Lynne Weil has been named Director of Communications and External Affairs of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), according to a BBG press release. Ms. Weil will act as the Board’s primary strategist on communications and outreach activities, and as the Board’s chief advisor for Congressional and external affairs.

As the BBG Chairman Walter Isaacson observed, “Lynne Weil brings a wealth of knowledge of foreign affairs and journalistic experience as well as first-hand knowledge of how Congress works. The Board will draw heavily on Lynne’s expertise as we craft the proposed legislation to innovate U.S. international broadcasting for the 21st Century.”

Ms. Weil will advise the Board on agency-wide external communications strategy and will coordinate communications operations of the BBG’s media networks -- Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), and Radio and TV Marti. She will oversee the BBG Public Affairs office and Congressional Liaison.

Ms. Weil has most recently worked as a Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. Prior to this, she worked on Capitol Hill, serving as a legislative fellow for Senator Ted Kennedy, the Press Secretary for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Communications Director for the House Foreign Affairs Committee.