The Voices of America in International Radio Propaganda

Abstract

Through a soft blanket of static the chords of Yankee Doodle Dandy emerge from the speaker of a shortwave radio set. The tune is crisp and confident; and it is followed by a pleasant but authoritative voice which declares, This is the of America. With this introduction, the Voice begins each of its transmissions of news, commentary, and educational programming. The transmissions are repeated numerous times daily in a multitude of languages over relay transmitters located throughout the world. The of America (VOA) is the official spokesman of the United States government in the arena of international shortwave radio. But despite its popularity throughout the world and the millions of dollars of public funds that comprise its yearly budget, the is little-known and even less understood in its home country because few Americans, outside of radio fanatics, listen to shortwave broadcasts.