Why we need a Foreign Bureau?

Do you know that USA spends annually more than 17,8 billion dollars on foreign aids to more than 74 countries?

Where these billions go? Does they help other nations in the development process or they end up in pockets of corrupt leaders? Does they help promoting democracy and freedom or they support dictatorship and totalitarian regimes?

What the US image in the receiving countries? Are people in the 74 countries aware of the US aids? Are those nations grateful for US people? Can these billions be supporting terrorism indirectly? Are they promoting international peace? Can spending these billions in the wrong direction create threats to US citizens or military troops?

What gap will it fill? And the Internet impact :

The drastic changes in the journalism industry forced many Media organizations in US to close their foreign bureaus and give less space and attention to international affairs due to lack of resources.

On the other hand, the internet boom helped people worldwide to make their voices heard through the presence of their traditional media online or through social media.

What is Foreign Bureau :

A newsroom formed of bilingual and trilingual journalists who have the ability to analyze Foreign press and its cultural context to inform the American reader a good understanding of the image of his country abroad and how this might affect his security, economy or social life.

The newsroom can hire correspondents or stringers in foreign countries to gather more info if needed.

The project will be non profit and can work relying on donations or funds from non-governmental organizations, in return the newsroom can provide media organizations with news feed for free.

The main job of the editorial team will be to track any mention of US in news or opinions in local and social media in different regions of the world with special focus on the impact of US aids on other societies.

Who will benefit?

The American tax payer, voters who will have a better understanding for how their politicians spend their money and promote a good image of USA.

Decision makers like Congress members who approve annual foreign aids.

Why do we translate work of less professional journalists or biased opinion writers?

Because people in foreign countries read and watch their local media not New York Times and Washington Post.
The local media organizations affect public opinion and decision makers abroad the same way American media do in US.