.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-khmer-fb-live-broadcast-reaches-record-audience/3185531.html Thu, 11 Feb 2016 10:40:44 -0500 Highlights Grammy-winner R&B artist Akon is certainly a man of many titles. The rapper, songwriter, businessman, record producer, and actor visited VOA recently for an interview with the French-to-Africa service. The music mogul stopped by VOA French’s program, Vous et Nous, hosted by Roger Muntu and Anasthasie Tudieshe to discuss his fourth album, “Stadium Music”, and a subject that hits home, the lack of electricity in Africa. In the rural areas of the continent, tens of millions live without access to electricity and many die each year from toxic fumes or house fires caused by their efforts to light their homes. Having spent much of his childhood in the West African country of Senegal, living without power is a vivid memory for the US-based rap star. Using his platform, Akon decided to take action. In 2014, he collaborated with entrepreneur Samba Bathily and community leader Thione Niang to launch “Akon Lighting Africa,” an initiative that aims to bring electricity to millions of households in Africa using solar energy. “This interview was very important, especially for young African entrepreneurs. Already in 16 countries, and with aims to be in 25 countries this year, ‘Akon Lighting Africa’ is off to an inspiring start. Akon also delivered words of encouragement and wisdom for our African viewers, so we were particularly proud of this interview,” said co-host Roger Muntu. Vous et Nous is a fast-paced, 30-minute TV program featuring young people in Africa and the US who are making positive differences in their lives and in their communities, working in fields from pop culture, education, and health to technology, music, and fashion. Each week, co-hosts Roger Muntu and Anasthasie Tudieshe spotlight entrepreneurs and trendsetters for broadcast affiliates in Ivory Coast, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Senegal, and elsewhere. Watch the interview in English here. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/grammy-winner-akon-stops-by-voa-to-talk-music-and-light-in-africa/3183906.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/grammy-winner-akon-stops-by-voa-to-talk-music-and-light-in-africa/3183906.html Wed, 10 Feb 2016 09:00:35 -0500 Highlights From its first five-minute news feed with one broadcaster to its current Radio-on-TV programming, VOA Creole has been one of the most reliable and authoritative sources of news in Haiti. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-creole-marks-30-years-on-air/3182172.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-creole-marks-30-years-on-air/3182172.html Mon, 08 Feb 2016 15:25:00 -0500 Press Releaseshttp://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-creole-marks-30-years-on-air/3182172.html#relatedInfoContainer The Voice of America provided audiences around the globe with an out-of-this world interview by going live with a couple of astronauts in space on January 20, 2016. In a live interview from aboard the space station, U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly told VOA Learning English reporter Anne Ball in Washington D.C. that he follows the news “very closely up here, and we have the news going on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornieko are spending a year on the space station -- twice the time that most astronauts spend aboard the orbiting laboratory. Speaking through an interpreter, Kornienko told VOA, “We can effectively work together with people from different countries -- together in space for the benefit of humanity. If we could send our politicians here for a month or a month and a half, then all the problems on Earth would be resolved much easily.” In addition to conducting experiments on the long-term effects of weightless on the human body, Kelly and Kornieko are exploring other physical and psychological challenges encountered in space. Their findings will give NASA scientists and planners important information as they chart a possible mission to Mars. “The real interesting thing is the international cooperation up there. Americans and Russians are working together for survival. Our job is to bring interesting and smart stories and programming to our viewers and listeners from around the world. Personally, for me, it was an absolute thrill, a career highlight,” said Ball about the interview. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-live-interview-with-international-space-station/3166496.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-live-interview-with-international-space-station/3166496.html Thu, 28 Jan 2016 10:03:25 -0500 Highlights The Voice of America condemns the suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday, January 20 that killed seven journalists and wounded 26 others who worked for Tolo TV and its parent company, Moby Group. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-condemns-attack-on-kabul-journalists/3158632.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-condemns-attack-on-kabul-journalists/3158632.html Fri, 22 Jan 2016 11:35:37 -0500 Press Releases Voice of America’s Kurdish Service has launched Kurdvizyon (Kurd Vision), a new 30-minute television news program, via its Kurdish affiliate, Ozgur Gun TV, in Dayirbakir, Turkey. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-launches-kurdvizyon-television-program/3152907.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-launches-kurdvizyon-television-program/3152907.html Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:35:57 -0500 Press Releases The Broadcasting Board of Governors expressed shock and sadness Sunday after freelance journalist Almigdad Mojalli, on assignment for the Voice of America, was killed in an air raid in Yemen. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/bbg-voa-honor-freelance-journalist-killed-in-yemen/3151227.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/bbg-voa-honor-freelance-journalist-killed-in-yemen/3151227.html Mon, 18 Jan 2016 11:37:23 -0500 Press Releases VOA Zimbabwe Service Chief Ndimyake Mwakalyelye moderated a recent high-level USAID panel discussion on maternal and child health. The Washington program focused on U.S. government interagency efforts to use evidence-based research to improve the delivery of foreign aid to developing countries. Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet; Maya Shankar, senior advisor for Social and Behavioral Sciences at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and Dr. Ariel Pablos-Méndez, USAID assistant administrator for Global Health, and Child and Maternal Survival coordinator took part in the panel. "As a journalist of African descent, I was honored to be part of such a union of forces -- USAID, the Peace Corps, and the White House -- that aim to enrich people's lives, particularly in developing countries, by ensuring that the intended help meets the needs of the communities being served in the most impactful way. Matching science with behavioral practices and norms is a great step forward," said Mwakalyelye. Mwakalyelye began her service at the Voice of America 14 years ago as a radio broadcaster. She was a journalist and television broadcaster for several VOA English to Africa programs, before becoming chief of the Zimbabwe Service in 2014. Her interest in women’s issues and health-related matters has fueled her dedication in covering these topics for the Voice of America. VOA Zimbabwe broadcasts in English, Shona and Ndebele on medium wave and shortwave radio, and offers a daily live webcast of its popular Studio 7 radio program. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-zimbabwe-chief-moderates-usaid-health-panel/3108768.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-zimbabwe-chief-moderates-usaid-health-panel/3108768.html Fri, 18 Dec 2015 09:19:13 -0500 Highlights Voice of America reporter Ibrahim Ahmed is among the recipients of the Distinguished Journalism Award. http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-hausa-service-journalist-receives-burke-award/3105823.html http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-hausa-service-journalist-receives-burke-award/3105823.html Wed, 16 Dec 2015 15:13:03 -0500 Press Releases