VOA’s “Washington Forum” Airing on RTI in Ivory Coast
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Television viewers in Ivory Coast can now watch Voice of America’s popular French to Africa program Washington Forum every Sunday morning on RTI TV 1.
The half-hour show, broadcast live every week from the VOA TV studios in Washington, and simulcast on radio and the Internet, provides in-depth coverage of issues in Africa, the United States and the rest of the world.
RTI, Ivory Coast’s official state broadcaster, has a network of radio and television stations around the country that reach an estimated 13 million adults.
“The agreement to broadcast Washington Forum on RTI allows us to reach a large and significant audience in Ivory Coast,” said Gwen Dillard, the Director of VOA’s Africa Division. “We look forward to partnering with RTI to bring Ivorians information designed specifically to suit their needs.”
“This agreement is another step forward in the BBG’s expanding cooperation with leading media partners in Africa,” said Bruce Sherman, Director of Strategy and Development for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the agency that distributes and markets VOA programming worldwide. “Our new relationship with RTI will provide for journalism training, possible content collaboration, and other assistance while opening the door for VOA’s high-value content for the next generation of TV consumers in Côte D’Ivoire.”
VOA’s Washington Forum is well known for its comprehensive reports and interviews with key players in Africa, including political leaders, officials, diplomats and experts, as well as analysts and newsmakers in the United States and Europe.
Audience members can also take part in the program by phone or Facebook, by discussing issues affecting the French-speaking regions of Africa and elsewhere in the world.
Viewers and listeners can also catch up with the biggest African and international news of the week thanks to the weekly fixture 60 Secondes Dans Le Monde.
The show is hosted by Jacques Aristide, with contributions from VOA French to Africajournalists Nicolas Pinault, Morgane Guirriec and Robert Daguillard. Roger Muntu brings a lighter touch to the program, which is broadcast live on Thursdays.