April 19, 1997

The Tibetan service of Voice of America created another history on April 19, 1997 when it broadcast live from Newseum, the newest interactive news musuem, located on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. The Newseum which opened for the public on April 18, 1997, details the development of news reporting.

It has sections which enables visitors to test their skills at various aspects of journalism, including reporting for TV, giving the weather. The Newseum has an in-house studio from which VOA Tibetan did their broadcast, the first by any VOA service.

The Tibetan broadcast included impressions by individuals about the Newseum as well as a panel discussion on freedom of the press in the Tibetan society. The panelists were Lodi Gyari, special envoy of H.H. the Dalai Lama in Washington, D.C., and Phuntsok Thonden, former Tibetan government official. They also answered questions from the audience.

Submitted by Bhuchung Tsering