Winning Hearts: A Framework for Understanding the Use of Facilitative Communication in U.S. International Radio Broadcasting in the Middle East

Abstract

As some countries discontinue or cut back on the use of international broadcasting, the United States continues to develop and use its international radio broadcast resources such as Radio Sawa, taking advantage of new technology and programming formats. By applying systems theory to the framework of facilitative communication, this article illuminates the U.S. government's use of Radio Sawa and the overall nature of U.S. government broadcasting efforts to reach young Middle East audiences. The research shows that Radio Sawa does not operate in a vacuum but is affected by many systemic influences, including the U.S. government, intermediaries such as the Broadcasting Board of Governors and Middle East Television Network, a complex audience, and environmental forces such as technology, political events, and economics.