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VOA was organized in 1942 under the Office of Wartime Information with news programs aimed at German-occupied Europe and North Africa. VOA began broadcasting on February 24, 1942. Transmitters used by VOA came from shortwave transmitters used by the Columbia Broadcasting System and National Broadcasting Company. Voice of America began to transmit radio broadcasts into the Soviet UnionThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR ( Russian: ; tr. Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik (SSSR) also called the Soviet Union ( ; tr. Sovetsky Soyuz , was a state in much of the northern region of Eurasia that existed from 1922 until 1 on February 17February 17 is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 317 days remaining (318 in leap years). Events 197 Battle of Lugdunum, Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats his rival Clodius Albinus, securing full control over the Roman Emp, 1947Events January January 1 British mines nationalized January 1 Nigeria gains limited autonomy January 1 The Canadian Citizenship Act went into effect January 3 Proceedings of the United States Congress are televised for the first time. January 10 United Na.
During the Cold WarThe Cold War (c. 1945- 1991) was the open yet restricted rivalry that developed after World War II between groups of nations practicing different ideologies and political systems. On one side was the Soviet Union and its allies, often referred to as the E, VOA was placed under the U.S. Information AgencyThe United States Information Agency (USIA), which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to what it called "public diplomacy. The term public diplomacy (q. is closely related to the word " propaganda," possibly synonymous with it d. VOA was involved in white propagandaNorth Korean propaganda showing a soldier destroying the Capitol building. This article is about the type of communication. For other meanings, see Propaganda (disambiguation). Propaganda is a specific type of message presentation, aimed at serving an age broadcasts. In the 1980s, VOA also added a television service, as well as special regional programs to Cuba, Radio Marti and TV Marti.
VOA uses a number of transmitting sites throughout the world, including GreenvilleGreenville is a city located in Pitt County, North Carolina on the Tar River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 60,476. It is the county seat of Pitt County 6. On March 19, 1861 during the American Civil War, the Battle of Bentonvi, North CarolinaNorth Carolina is a southern state in the United States. North Carolina is one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. It is bordered by South Carolina on the south, Georgia on the southwest, Tennessee on th and Delano, California in the United States; in the United Kingdom, Greece, the Philippines, Sao Tome, Kuwait, and Thailand among other sites.
VOA is currently under the International Broadcasting Bureau, which is part of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. This has led to debates over the degree of independence of VOA's news programs from government policies.
Under United States law, the Voice of America is forbidden to broadcast directly to American citizens. The intent of this legislation is to keep the government from having a direct outlet to the public, as in many European countries. In special cases, such as the 1981 TV program Let Poland Be Poland , Congressional approval was required to show Americans the program. However, the VOA is audible on shortwave and broadcasts streaming audio over the Internet, which enables Americans to hear the programming.
Many Voice of America announcers, such as Willis Conover, Pat Gates , and Judy Massa became world-wide celebrities, though they were unknown in their home country.
VOA broadcasts several programs aimed at specialist audiences:
The Voice of America currently broadcasts in more than 50 languages, including Special English, which uses simplified vocabulary and grammar.
The Voice of America is located at 330 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20547.
The interval signal is " Yankee Doodle," played by a brass band, followed by the announcement: "this is the Voice of America, signing on." "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean" was used as the interval signal for many years.