{"id":38444,"date":"2019-07-10T06:45:12","date_gmt":"2019-07-10T10:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=38444"},"modified":"2019-07-10T06:45:12","modified_gmt":"2019-07-10T10:45:12","slug":"usagm-questions-about-journalistic-and-financial-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/usagm-questions-about-journalistic-and-financial-management\/","title":{"rendered":"USAGM: questions about journalistic and financial management"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: New York Times<\/a>)<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The United States Agency for Global Media, the government\u2019s foreign broadcast service, already struggling to clean house after a series of scandals last year at flagship operations like Voice of America and TV Mart\u00ed, is now being rocked by two new cases that have raised further questions about its journalistic and financial management.<\/p>\n

In one, Tom\u00e1s Regalado Jr., a reporter for TV Mart\u00ed, which broadcasts into Cuba, and a cameraman for the network, Rodolfo Hernandez, were suspended amid allegations that they faked a mortar attack on Mr. Regalado during a broadcast from Managua, Nicaragua, last year.<\/p>\n

That incident surfaced only days after Haroon Ullah, the former chief strategy officer at the global media agency, which operates Mart\u00ed and foreign-language networks around the world, pleaded guilty on June 27 in federal court in Alexandria, Va., to stealing government property.<\/p>\n

A former deputy to the agency\u2019s chief executive, John Lansing, Mr. Ullah admitted to fleecing the government of $37,000 between February and October last year by claiming reimbursements for expensive hotels he did not book, double-billing the government for official travel and forging a doctor\u2019s note to allow him to fly business class. He faces up to 10 years in prison.<\/p>\n

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\nThe new problems are unrelated to each other; in the case of Mr. Ullah, the agency said its internal controls flagged the expense fraud. But along with many others over the past two years, the scandals have brought intensified scrutiny and criticism to the agency, formerly known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Created during World War II to be an objective, trusted source of information in nations where freedom of the press is under attack, the agency has 3,500 journalists who reach more than 345 million people in 100 countries each week.<\/p>\n

The United States Agency for Global Media initiated an investigation into the allegedly faked segment at TV Mart\u00ed \u201cimmediately after these concerns about the footage in question were raised,\u201d the agency said in a statement. \u201cAs the agency has made clear, we have zero tolerance for failing to honor clear and universally accepted standards of professional journalism. We also owe it to all involved to conduct a thorough and clear investigation to get all of the facts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI take seriously any breach of professional journalistic standards at any U.S.A.G.M. network. I have asked for a thorough and swift investigation,\u201d Mr. Lansing said in an emailed statement. \u201cI expect all U.S.A.G.M. networks to adhere to truthfulness, fairness and accountability in their reporting.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to read the full article at the New York Times.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: New York Times) WASHINGTON \u2014 The United States Agency for Global Media, the government\u2019s foreign broadcast service, already struggling to clean house after a series of scandals last year at flagship operations like Voice of America and TV Mart\u00ed, is now being rocked by two new cases that have raised further questions about its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[960,3],"tags":[184,7246,182],"class_list":["post-38444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","tag-radio-marti","tag-usagm","tag-voice-of-america"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-a04","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":55618,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/usagm-congressional-budget-justification-for-2023\/","url_meta":{"origin":38444,"position":0},"title":"USAGM Congressional Budget Justification for 2023","author":"Thomas","date":"February 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Lin Robertson, who shares a link to the USAGM Congressional Budget Justification for Fiscal Year 2023. Click here to download the PDF. If you're interested in how shortwave services are being affected by the budget, you can do a simple search for the word\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/USAGM-Budget-Cover-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/USAGM-Budget-Cover-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/USAGM-Budget-Cover-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62398,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/03\/usagm-shutdowns-a-roundup-of-reports-and-reactions\/","url_meta":{"origin":38444,"position":1},"title":"USAGM Shutdowns: A Roundup of Reports and Reactions","author":"Thomas","date":"March 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A Note to Our Readers: On the USAGM Shutdowns and Keeping the Conversation Respectful At the SWLing Post, we\u2019ve always strived to keep this space a safe haven \u2014 free from the divisive politics that so often cloud the media landscape. Our focus remains on sharing the joy of radio,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-44-of-170.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-44-of-170.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-44-of-170.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-44-of-170.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33775,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/broadcasting-board-of-governors-bbg-rebranded-as-u-s-agency-for-global-media-usagm\/","url_meta":{"origin":38444,"position":2},"title":"Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) rebranded as U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM)","author":"Thomas","date":"August 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: BBG\/USAGM Press Release) WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2018 Effective immediately, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent U.S. government agency that employs thousands of talented journalists, storytellers, and media professionals, is now the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The U.S. Agency for Global Media is a modern media\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/USAGM-Logo-1024x311.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/USAGM-Logo-1024x311.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/USAGM-Logo-1024x311.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63296,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/radio-marti-returns-to-the-airwaves-june-27-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":38444,"position":3},"title":"Radio Mart\u00ed Returns to the Airwaves: June 27, 2025","author":"Thomas","date":"June 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"One of my trusted sources at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has confirmed that Radio Mart\u00ed resumed broadcasting today via the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station in Greenville, North Carolina. Broadcasts officially resumed at 12:00 EDT \/ 16:00 UTC on June 27, 2025. SWLing Post community members have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-44-of-170.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-44-of-170.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-44-of-170.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-44-of-170.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39464,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/usagms-chief-executive-john-lansing-resigns\/","url_meta":{"origin":38444,"position":4},"title":"USAGM’s Chief Executive John Lansing resigns","author":"Thomas","date":"September 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: VOA News via Richard Cuff) WASHINGTON - The U.S. Agency for Global Media\u2019s Chief Executive John Lansing said he will be leaving his post at the end of the month. Lansing, a veteran government broadcast and cable television executive, was named four years ago by U.S. President Barack Obama\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/JohnLansing_Headshot-731x1024-214x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":63205,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/iran-state-tv-bombed-as-usagm-scrambles-to-recall-voa-staff\/","url_meta":{"origin":38444,"position":5},"title":"Iran State TV Bombed as USAGM Scrambles to Recall VOA Staff","author":"Thomas","date":"June 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Ed, who writes: Hi Thomas, Some SWLing Post readers may be interested in seeing video of a television studio of Iranian State broadcaster Iran News Network being bombed during a live broadcast. https:\/\/youtu.be\/N5nxCnGPQXU?si=2uEHlK_ZmOYkBb8e Click here to read the story via the AP. Many SWLing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/N5nxCnGPQXU\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38444\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}