David Ensor, center, director of the Voice of America, listens to Cambodian Buddhist monks near Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2012. Associated Press file photo
VOA Director Steps Down in Another Dramatic Shift at Broadcasting Board
David Ensor reorganized Voice of America’s central newsroom.
Just a month after the Broadcasting Board of Governors lost brand-new CEO Andy Lack to NBC News, the agency learned it will do without another key news executive, Voice of America Director David Ensor.
In an all-hands meeting with staff on Tuesday, Ensor announced his resignation after four years at the overseas service that has struggled with budget cuts and management tension, but which reorganized to adapt to digital communications. "I am honored to have had the opportunity to work alongside so many fine journalists," Ensor said during a meeting with VOA staff. "You have made VOA a social-media leader in South East Asia and an affiliate-model innovator in Latin America."
The BBG’s announcement gave no reason or details, though Ensor said he and his wife had been planning a departure once CEO Lack was in place. Ensor also voiced confidence in the broadcasting board’s interim CEO and director Andre Mendes.
"We are grateful for the leadership David Ensor brought to VOA," said BBG Chair Jeff Shell. "His deep journalistic roots and rich knowledge of world events were tremendous assets he enthusiastically invested in this venerable organization." During his tenure, VOA's radio, television, and online audience grew by 49 million people to 172 million a week, according to survey data.
A former public director of communications and public diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Ensor spent three decades in radio and television journalism at NPR, CNN and ABC News.
Despite the agency turmoil, "VOA has found creative ways to respond to the lies of Vladimir Putin and to the threats of ISIS. And it will be ready to do much more under its next director, if resources can be identified," Ensor told staff. "So long as the VOA Charter of 1976 is never weakened, I know VOA's professionals will be able to continue to serve our country by providing accurate journalism that is honest and independent and thus earns the trust of millions around the world.”
Ensor promised to stay through May pending the naming of a successor.
Ensor had been enthusiastic about the January arrival of Lack as the agency’s first-ever CEO, but Lack stayed only six weeks.