Voice of America Starts 1st Religion, Ethics Program
The Voice of America, the government-run radio network beamed overseas, announced this week that it has launched the first religion and ethics program in the network’s 53-year history.
The weekly program on ethics and spirituality started Feb. 17 on the network’s English service. Called “Perspectives,” it will include interviews and round-table discussions, and explore religion, spirituality, ethics and values in contemporary global society.
Voice Director Geoffrey Cowan said the program has been contemplated since last summer.
A spokeswoman for the radio network denied that the program was started because conservative Republicans now control the congressional purse strings, including the network’s budget, for the first time in 40 years.
“This has nothing to do with the religious right,” she said, adding that it was the idea of Cowan, who became the network’s director last spring.
The program is being produced in the same Washington studio from which Voice of America broadcasts all of its programs, although there are correspondents in Europe and elsewhere.
Voice of America broadcasts--ranging from jazz music to call-in shows--are heard by more than 90 million people worldwide each week.
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