Improvements Made, Some Still Needed in Management of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

The U.S. Government, through the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), is the largest Western international broadcaster to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. RFE/RL is a private, government-financed organization. The Board for International Broadcasting, an independent government agency, receives appropriated funds and allocates them to RFE/RL. A review was made of the efforts being made by RFE/RL to achieve effectiveness and economies in fulfilling its mission.

GAO concluded that management should provide precise written guidance on the agency's authority and responsibilities and should formulate criteria suitable for analysts and programers to use to improve the agency's evaluation work. In relation to 1976 GAO recommendations, nothing consequential has been done in programing and area and audience research. Suggested consolidations have not been enacted because of operational and language differences. News operations have been consolidated and this has worked well. The monitoring of foreign broadcasts has been removed from the news division and is now managed and financed by individual language services as suggested by GAO. The independence of RFL/RL and the oversight responsibility of the Board have clashed over the years. Regulations governing the Board's relationship with RFE/RL which were suggested by GAO have taken effect but management still seems uncomfortable with the changes. The Board has recommended a modest relocation of Munich operations to the United States. Management has made significant strides in consolidating administrative activities, reduced the number of compensation programs, and unified personnel management policies. It has taken steps to establish uniform housing policies. However, GAO believes eliminating company-furnished housing and going to an all allowance system would produce savings. GAO found a need for a post allowance manual, uniform accounting procedures, and inventory control. A basis for long-range planning is needed.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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