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Statutory authority.-Enter citation of specific or general statutory authority supporting the salary rate or the salary-fixing method. "CA" may be entered for all positions coming under the Classification Act of 1923, as amended. 8. Method of filling position.-Check the appropriate space. If item 8 (f) is checked specify the method of filling the position. 9. Brief indication of nature of duties and responsibilities.-Except for heads of departments, agencies, and establishments, enter brief description of nature of duties and scope of responsibilities in the space provided. Do not attach longer statements. 1st Session SENATE VOICE OF AMERICA JOINT REPORT OF A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON AND THE INVESTIGATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE No. 2 JANUARY 13, 1949.-Submitted under authority of the order of the Senate of December 31, 1948, by Mr. Smith (for Mr. Ferguson) UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1949 SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE CERTAIN ALLEGATIONS AGAINST RADIO BROADCAST OPERATIONS UNDER THE VOICE OF AMERICA PROGRAM H. ALEXANDER SMITH, New Jersey, Chairman BOURKE B. HICKENLOOPER, Iowa ALBEN W. BARKLEY, Kentucky VOICE OF AMERICA JANUARY 13, 1949.-Submitted under authority of the order of the Senate of December 31, 1948, by Mr. Smith (for Mr. Ferguson) BACKGROUND From June 1 through June 4, 1948, a series of hearings on the Voice of America were held jointly by a subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to which had been referred Senate Resolution 245, and the Investigations Subcommittee of the Senate. Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, pursuant to Senate Resolution 189. Prior to Senate Resolution 245, relating to the radio-broadcast operations of the State Department under Public Law 402, the attention of the Senate was called to certain objectionable material contained in a program called Know North America beamed to South America, which was sponsored by the International Broadcasting Division of the Department of State. The subcommittee of the Foreign Relations Committee was composed of Senators Smith (chairman), Hickenlooper, Lodge, Barkley, and Hatch. The Investigations Subcommittee of the Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments was composed of Senators Ferguson (chairman), Bricker, Thye, Ives, McClellan, Hoey, and O'Conor. Since a joint report was desired, Senator Ferguson, joined by Senator Smith, on December 31, 1948, requested permission to file until January 17, 1949, and the Senate so ordered. REPORT The immediate purpose of the hearings was to determine the responsibility for the criticized broadcasts, to the end that this vitally important service in the national interest inherent in the Voice of America program be strengthened and protected against future mistakes or misuse. The investigation and hearings established the fact that some of the material in this particular series was erroneous, ill-chosen, and in very bad taste. The single dominant conclusion resulting from the investigation was that the foreign broadcasts sponsored and financed by the United States must be made on a quality basis which should not be sacrificed for quantity. Neither the Congress nor the public will tolerate preventable mistakes and misrepresentations which have the grave effect of holding the United States up to calumny and ridicule. The series of programs called Know North America were a mistake which tended to destroy the value which the other South American broadcasts may have had. Instead of promoting a better understanding of the United States in other countries and increasing mutual understanding, this series of broadcasts presented a false picture of the United States to its great detriment. The final and unmistakable responsibility for these errors rested with the Department of State. It not only failed adequately to supervise the contents of this program and to exercise reasonable care, but it also failed to make spot checks to determine if the purposes and policies of the Government were being carried out. The program was not monitored, and no check was made prior to, during, or after the broadcasts to prevent this or similar blunders. In extenuation, the State Department indicated that all programs broadcast under the Voice of America fell into three main categories: (1) News, (2) editorial and editorial comment, (3) features and entertainment. The Know North America program was classified by the Department as the feature or entertainment type. They stated that all programs of the first two types-namely, news and editorials-were carefully checked by them and that all programs to the Eastern Hemisphere were also subject to review. However, the Department further stated that, because of the budgetary ceiling placed upon its expenditures, it was faced with a serious policy decision, whether to supervise all the productions of the private agencies, such as National Boadcasting Co., or to use the saving effected by not supervising all output to pay for more broadcast hours. The decision was finally made in favor of a larger volume of broadcasting and against the expenditure for supervision. All officials concerned agreed that the authorizing legislation placed the responsibility for the supervision and control of the program upon the State Department. The subcommittee believes that the decision favoring more broadcasts and eliminating part of the supervision was unwise. An important collateral responsibility for the failure of these programs rested with the National Broadcasting Co. Inasmuch as NBC had the responsibility of preparing scripts for the South American programs, it is apparent that they failed to exercise sufficient control over the contents of these scripts and placed too much unchecked responsibility in the hands of one minor official in their organization. Certain of its employees failed to appreciate their grave obligation to produce a program that would aid in an understanding of the United States. The fact that the National Broadcasting Co. may have thought that the State Department was monitoring these programs did not excuse their failure to check on the contents thereof over a long period of time. The contention that there was a divided responsibility under the provisions of the legislation does not stand analysis. What actually existed was a dual responsibility which, if it had been exercised properly by both, should have doubled the supervision and have greatly lessened the possibility of such errors. The position taken that the criticized passages were only a small portion of the entire program and that the scripts in their entirety were of good over-all quality is not a material factor, since such misrepresentation may ruin the effect of the program and undo the good which has been accomplished by other broadcasts. The firm purpose of the Voice of America program is to present the truth about the United States in terms understandable to the particular area to which the information is directed. This is a vitally important service that must be continued in these critical times. Con |