“No comment at this time,” RFE/RL’s acting director of communications Joanna Levison told Sputnik Tuesday.
Earlier this year, BBG, which broadcasts US-centric world news to overseas audiences, including the use of RFE/RL, requested an additional $15.4 million to expand its Russian-language programming and social media content. By comparison, its combined communication and outreach efforts against the Islamic State amount to $6.1 million.
In fiscal year 2015, RFE/RL will create a new digital media department, DIGM, intended to counter what the department considers to be misinformation in online Russian-language areas by using social-media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, VKontakte and Odnoklassniki to spread its message.
At the moment, RFE/RL website has several job vacancies in the new department. Applicants are required to be native Russian speakers.
