2016 Annual Report The Broadcasting Board of Governors is the independent federal government agency that oversees all U.S. civilian international media. BBG is also the name of the board that governs the agency. The five networks of the BBG are trusted news sources, providing high-quality journalism and programming to more than 278 million people each week. BBG networks are news leaders, covering stories left untold in environments that lack press freedom and fostering civil dialogue in places overwhelmed with disinformation. They are leading channels for information about the United States as well as independent platforms for freedom of expression and a free press. Table of Contents 2016: A Year of Impact and Transformation Letter from the CEO ...........................................................................3 Mission ............................................................................................4 A Shared Vision .................................................................................6 Leadership Guides Strategy and Organizational Changes .......................8 Year in Review ................................................................................. 10 Getting Results................................................................................ 14 A Challenging World Press & Internet Freedom Under Attack ............................................. 16 Threats to BBG Journalists ................................................................ 18 Strategic Priorities Strategic Priorities Overview.............................................................22 Priority 1: Measuring Impact ............................................................. 23 Impact Model........................................................................24 Inform: Providing Value Beyond Reach .................................... 25 Engaging and Connecting Audiences .......................................26 Being Influential ...................................................................27 Priority 2: Shift to Digital .................................................................28 Priority 3: Enhancing Coordination: A Global Force ............................. 34 Priority 4: Increasing Curation .......................................................... 38 Priority 5: Targeting Resources ..........................................................40 Countering Violent Extremism ...............................................42 Responding to Misinformation in Russia .................................46 Reporting the Truth in Iran ....................................................50 Overcoming Censorship in China ............................................ 54 Supporting Human Rights in Cuba .......................................... 58 Responding to Unique News Needs in Africa ............................62 Broadcasting Board of Governors ......................................................66 2016 Awards ....................................................................................70 Financial Highlights ........................................................................72 BBG At a Glance .............................................................................. 73 Learn More Online Visit our companion website for multimedia content, interactive features and additional information at 2016.bbg.gov 1 “This is a very important time for U.S. international media. We are carefully weighing pressing national security concerns, government-wide spending constraints and the need to fine-tune our operations to deliver more impact.” — JOHN F. LANSING FEBRUARY 2016 Letter from the CEO 2016 was a transformational year for U.S. international media. With unprecedented strategic coordination, the networks of the BBG—Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Martí), Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks —have impacted the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world by providing accurate, unbiased and uncensored news and information. We have modernized the way we operate in one of the most significant strategic shifts in our agency’s history, with an emphasis on rapidly transitioning to digital and social platforms around the world. We are already seeing measurable results with record weekly audience growth of 52 million in the past year for a total weekly audience of 278 million people. We are more focused on key U.S. foreign policy goals and took the important steps to align our infrastructure and operations with our agency priorities. The result is a strong and nimble global media agency driven by maximizing impact, which in turn advances U.S. foreign policy priorities and national security interests. BBG networks remain unique in the international media space. Our global networks can be seen and heard in rural and urban areas in the most restrictive countries in the world, including North Korea, Cuba and China. We are the world leader in content distribution—providing news and information on the widest range of platforms available, from shortwave to mobile, making sure our content gets to audiences that need it. In 2016, each of our networks played a critical role in supporting the pursuit of freedom and democracy, covering under reported or censored stories, providing platforms for people to speak freely about issues that are important to them, investigating and exposing corruption, and in many cases serving as a lifeline of information for people struggling to access the truth. I am honored to work alongside the dedicated and passionate women and men of U.S. international media, and I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish this year. Our extensive reach gives us a competitive advantage to provide objective news where it’s needed the most, and our streamlined structure gives us the ability to operate in a targeted and more impactful way. Despite a volatile global media environment, we are seeing consistent growth and aim to continue along that trajectory. On behalf of the amazing staff of BBG, both in front of and behind the camera, thank you for your support and interest in our work. We are proudly continuing the U.S. international media legacy of making the world a safer and better place, by informing, engaging and connecting audiences around the world in support of freedom and democracy so that they may make informed decisions about their lives, their families and their communities. Promoting civil societies outside of our country makes America a safer place for our own citizens. Respectfully, Submitted on behalf of the Broadcasting Board of Governors and pursuant to Section 305(a) of the International John F. Lansing, BBG CEO and Director Broadcasting Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-236) 3 One Mission. To inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. One Team. Five Networks. * International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB)/ Technology, Services, and Innovation (TSI) provide corporate functions including human resources, budgeting, administrative functions, strategy, research, contracting, security, marketing, distribution, information technology, and engineering, among others. 5 A Shared Vision While their roles and target audiences are unique, each BBG network has the common goal to provide credible, accurate and reliable information to people who need it the most. Amanda Bennett Thomas Kent Voice of America Director Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Led by world-class media Voice of America had a record-breaking It is an honor to lead Radio Free Europe/ professionals, the networks year in 2016 reaching more people Radio Liberty, which serves some of on digital and traditional platforms are made up of passionate, the world’s toughest information than ever–even in the most remote or geographies. RFE/RL provides honest, dedicated and brave men and restrictive media environments. In a year factual reporting to nations where marked by disinformation and extremist state-run media, financial interests and women in bureaus and offices rhetoric, audiences turned to VOA for extremists try to dictate the news. fact-based news and information, and for around the world. Despite our historic “radio” name, truthful reporting about the United States. RFE/RL is also fluent in satellite VOA provided unrivaled access to the television, web video, podcasts, text U.S. election process in 47 languages. stories, infographics, and social In a technological breakthrough, networking. Audiences in 23 countries VOA provided live translations of the viewed our videos more than a presidential debates in Russian, Persian, billion times on social networks in Spanish, Mandarin, and Pashto. VOA 26 languages in FY2016. increased reporting on entrepreneurship and technology in Silicon Valley, as In Iran, we defy censorship with well as U.S. education and diaspora informed discussion and debate. In communities. It was VOA that provided Afghanistan and Pakistan, we engage a unique channel linking Somali communities in combatting extremism. communities in Minnesota with the RFE/RL is also headquarters for the new Somali President in Mogadishu. Current Time Russian-language TV and Our journalists created a special digital network, which brings truthful team to report on violent extremism information to a market otherwise filled —investigating its roots, funding, and with misinformation. propaganda. They faced incredible risks, In 2016 our journalists stepped up providing exclusive coverage of