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USAID: Large-Scale Grants The Agency for International Development is the major funnel for U.S. funds to the former Soviet Union for the transition to democracy and a free market economy. Through Fiscal Year 1993, USAID provided approximately $700 million in its wide variety of programs (everything from Market Reform through Housing Sector Reform). USAID has the largest share of the $2.5 billion appropriated for NIS aid in FY 1994. Within USAID, a group of programs, including those related to the media, are called the Democratic Pluralism Initiatives. According to the Agency, it has programmed $42 million to date and budgeted another $87 for FY 1994 to help “in the transition from one-party, centralized regimes to pluralistic democracies.” In addition to support of the development of an independent media sector—the focus of our attention here—the Democratic Pluralism Initiatives project is involved in supporting the development of political parties and independent labor unions; the creation of stable legal and political environments through encouraging the rule of law; helping local governance become more accountable and responsive; and otherwise strengthening civil society. Much of the debate about what the U.S. can and should do to achieve a “more democratic society” in the former Soviet Union occurs in this Democratic Initiatives office where the media desk at USAID is located. On January 24, 1994, the Administrator of the Agency for International Development, J. Brian Atwood, appearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, suggested that, among USAID’s many and difficult goals is the following: to “support an independent Russian media, as a source of unbiased information and a means of increasing governmental accountability.” He pointed to the sponsorship of programs under the Freedom Support Act of 1992 to train journalists and “nongovernmental broadcast stations,” and said that the Agency is designing new programs to “support private media programming and to provide training and technical assistance on the roles and responsibility of independent media. . . .” The Agency also plans to “promote linkages” between American journalism schools and Russian journalists and managers. The accompanying box lists the three substantial grants made by the USAID, totaling approximately $12.5 million. Two grants, approximately $10 million, were to Internews, described in another section of this newsletter. The funds provided to USIA under an inter-agency agreement for journalist training, have been earmarked, in large part, for the International Media Fund and the Russian American Press and Information Center. The IMF, headed by Marvin Stone, is an entity, located in Washington, that has been involved in journalism training mostly in Central and Eastern Europe. It is planning a series of week-long seminars dedicated to management training for the press. These seminars will probably be undertaken in cooperation with the Russian American Press and Information Center. The Center, itself, would be funded to provide sister centers throughout Russia as a platform for many kinds of technical assistance. A final portion of the inter-agency USAID funds, approximately $500,000, is earmarked for journalist training in Kyrgyzstan and would be administered by the National Forum Foundation in Philadelphia. The USAID also is the sole funder of the Eurasia Foundation, which has more flexibility to be responsive and provide smaller grants in the areas involved in the Democratic Pluralism Initiatives. The Foundation received $8 million in FY 1993 and $12 million in 1994, a small portion of which was used for media grants, including funds for the Russian-American Press and Information Center. In the last round, a $20,000 grant was provided to Cardozo School of Law, working together with the Glasnost Defence Committee, for a summer program to train lawyers from the former Soviet Union in comparative media law and policy. There are currently two major efforts taking place in USAID affecting the media desk and the Democratic Initiatives, Health and Human Resources program. As the Washington Post has reported in recent months, some thought is being given to altering Agency structure along thematic rather than country lines. Democracy building, economic development, promotion of human rights—these may be the building blocks of the future, rather than the geographical demarcations of the Cold War. A second change involves the merger of the NIS Task Force with the Europe Bureau to form the ENI. A new director of ENI has been named, Tom Dine, but he is awaiting Senate confirmation. Dine, who was Executive Director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has extensive experience on Capitol Hill. The officer on the media desk is Nicholas Beim, formerly a production assistant with 60 Minutes in Moscow, and recent recipient of a Marshall Fellowship. Box 1: Summary of USAID-sponsored Activities in NIS Media 1. International Media Center Grant with Internews ($7.735 million, 5/93-4/96): USAID has provided Internews with funding to establish and develop an International Media Center (IMC) in Kiev. 2. Independent Television Grant with Internews ($2.2 million, 6/92-6/94): USAID has provided Internews with funding to support the development of independent television in the NIS. Grant activities include: Television New Exchange: Sixteen independent NIS television stations send local programming to the Internews Moscow office where it is combined and edited into a half-hour weekly news show called “Local Time.” The show has a potential audience of 100 million in five NIS countries, including viewers of Russia’s Channel 4 and 64 local stations. Rule of Law Programming: Four television programs entitled “What If?” that explored issues concerning Russia’s constitution were produced and broadcast in the months preceding the constitutional referendum. Election Related Journalist Training: Internews’ Independent Television Grant with USAID was amended to allow for the reallocation of existing funds to support balanced and objective coverage of the parliamentary election and constitutional referendum of December 12, 1993. 3. Inter-Agency Agreement with UAIA for Journalist Training ($2.5 million): USAID has provided USIA with funding to carry out journalist training activities in Russia ($2 million) and Kyrgyzstan ($500,000). These activities include: Media Advisors: USIA will recruit and sponsor two long-term media advisors for Russia, who will provide continuity and on-the-ground coordination for the program. One advisor will be placed at the Russian-American Press and Information Center in Moscow, and the second will be placed in a university journalism department. U.S.-Based Training: USIA is currently reviewing proposals for awards to two U.S. organizations to carry out workshops and internships in the U.S. for Russian journalists and media managers. These workshops will be more in-depth and hands-on than those offered in-country. In addition, the Voice of America will conduct workshops and U.S. internships for broadcast media journalists and managers. |
Last Updated: 11/20/99 |
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© 1999 Post-Soviet Media Law &
Policy Newsletter |
