It is sad to learn of the recent passing of Evelyn Lieberman, one of the great women of U.S. public diplomacy. Lieberman brought energy and integrity to Bill Clinton’s second administration in the first instance as his director of Voice of America and then -- following the consolidation of USIA into the State Department in 1999 -- as the first person to hold the new post of Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.  

Like most government-funded broadcasters, VOA is facing an uncertain future because of factors that are outside its control, such as budget constraints and censorship by anti-democratic leaders in countries like Russia and China. But VOA’s future is also uncertain because of its own shortcomings.

When David Ensor announced last week that he was stepping down as the director of the Voice of America, critics saw the move as the latest sign of turmoil at the government agency that is charged with presenting America’s viewpoint to the world.

David Ensor, who as director of the Voice of America has presided over significant growth in the news agency’s audience despite budget cuts, announced Tuesday that he was stepping down. Mr. Ensor, who joined the Voice of America in June 2011, said he would leave the government-funded broadcaster at the end of next month. He did not explain his decision or discuss his plans.

Voice of America said Tuesday its director David Ensor is stepping gown after nearly four years of leading the government-funded broadcast and digital news operation.