The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB), an independent nongovernmental organization that urges the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) to pay closer attention to human rights reporting, serving oppressed audiences and fair treatment of employees, has released a statement congratulating Michael Lynton on his appointment as Interim Presiding Governor. A CUSIB member told BBG Watch that it is their hope that Michael Lynton’s personal background will make him sensitive to press freedom and human rights issues both in serving oppressed audiences abroad and within the U.S. Government agency in charge of international broadcasting and other news and information programs. Sources also told BBG Watch that Lynton has a reputation of being highly intelligent and able to work well with his colleagues. One source described him as a very decent and well-liked person. While Lynton, who has a busy job outside of the BBG, missed a number of board meetings, his attendance record was apparently no worse than those of some of the other members. He is believed to be a close personal friend of the Obamas. Meanwhile, rank-and-file BBG employees are bracing themselves for a Reduction-In-Force (RIF) announcement that may come as early as Monday. RIFs are the agency’s way of dealing with the expected total budget cut for all of BBG of about 4.7 percent.