Voice of America top officials resign as Trump-appointed CEO takes over international network
Source: CNN
Two top officials at Voice of America resigned on Monday as an appointee of President Trump prepares to take control of the international network and other US federally-funded media operations. The resignations were long in the making.
The Trump administration had been trying to get its nominee, Michael Pack, through the Senate confirmation process for two years.
Earlier this month, after Trump applied additional pressure, the Republican-controlled Senate voted Pack through, adding to a sense of apprehension at Voice of America, VOA for short, about what comes next.
VOA director Amanda Bennett and deputy director Sandy Sugawara, both veteran journalists, bid farewell to the staff on Monday morning.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/15/media/voice-of-america-top-officials-resign/index.html
Turbineguy
(37,212 posts)Biden's Honey-do list.
SleeplessinSoCal
(8,998 posts)yaesu
(8,020 posts)I used to listen to the VOA during the cold war years with my shortwave. It had a purpose and was used for both news and propaganda. Probably just a news network now, haven't tuned in for over a decade.
rownesheck
(2,343 posts)Does VOA hold any influence over anything? Have they been a trusted news source in the past?
SeattleVet
(5,468 posts)They broadcast in a LOT of countries (they do not have any programming targeting the US), and they have a pretty strong set of journalistic principles to prevent becoming a pure propaganda outlet. They are an official outlet for the USA, though, so they have a definite pro-America message, but they tend to stay pretty neutral. They have specific firewalls in place to try to prevent political influence in their coverage.
Years ago when I was stationed in Germany we would get news on the Armed Forces Radio & Television Service (AFRTS at that time), and it was definitely slanted in one direction. On the swing or midnight shift we'd bring in a shortwave radio and listen to Radio Moscow, which we knew had pretty much the exact opposite slant. We knew the real story was usually somewhere in the middle.
When we'd tune in VOA, CBC, BBC, Deutsche Welle, or a few others we'd generally get a very neutral version of the story.
VOA officials resigning over this new appointment is VERY disturbing to hear, but they may find that they really don't have as much latitude to change the tone of the programming as they think they do with the checks and balances they have in place. They are an official US outlet (government employees) and have very specific laws and rules to follow.
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)VOA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, an independent agency of the U.S. government.[4] Funds are appropriated annually by Congress under the budget for embassies and consulates. In 2016, VOA broadcast an estimated 1,800 hours of radio and TV programming each week to approximately 236.6 million people worldwide with about 1,050 employees and a taxpayer-funded annual budget of US$218.5 million
erronis
(14,955 posts)There have been a lot of broadcast services (radio/TV) from the US over the years. Some are obviously propaganda but VOA and RFE were pretty good.
With the internet many more sources of independent information have been available.
But all are subject to manipulation of the messages, whether by states or by personal influences.
Don't trust your information from any single source. Actually listen to some opposing sources to try and triangulate the truth. And remember, if it sounds like you're in an echo chamber, then you are in an echo chamber, then you are in an echo chamber, ... Oh, wait - I'm typing this on DU.
erronis
(14,955 posts)In a shorter form: VOA becomes another trumputin outlet.
fux/oan
Bavorskoami
(118 posts)In a couple of responses the commenters point out VOA has always tried to keep the reporting fairly strait and has firewalls in place to maintain that integrity. Never before have any US governmental entities had to deal with Donald J. Trump and his sycophants. In another thread there is this. Ugh!
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213599755
DENVERPOPS
(8,679 posts)should frighten the living shit out of all Americans.........
mahatmakanejeeves
(56,897 posts)Fri Apr 10, 2020: White House blames the Voice of America
It's time to play "Who's to Blame?" Let's meet today's contestant, the Voice of America.
<Applause>
You might ask "what brought this on?" Well, there was a reporter from the VOA at one of the recent dog and pony shows (owners of dogs and ponies, please don't bother to complain) who asked a question Glorious Leader did not like. I'll link to it.
Here it is. It originally appeared at 1600 Daily.
Thu Apr 2, 2020: Remarks by Trump, Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing, 04-01-20
THE PRESIDENT: But I am glad you asked that question because we want the farmers theyve had this for years. We want the farmers to be able to get the people that have been working those farms for years or were not going to have farms. So theyre going to come in and theyre going to be given a certain pass. And were going to check them very, very closely, especially over the next month.
Because remember, after a month or so I think once this passes, were not going to have to be, hopefully, worried too much about the virus.
But we want them to come in. Were not closing the border so that we cant get any of those people to come in. Theyve been there for years and years, and Ive given the commitment to the farmers: Theyre going to continue to come. Or were not going to have any farmers. Okay?
Yeah. One more question.
Q What about waiving visa restrictions for immigrant doctors?
THE PRESIDENT: Who are you with, by the way?
Q I am with Voice of America.
THE PRESIDENT: Boy. Amazing.
Q So what about waiving these restrictions on immigrant doctors?
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Who else, please?
{snip}
END
7:18 P.M. EDT
Well. Here's this morning's blamefest:
Amid a Pandemic, Voice of America Spends Your Money to Promote Foreign Propaganda
April 10, 2020 3 minute read
This story first appeared in 1600 Daily, the White Houses evening newsletter. Subscribe now to get breaking news from President Trump before anyone else.
Voice of America is a global news network funded by American taxpayers. It spends about $200 million each year on its mission to tell Americas story and present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively to people around the globe.
Today, however, VOA too often speaks for Americas adversariesnot its citizens.
The Coronavirus pandemic is no exception. Secrecy from the Communist Party of China allowed the deadly virus to spread across the world.
Journalists should report the facts, but VOA has instead amplified Beijings propaganda. This week, VOA called Chinas Wuhan lockdown a successful model copied by much of the worldand then tweeted out video of the Communist governments celebratory light show marking the quarantines alleged end.
Even worse, while much of the U.S. media takes its lead from China, VOA went one step further: It created graphics with Communist government statistics to compare Chinas Coronavirus death toll to Americas. As intelligence experts point out, there is simply no way to verify the accuracy of Chinas numbers.
The Coronavirus story is just one example of this pattern. Last year, VOA helped highlight the Twitter feed of Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif while he was issuing threats against the U.S. and sharing Russian anti-U.S. propaganda videos.
VOA will represent America, its guiding Charter reads. And for years after its founding during World War II, VOA served that mission by promoting freedom and democracy across the world for audiences who longed for both.
Today, VOA is promoting propaganda insteadand your tax dollars are paying for it.
mahatmakanejeeves
(56,897 posts)OH HELL NO YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME
Link to tweet
A well-placed VOA employee said there are internal discussions about a sizable shakeup coming to the agency that may include former White House official and conservative radio host Sebastian Gorka taking on a leadership position.
Link to tweet