U.S. International Broadcasting: Management of Middle East Broadcasting Services Could Be Improved
GAO-06-762
Published: Aug 04, 2006. Publicly Released: Sep 05, 2006.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
The Broadcasting Board of Governors' (BBG) broadcasting services, Radio Sawa, and the Alhurra satellite television networks--collectively known as the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN)--currently aim to reach Arabic speakers in 19 countries and areas throughout the Middle East. Annual spending for current activities amounts to about $78 million. GAO reviewed MBN's (1) strategic planning to address competition in the Middle Eastern media market, (2) implementation of internal control, (3) procedures MBN has developed to ensure compliance with its journalistic standards, and (4) performance indicators and whether targets have been met.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Agency for Global Media | To improve efforts to monitor performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of the broadcasting activities of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors should require that MBN develop a long-term strategic plan, which incorporates a shared vision for Alhurra and Radio Sawa operations and details specific measurable objectives and implementation strategies for the successful implementation of the goals in the plan. |
Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) has developed a strategic plan and has posted it to its intranet. The plan includes a mission statement, long-term strategic goals, mission objectives, and enterprise objectives.
|
| U.S. Agency for Global Media | To improve efforts to monitor performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of the broadcasting activities of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors should require that MBN implement the remaining recommendations from the Grant Thornton LLP report and require that its internal control board meet on a regular basis to coordinate MBN's single audits and oversee MBN's ongoing efforts to use sound internal control procedures. |
According to MBN, it has taken several steps to implement Grant Thornton LLP's recommendations related to strengthening its internal control environment. In response to GAO's concern regarding the lack of an internal control board, in 2008 MBN established an audit committee composed of the Chief Financial Officer, Controller, and Treasurer. In addition, in 2009 MBN created and filled a position which reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer separate from the Controller charged with internal control management.
|
| U.S. Agency for Global Media | To improve efforts to monitor performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of the broadcasting activities of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors should develop a process for analyzing risk as part of strategic planning that identifies approaches to mitigate the potential obstacles to efficiently and effectively achieving MBN's operational objectives. |
According to MBN, when updating the strategic plan and performance plans, MBN staff are asked to specifically identify and assess potential obstacles and strategies to address them. As a result, MBN staff have identified obstacles related to staffing, on air promotion, marketing, and production.
|
| U.S. Agency for Global Media | To improve efforts to monitor performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of the broadcasting activities of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors should require MBN to develop a comprehensive training program covering both internal controls and editorial procedures to meet the continuing needs of all employees. |
Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) has contracted with vendors to provide training on a variety of topics including internal controls and editorial procedures. For example, MBN's fiscal year 2009 training plan included custom training related to internal controls. In addition, it included several courses on instilling balance and objectivity in reporting. For example, there were courses on "Reporting and MBN's Mission," "Ensuring balance and objectivity," and "The Elements of Journalism."
|
| U.S. Agency for Global Media | To improve efforts to monitor performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of the broadcasting activities of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors should initiate a schedule of annual program reviews for Radio Sawa and Alhurra to regularly ensure that the quality of Alhurra's broadcasts conforms to applicable standards. |
According to the Department of State Office of Inspector General, Middle East Broadcasting Network runs and annual program review process to evaluate the technical and journalistic aspects of its programs. Program reviews were conducted in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The process is modeled on that used by the International Broadcasting Bureau, which conducts reviews for the Voice of America Language Services, and by other grantee organizations of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). The 2009 program review included analysis of both production and content, the results of research conducted by Inter-Media, and the results of a monitoring panel.
|
| U.S. Agency for Global Media | To improve efforts to monitor performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of the broadcasting activities of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors should implement program quality performance indicators for MBN's broadcast services, consistent with other BBG entities, to assess and compare their performance and measure the contribution of these efforts to the goals of the overall organization. |
Following GAO's recommendation, Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) developed a performance plan covering fiscal years 2008 through 2010. The performance plan relates MBN activities to overall BBG annual performance goals (e.g. reaching the Arabic speaking world). It also aligns MBN objectives and performance measures with Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) implementation strategies.
|
| U.S. Agency for Global Media | To improve efforts to monitor performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of the broadcasting activities of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors should require research contractors to improve the methods used in audience research to allow for probability sampling and document the sample selection so that survey sampling errors can be calculated, where possible. | We reviewed the InterMedia and Nielsen survey methodology to collect data on media use, foreign radio listening, existing and potential listener preferences for five countries: Egypt, Algeria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Our analysis showed that Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) made progress towards compliance with the recommendation to allow for probability sampling and document the sample selection so that survey sampling errors can be calculated, where possible. Specifically, we found that 3 of the 5 samples meet the randomness criterion for a probability sample, and the other two report the use of quota sampling. For the two surveys which used quota sampling one clearly...
|
| U.S. Agency for Global Media | To improve efforts to monitor performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of the broadcasting activities of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors should identify and report significant methodological limitations and the implications of them for performance indicators, including, where applicable, sampling errors, margins of error, or confidence intervals. | We reviewed the InterMedia and Nielsen survey methodology to collect data on media use, foreign radio listening, existing and potential listener preferences for five countries: Egypt, Algeria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. These surveys generally comply with the recommendation to identify and report significant methodological limitations and the implications of them for performance indicators, including, where applicable, sampling errors, margins of error, or confidence intervals. All five of the surveys report some limitations and the intended and achieved samples. Four of the five samples are weighted and the use of weighting is documented in all four surveys. Not all limitations are...
|
| U.S. Agency for Global Media | To improve efforts to monitor performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of the broadcasting activities of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors should develop, document, and report policies and procedures for verification and analysis of performance indicator estimates. |
According to BBG, it has ensured that its research contractor (InterMedia) has finalized and implemented written policies and procedures for conducting surveys which serve as the basis for assessing MBN's audience. In addition, as of June 2010, BBG indicates that it has drafted a chapter in the Broadcasting Administration Manual-which is used by MBN-on how to compute performance measures. The procedures outlined in the chapter address how broadcasters should compute performance of BBG's new performance measure of "increased understanding."
|
Full Report
Public Inquiries
Topics
Broadcasting standardsCompetitionInternal controlsInternational broadcastingInternational relationsMass mediaPublic diplomacyRadioRadio broadcastingTelevisionPerformance measuresEmployee training