Museum-Archives to receive 'Windows on America' videotapes

CLEVELAND - "Window on America" is a weekly television news magazine that has been beamed via satellite into Ukraine since 1993. Over the years the program has aired exclusive interviews and statements on Ukraine from President Bill Clinton, Cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, the Pentagon, etc. Both presidents of Ukraine and various Ukrainian ministers, lawmakers, journalists and generals have also been guests.

The program also offers a variety of features on life in America. According to surveys, every other person in Ukraine watches "Window on America" at least once a month, with more than 36 million people watching occasionally. Six million Ukrainians see the program on a weekly basis. Over the past five years the program has created a unique video chronicle of U.S.-Ukraine relations.

According to U.S. law, USIA programming cannot be distributed within the United States. This prohibition restricts scholars from using the information disseminated by programs like "Window on America."

Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Steven C. LaTourette (R-Ohio) jointly sponsored a bill to provide the Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland with videotape copies of the complete set of "Window on America" broadcasts.

Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.) amended the bill to include the Slavic Collection at Indiana University. The bill passed the House in September and was approved by the Senate on the last day of legislative business in October.

The UMA in Cleveland has a large and very rare collection of Ukrainian books, periodicals and other literature. Andrew Fedynsky, UMA director, noted that the museum is delighted to add the "Window on America" videotapes to its collection.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, November 8, 1998, No. 45, Vol. LXVI

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