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The U.S. Administration's decision to fire the heads of four news organizations under the U.S. Agency for Global Media agencies is deeply concerning. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/17/media/us-agency-for-global-media-michael-pack/index.html The US should be an exemplar, not a detractor or of press freedom.
These outlets—which include Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia—are important. They provide independent and fact-based news to people around the world who live without press freedom in places like Russia and China.
. @VOANews @RadioFreeAsia @RFERL are currently some of the largest and most trusted news agencies in the world. They cannot become political mouthpieces for the U.S. Administration.
Gutting @VOANews, @RadioFreeAsia, and @RFERL is an attack on press freedom—and, we said earlier this week https://freedomhouse.org/article/united-states-attacks-voice-america-undermine-press-freedom, one that will be noted and likely emulated by authoritarian leaders around the world.
With the additional firing of the head of the Open Technology Fund, efforts to promote global internet freedom may also be under threat. @OpenTechFund
The 1994 US International Broadcast Act guarantees a firewall that prohibits political interference in the work of the global media agencies. Yet this firewall is at risk of being toppled.
There is no room for partisan politics in our global media agencies. Members of Congress should speak out and demand the editorial firewall be protected. To do less endangers press freedom everywhere and the credibility of the United States.
