Voice of America Washington, DC 20237  Tel: (202) 619-2538 Fax: (202) 619-1241 E-mail: pubaff@ibb.gov

Washington, D.C., January 31, 2000-Talk to America will launch the Voice of America's first live chat on the Internet on Wednesday, February 2 between 1830 and 1900 UTC.  The chat, an open discussion on any subject, is one of the new and innovative ways that VOA is using to reach and expand its audience.

Those who wish to chat with Talk to America host Carol Pearson on the Internet should log on to the VOA Talk to America Web site (www.voa.gov/talk) before the chat and register a username and password.

"This will be the first live chat that any program at VOA has done," said Carol Pearson.  "Last October, we began to broadcast our show on both radio and TV, and more recently, we have added a live stream on the Internet from 1700 to 1800 UTC."

Among the world's international broadcasters, VOA was the first to offer a live call-in show  when Talk to America was launched on November 28, 1994.  Guests on the show have included First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former President Jimmy Carter, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  Today, VOA broadcasts the program simultaneously on radio and television as well as through a live-stream on the Internet.

The Voice of America is using the Internet more and more to provide news and information to its worldwide audience.  Its main Web site now carries the VOA correspondent reports, VOA Weekly Highlights, and schedules, along with information about the services that broadcast the 53 languages in which VOA is heard each day.  Audio files are available in all 53 languages broadcast, and video clips, live and archived, are available in some languages.

Talk to America is on the air Monday through Friday from 1700 to 1800 UTC.  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: George Mackenzie
Phone: 202-619-2538
E-mail: pubaff@voa.gov