About Radio Free Asia |
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Authorization for the creation of the Radio Free Asia (RFA) was mandated by the U.S. Congress in the International Broadcasting Act of 1994. The organization was incorporated as a private corporation on March 11, 1996. RFA is funded by the U.S. government, and is supervised by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, a politically bi-partisan body appointed by the President.
RFA´s mandate is to broadcast to China, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, North Korea and Vietnam. All programs are in the language of the receiving country. For China there are three languages, Mandarin, Cantonese and Tibetan. RFA´s purpose is to provide accurate and timely information, news, and commentary about events in the designated countries and be a forum for a variety of opinions and voices from within Asian nations whose people lack adequate sources of information. The idea is to promote the right of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.
RFA is not an official voice of the U.S. government, and as specified in its enabling legislation, it will at no time broadcast propaganda. In preparing and broadcasting its programming, RFA follows the strictest standards of objectivity, fairness and quality, avoiding polemics, vituperation and attacks on any people, government or nation.
At all times RFA strives to provide interesting programs designed to appeal to the people of the receiving countries. Little world news is provided, since that is done by other sources, including the Voice of America. Inevitably some international news will be disseminated, but mostly that is information of direct interest to the designated nations. The concentration is on Asian domestic news and activities. Each language service is distinctive unto itself, reflecting as much as possible the particular culture and customary preferences of the populace. RFA´s staff consists overwhelmingly of native speakers of the language broadcast.
RFA´s headquarters is in Washington, D.C. and all broadcasts originate there, incorporating reports from correspondents and participants throughout Asia. There are nine permanent news bureaus in several Asian cities and individual reporters situated in many other key locations. Transmission of the broadcasts is primarily short-wave radio signals via satellite from U.S. ground stations to transmitters in Asia.
Broadcast Format: News, analysis, commentary, and cultural programming all in the languages of the target countries of broadcast. RFA does not produce entertainment programming, nor does it express editorial opinions.
This site is Radio Free Asia Technical Operations Division´s Broadcast Open Development Exchange Initiative. The Techweb site was launched in April of 2000 to serve as an open platform to freely exchange information and technical development for the professional broadcast community.
