On February 15, the Broadcasting Board of Governors sponsored an event on U.S. international broadcasting and public diplomacy in the age of social media titled, "The New Media Revolution and U.S. Global Engagement." A standing-room-only audience enjoyed presentations on international broadcasting in the new media age, cyber jamming and the challenge of bringing accurate news to closed societies.
Visit the BBG's website to read a release on the event.
For more info on all of the panels, see below. Watch or listen to the event here:
Windows Media Dialup On-Demand Video Link
Windows Media On-Demand Audio Link
9:00am
Public Diplomacy and International Broadcasting In The New Media Era
The role 'New Media' is playing in Tunisia, Egypt, and elsewhere is up for debate. What's certain, however, is that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media tools have changed the way people communicate. Today's global media environment is a revolution in progress. How is the U.S. taking advantage of the potential unleashed by the digital revolution and what else must it do? Join a discussion with experts and practitioners led by Walter Isaacson, BBG Chairman and former president of CNN.
With:
- Walter Isaacson, BBG Chairman (Moderator)
- Rebecca MacKinnon, Co-Founder, Global Voices and New America Foundation Fellow
- Rebecca McMenamin, New Media Director, International Broadcasting Bureau
- Golnaz Esfandiari, Editor, RFE's "Persian Letters" Blog
- Mohamed Al-Yahyai, Host, Alhurra Television's "Eye on Democracy"
Presentation of VOA-Citizen Global project on sexual violence against women in the Congo.
10:10am
Censorship, Signal Blocking, and Cyberjamming -- Can the U.S. Keep Up?
Behind the scenes, there is an information war being waged between closed and free societies. Autocrats are jamming the airwaves and blocking the Internet to prevent their people from accessing outside information. A senior U.S. official charged with overcoming these obstacles explains what the U.S. is doing about it. With:
- Ken Berman, Director, International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) Anti-Censorship Program
Introduced by BBG Governor Michael Meehan
10:45am
North Korea, Iran and Cuba: Bringing Accurate Information to Closed Societies
What do citizens inside Iran, North Korea, and Cuba know about their governments and the outside world? This group of experts and international broadcasters (including Kambiz Hosseini, Jon Stewart's recent guest on "The Daily Show") discuss what the U.S. is doing today to get accurate news and information inside these "information bubbles." With:
- Jeffrey Gedmin, President, RFE (Moderator)
- Kambiz Hosseini, Host, "Parazit", VOA Persian News Network
- Christopher Walker, Director of Studies, Freedom House
- Andrei Lankov, Professor, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea
- Carlos Garcia-Perez, Director, Office of Cuba Broadcasting
Introduced by Radio Free Asia President Libby Liu
Welcome comments by BBG Governor Susan McCue
Concluding comments by BBG Governor Dennis Mulhaupt
Visit the BBG's website to read a release on the event.
For more info on all of the panels, see below. Watch or listen to the event here:
On-Demand Streaming Media
Windows Media Broadband On-Demand Video LinkWindows Media Dialup On-Demand Video Link
Windows Media On-Demand Audio Link
Full program:
9:00am
Public Diplomacy and International Broadcasting In The New Media Era
The role 'New Media' is playing in Tunisia, Egypt, and elsewhere is up for debate. What's certain, however, is that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media tools have changed the way people communicate. Today's global media environment is a revolution in progress. How is the U.S. taking advantage of the potential unleashed by the digital revolution and what else must it do? Join a discussion with experts and practitioners led by Walter Isaacson, BBG Chairman and former president of CNN.
With:
- Walter Isaacson, BBG Chairman (Moderator)
- Rebecca MacKinnon, Co-Founder, Global Voices and New America Foundation Fellow
- Rebecca McMenamin, New Media Director, International Broadcasting Bureau
- Golnaz Esfandiari, Editor, RFE's "Persian Letters" Blog
- Mohamed Al-Yahyai, Host, Alhurra Television's "Eye on Democracy"
Presentation of VOA-Citizen Global project on sexual violence against women in the Congo.
10:10am
Censorship, Signal Blocking, and Cyberjamming -- Can the U.S. Keep Up?
Behind the scenes, there is an information war being waged between closed and free societies. Autocrats are jamming the airwaves and blocking the Internet to prevent their people from accessing outside information. A senior U.S. official charged with overcoming these obstacles explains what the U.S. is doing about it. With:
- Ken Berman, Director, International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) Anti-Censorship Program
Introduced by BBG Governor Michael Meehan
10:45am
North Korea, Iran and Cuba: Bringing Accurate Information to Closed Societies
What do citizens inside Iran, North Korea, and Cuba know about their governments and the outside world? This group of experts and international broadcasters (including Kambiz Hosseini, Jon Stewart's recent guest on "The Daily Show") discuss what the U.S. is doing today to get accurate news and information inside these "information bubbles." With:
- Jeffrey Gedmin, President, RFE (Moderator)
- Kambiz Hosseini, Host, "Parazit", VOA Persian News Network
- Christopher Walker, Director of Studies, Freedom House
- Andrei Lankov, Professor, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea
- Carlos Garcia-Perez, Director, Office of Cuba Broadcasting
Introduced by Radio Free Asia President Libby Liu
Welcome comments by BBG Governor Susan McCue
Concluding comments by BBG Governor Dennis Mulhaupt
