VOA Lao Turns 50
VOA’s Lao Service celebrated its 50th anniversary on February 22.
BBG Governor Victor Ashe, left, and VOA Director David Ensor, right, presented VOA Lao Service Chief Dara Baccam with a plaque bearing this inscription: “In recognition of your dedication and service to the people of Laos through the open communication of information and ideas in the Lao language. Since your first broadcast on February 22 in 1962, the VOA Lao Service’s objective journalism, radio, and digital programming and commitment to informing the people of Laos about their country and the world have earned you the trust of your audience. We congratulate you on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of broadcasting to Laos.”
The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international broadcasting, whose mission is inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. BBG broadcasts reach an audience of 187 million in 100 countries. BBG networks include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti).