| Page 2 of 2 < |
The BBC's Window on the World
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
I strongly disagree with David Pitts's commentary lamenting the abundance of BBC World Service content on WETA and WAMU-FM. I'm fascinated by the world perspective provided by the BBC's news and commentary, as well as by the "World Have Your Say" show, which features callers from around the globe, including the United States.
While the BBC news does displace local content, I'm hardly alienated from my locality, considering the availability of neighborhood newspapers and The Post; local news on radio (including WAMU and WETA) and television; local news and commentary e-mail lists; and many Web sites.
Mr. Pitts suggested that while government funding makes Voice of America "to some degree" a propaganda organ, we should beware the BBC's coverage because it is tainted by government funding. I'm happy to trade the lost hours of local gabfests for the BBC's world window.
Wouldn't the world improve if more people broadened their perspectives, rather than hearing from only their like-thinking neighbors?
GABRIEL GOLDBERG
Falls Church
ยท
David Pitts said that BBC World Service Radio is the main competitor of Voice of America (VOA).
That used to be true, but the Board of Broadcast Governors, which controls the VOA, has announced that it intends to discontinue almost all English-language radio broadcasting at the end of September because so few people are listening. That just might be the case because the board has turned off many VOA transmitters.
Travelers abroad who want to hear news of the United States might try Radio China (Beijing). It has 24-hour English-language radio service.
NEIL CURRIE
Potomac
The writer is a news anchor at Voice of America.
