VOA's Persian News Network does good work...
but is not a good place to work.
That's the bottom-line conclusion of a new report by the State Department Inspector General's office, after inspecting the Voice of America's 24 hour-a-day Farsi-language broadcasting service, which beams news about U.S. foreign policy and life to the people of Iran.
"Virtually everyone voluntarily brought up the subject of disgruntled employees and destructive rumors. Some said it was the most unpleasant place that they had ever worked, citing raised voices and the lack of civil, professional conduct when disagreements arose," states the report, based in part on interviews of Persian News Network (PNN) staff and management.
The report cites tension over hiring and advancementt; between employees in the shrinking radio vision and the expanding television division; and between individuals of Iranian descent and those who are not.
It also includes this tidbit (go straight to Page 31): A supervising executive producer hired two subordinates who had been his colleagues at ABC News. Apparently the two, who are not named, don't have Farsi language skills, however. "How could you produce 'Meet the Press' without an English-speaking person in charge?" one PNN worker is quoted as saying.
Part of PNN's problems may be growing pains. Under a Bush administration policy to vastly expand public diplomacy aimed at Iran, the service grew from 30 staff in 2007 to 83 full-time equivalents and 120 contractors today.
The report praise the network's impact, saying that it is performing a "vital function," and has been built up in an "extraordinarily short period of time," now reaching 29 percent of Iranians in Iran.
did you entered in your inspect parameters like cultural basis of iranians staff and their views about work & politics .
Posted by: nasrin | May 25, 2009 at 04:03 AM
Joan - Thanks very much for your comment. While you may disagree with our emphasis, we did indeed mention the positive side of the report, starting with the headline of the item, and ending with the final paragraph, which notes PNN's "vital function" and expanding reach.
Regards
Warren
Posted by: Warren | April 16, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Nukes and Spooks, unfortunately, misses the larger issue about VOA's Persian News Network -- it's incredible success. As the report by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General notes, "“VOA successfully built PNN into its first full-fledged network in an extraordinarily short period of time." Since the network launched in July 2007, more than 13 million Persians -- some 29 percent of adults -- tune into VOA on satellite television, radio and Internet. "PNN represents a major achievement in setting up a network that reaches approximately 29 percent of Iranians in Iran," the report said.
PNN, operating in a country with no press freedom, is “performing a vital function,” the report said. "It is the only platform from which the U.S. Government can reach an Iranian audience with unbiased news and information about U.S. foreign policy and American life," it added.
Yes, PNN, like many new start-ups, experienced some organizational challenges, as the report points out. But the VOA has embraced the report's recommendations, and has already instituted many of them. The network is embarked on a series of improvements to enhance its appeal to Iran’s majority youth population and to expand PNN’s reach to Farsi speakers in neighboring Afghanistan, for example.
For those who want to watch for themselves, check out www.voanews.com/Persian
Joan Mower
director, public relations
VOA
Posted by: Joan Mower | April 15, 2009 at 03:46 PM