The Voice of America, a U.S. government-funded news organization, has promoted Leili Soltani to director of its Persian language division, one of VOA’s largest news services.
An experienced multimedia journalist, Soltani has held on-air, production, and executive roles at VOA. She joined VOA in Washington, D.C. in 2003 as part of its Radio Farda broadcasts, transitioning to VOA television in 2007. Most recently, Soltani was VOA Persian’s Supervising Executive Producer in charge of live and special programming. Since January, she has been serving as the Acting VOA Persian Director.
Born in Tehran, Iran, Soltani will lead VOA broadcasting to Iran via the VOA365 television channel, delivered by 24/7 satellite, and via web and social media. VOA Persian content reaches approximately 20% of Iranians each week, according to most recent (2017) research, an unduplicated audience of approximately 16 million people.
“I am deeply honored to take on this new assignment,” said Soltani. “In keeping with the VOA Charter, we will continue to work hard to ensure balanced and unbiased coverage of news, especially during this sensitive time in Iran, with nuclear negotiations underway with the U.S. and the European Union and with Iran electing a new government in the coming weeks.”
“Leili Soltani’s deep knowledge of the audience needs, as well as of the organization she’s been serving for 14 years, makes her uniquely positioned to take the Persian division to new levels of excellence,” said Acting VOA Director, Yolanda Lόpez.
Established in 1979, the VOA Persian Division’s mission is to provide objective, accurate, and timely news and information in the Farsi language and to confront disinformation and censorship efforts by the Iranian regime. Its content allows the U.S. to speak directly to the Iranian people and the global Persian diaspora.
