Tel: (202) 619-2538
Fax: (202) 619-1241
E-mail: pubaff@ibb.gov

Washington, D.C., May 22, 2000 -- Washington And Lee University alumnus William C. Baum has been appointed Chief of the Voice of America's China broadcast service.  In his new position, Baum will be responsible for VOA's twelve hours of broadcasts in Mandarin, two hours in Cantonese to China and daily one-hour TV broadcasts to China.

With extensive experience in Asian affairs and in broadcasting, Mr. Baum has served as Operations Manager and National News Director for the Taipei International Community Cultural Foundation in Taiwan.  He also has served as Asian News Director for the Metro Broadcast Corporation in Hong Kong.

Mr. Baum is a native of Virginia and received his Master of Arts degree from the National Cheng Chi University in Taiwan in 1987.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee University in 1982. 

The Voice of America broadcasts news and information in 53 languages to an estimated audience of 91 million people each week.  VOA began broadcasting in 1942 and is part of the International Broadcasting Bureau, which became an autonomous U.S. Government civilian broadcast service on October 1, 1999, under the authority of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

Contact: Jeanene M. Bass-Lewis
Phone: (202) 619-2538