BBG members: future, present, and past.

"There's some buzz that the White House is preparing a new slate of nominees to send to the Senate for openings on the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the folks who guide Washington's overseas PR outlets, such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, the Martis and Radio Free Asia. ... We're thinking Obama's likely pick for BBG chairman, former Time magazine top editor and author Walter Isaacson, now head of the Aspen Institute, will have a bit of a challenge on his hands. For example, there's the BBG inspector general's recent blast at the more-important-than-ever Persian News Service, which noted 'confusion and sometimes . . . conflict' there because 'none of the executive producers speaks Persian,' though all the managing editors do." Al Kamen, Washington Post, 17 June 2009.
     "As part of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, [Steven] Simmons, 62, an entrepreneur who over the years has acquired and expanded cable television systems, helps oversee the $717 million budget for five entities that broadcast in 60 different languages and reach more than 175 million people around the world each week. Simmons also runs the committee that oversees Voice of America. 'The objective is to provide fair and balanced news to people that do not have a free press in their society, and also to show what a free press is really like and offer programming about America, it's institutions, policies and people,' said Simmons. That has been especially important in Iran where, according to research Simmons cited, 1 in 4 adults watch the Persian News Network at least once a week. 'We have to emphasize we have absolutely not taken sides in the Iranian election,' Simmons said. 'We have not tried to stir things up in any way. Our journalists have been simply doing what good journalists do, which is report what is happening.'" Greenwich (CT) Time, 30 June 2009.
     "Simmons, who founded a telecommunications company and sits on a federal board that oversees the administration of the Voice of America, told several dozen Norwalk Republi-cans that he is 'thinking of running' against U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd next year and will decide 'within a month.'" The Hour (Norwalk CT), 15 June 2009.
     "Westwood One, Inc. announced today that Norm Pattiz will continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors for two more years. 'As the founder of Westwood One, I am delighted to be staying on as Chairman of the Board to work with Rod Sherwood and the management team as they drive the Company's business,' said Pattiz. ... Mr. Pattiz served on the Broadcasting Board of Governors of the United States of America from 2000 - 2006. The BBG oversees all U.S. non-military international broadcasting including Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Worldnet Television, Radio and TV Marti and the Middle East Broadcasting Network." Westwood One press release, 16 June 2009.
     The Library of Broadcasting has announced its 2009 class of 'Giants of Broadcasting.' They [include] Norman J. Pattiz, ... founder and chairman of Westwood One, America’s largest radio network company, which owns, manages or distributes NBC Radio Network, CBS Radio Network, the Metro Networks, CNN Radio and is the nation’s largest producer of news, sports, talk and entertainment programming. ... As chairman of the [BBG] Middle East committee, Pattiz was responsible for conceiving and launching Radio Sawa and Alhurra Television." Radio World, 30 June 2009. Posted: 03 Jul 2009 Permalink Print