Kelu Chao

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Kelu Chao

| image = Kelu chao photograph from inside voa website.png

| alt = Kelu Chao, a Taiwanese American journalist.

| native_name = {{no bold|趙克露}}

| native_name_lang = zh

| office = CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media

| status = Acting

| president = Joe Biden

| term_start = January 20, 2021

| term_end = December 29, 2022

| predecessor = Michael Pack

| successor = Amanda Bennett

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Taiwan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education = National Chengchi University (BA)
Kent State University (MA)

}}

Kelu Chao ({{Lang-zh|t=趙克露}}) is a Taiwanese-American journalist and the deputy CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). She was previously the acting interim CEO of USAGM from January 20, 2021, to December 29, 2022.{{cite web |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202101220007 |title=Taiwanese American Kelu Chao named acting head of U.S. federal agency |last1=Wang |first1=Flor |last2=Chiang |first2=Chin-yeh |date=January 22, 2020 |access-date=January 24, 2021}}

Early life and education

Kelu Chao was born in Taiwan and studied at Zhongshan Girls' High School ({{Lang-zh|t=中山女高}}).{{cite web |url=https://www.insidevoa.com/a/kelu-chao-acting-voa-director/2808961.html |title=Kelu Chao, Program Director |author= |date=June 5, 2015 |website=Voice of America |access-date=January 24, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122021222/https://www.insidevoa.com/a/kelu-chao-acting-voa-director/2808961.html}} Her father, Chao Ting-Chun, was the vice president of one of Taiwan's oldest newspapers, the Central Daily News.

After graduating in 1975 from National Chengchi University with a bachelor's degree in journalism,{{cite web |url=https://tw.appledaily.com/international/20210123/L7AM6Y7YURH33P2LJS4HF5GA5E/ |title=又1台裔高官趙克露掌國際媒體署 |trans-title=Another Taiwanese, Chao Kelu, revealed to be senior official at the International Media Agency |date=January 23, 2021 |website=tw.appledaily.com |access-date=January 24, 2021 |language=zh}} Chao moved to the U.S. and earned a master's degree from Kent State University.{{cite web |url=https://www.insidevoa.com/a/kelu-chao-acting-voa-director/2808961.html |title=Kelu Chao, Program Director |author= |date=June 5, 2015 |website=Voice of America |access-date=January 24, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122021222/https://www.insidevoa.com/a/kelu-chao-acting-voa-director/2808961.html}}

Career

=Journalism=

Chao has worked for more than 40 years for the Voice of America (VOA).{{cite news |url= https://www.voanews.com/a/press-freedom_new-acting-usagm-chief-begins-undoing-predecessors-policies/6201060.html |title=New Acting USAGM Chief Begins Undoing Predecessor's Policies |last=Jerreat |first=Jessica |date=January 21, 2021 |website=Voice of America |access-date=January 24, 2021}}

She was the VOA's first Language Programming Director from 2001 to 2007. She also worked as a VOA editor, VOA's Mandarin Service Chief, VOA's East Asia Division Director, VOA's Hong Kong Bureau Chief, a field reporter, and radio announcer.

As a field reporter, she reported for VOA on the period leading to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre in Beijing.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xfwddKSiENMC&q=Kelu+Chao+was+born&pg=PA9 |title=Lifting the Veil: Getting the Refugees Out, Getting Our Message in: an Update on the Implementation of the North Korean Human Rights Act: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations of the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, October 27, 2005, Volume 4 |pages=9{{hyphen}}15 |date=2005 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn=9780160755255 |access-date=January 24, 2021}}

Chao has received more than 30 awards as a VOA programmer, including from the New York Radio Festival and the Asian Broadcasting Union.

=USAGM=

She was appointed on January 20, 2021, by President Joe Biden to lead the USAGM as interim CEO, replacing the Trump appointee Michael Pack.{{Cite web |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/01/20/president-joe-biden-announces-acting-federal-agency-leadership/ |title=President Joe Biden Announces Acting Federal Agency Leadership |date=January 20, 2021 |website=White House |access-date=January 24, 2020}} She is the first woman to hold the top position at USAGM.

Chao's personnel management after taking office was questioned by seven Republican members of Congress. The seven members of Congress also demanded that the correspondence from several directors of the United States World Media Organization and VOA be provided on specific dates to investigate the details of the recruitment of Setareh Derakhshesh.{{Cite news |title=The scandal of Setareh Derakhshesh, Voice of America Persian section once again in the US Congress |work=Iranian Congress |url=https://iraniancongress.news/-/blog/politics/793/}}

When Amanda Bennett was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in September 2022 (to be sworn on December 6, 2022[https://www.usagm.gov/2022/12/09/amanda-bennett-sworn-in-as-usagm-ceo/ "Amanda Bennett sworn in as USAGM CEO"] U.S. Agency for Global Media, December 9, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2024) as the CEO of USAGM, Chao issued a statement commending the decision. "A proven journalist, public servant, and business leader, Amanda has both the vision and experience to build on our progress, while equipping USAGM to anticipate and confront threats to independent media and reach audiences in need," said Chao. "Now more than ever, people across the world are depending on USAGM’s fact-based news to triumph over increasing misinformation, disinformation, and censorship. I join our entire agency in welcoming Amanda back to serve during this crucial moment for freedom and democracy."{{Cite web |title=USAGM applauds bipartisan confirmation of Amanda Bennett to be CEO |url=https://www.usagm.gov/2022/09/22/usagm-applauds-bipartisan-confirmation-of-amanda-bennett-to-be-ceo/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=USAGM |language=en-US}} Chao subsequently assumed the role of deputy CEO of the agency.Farhi, Paul [https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/at-voice-of-america-a-sweeping-ouster-of-trump-officials-on-bidens-first-full-day/2021/01/21/4827f3cc-5c2c-11eb-8bcf-3877871c819d_story.html "At Voice of America, a sweeping ouster of Trump officials on Biden’s first full day"] The Washington Post, January 21, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2024.