NPR Takes On Washington: Battling for the Airwaves in Berlin

[Kellanved]

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,546526,00.jpg


The Berlin frequency 87.9 FM has been in American government hands since the end of World War II. But the frequency is now up for renewal and venerated US public broadcaster National Public Radio is mounting serious competition for the government propaganda channel. The battle has exposed the ugly underbelly of the Bush Administration's public relations strategy.


At first glance, the cause of the controversy seems pedestrian enough. The radio frequency 87.9 is up for grabs in Berlin and there are a number of aspirants hoping to take it over. Radio business as usual. Yawn.

But what would normally be a boring procedural matter become a struggle for the image of the United States abroad. The 87.9 FM frequency in Berlin is currently in the hands of Voice of America (VOA), the US government sponsored station that broadcasts in dozens of countries around the world.

With VOA's license coming up for renewal, a new hat has been thrown into the ring. National Public Radio (NPR), the respected US public news and entertainment broadcaster, is hoping to take over the slot on the Berlin FM dial. But VOA isn't letting go without a fight -- and it has powerful supporters.
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http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,386531,00.html

[DBoon]

1. We should replace VOA with NPR entirely

assuming NPR can be given its former independence and spirit.

NPR is a better representation of what America should be than the old cold-war VOA

[punpirate]

2. Perhaps you should check who's running...

... NPR these days. You might be surprised to find that it's one of the old cold war propagandists.

VOA=NPR, these days....

[DBoon]

3. I meant the former NPR

that still had its old independent spirit.

The NPR I used to listen to.

Not the one I turned off