Existing comment:
The Post War Years: The Debate Begins:
Many VOA language services were reduced or eliminated after World War II. However, a committee of private citizens chaired by Columbia University professor Arthur McMahon advised that the US government could not be "indifferent to the ways in which our society is portrayed in other countries." Consequently, on December 31, 1945, the VOA and CIAA's broadcast services were transferred to the Department of State. Congress reluctantly voted funding for their continued operation throughout 1946 and 1947.
The Need for an International Broadcast Service Takes Hold:
In 1948, the Soviet Union and Soviet-controlled countries began an intensive international broadcasting campaign. The actions of communist governments, such as the Berlin blockade, played an important role in convincing US government officials and members of Congress that the United States must counter the Soviet effort. That year, Congress passed the Smith-Mundt Act, establishing the United States' international information and cultural exchange programs. The legislation covered VOA's continued operation. |