Voice of America names new Eurasia Division Director

The Voice of America has selected Alen Mlatisuma as the new director of its Eurasia Division, providing news and information to audiences across media markets in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and the Balkans. 

A native of Montenegro, Mlatisuma has played a crucial role in shaping and guiding VOA’s digital media and audience engagement strategies within Eurasia’s sophisticated markets. With a wealth of journalistic expertise across various media platforms, Mlatisuma, as a seasoned creative producer, manager and strategist, boasts an impressive track record of fostering audience growth through compelling content creation, innovative social media marketing, cutting-edge technology integration, and dynamic SEO strategies. Spearheading the development of new initiatives, programs, content features, applications and interactive mobile products, he has instilled an audience-first newsroom mindset, ensuring VOA’s continued relevance in the ever-changing Eurasian media environment.   

Mlatisuma joined VOA in 2003 as a broadcaster and news editor with the Serbian service. In 2008, he was appointed the Eurasia Division’s Internet Managing Editor. Before his tenure at VOA, Mlatisuma served as a correspondent for the Associated Press and as Managing Editor with Antena M, the first independent radio station in post-communist Montenegro. Reporting from the Balkan region for regional and international media organizations, he also served as the editor of Graffiti Magazine, one of the few satirical media outlets in the war-ravaged Balkans during the 1990s. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Montenegro.

“We look forward to see how Alen leads the Eurasia Division,” said Acting VOA Director John Lippman. “His 20-year career at VOA has prepared him well for this role.”

Mlatisuma’s appointment took effect on May 5, 2024.

Voice of America reaches a weekly global audience of more than 354 million people in 48 languages in nearly 100 countries via radio, television, web and mobile media and a network of more than 3,500 affiliates.

[Source: VOA press release]