Latest news with #VoA
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Maduro did not close our bureau – Trump did': Voice of America journalists speak out
Carolina Valladares Pérez, a Washington-based correspondent for the government-funded international news service Voice of America, has reported from places where press freedom is severely restricted – war zones and autocratic states – in the Middle East and across Latin America. Intimidation and threats from state officials were not unusual – but she always managed to get the story out. Now for the first time in her career, Valladares Pérez says she has been silenced – not by a faraway regime, but by the government of the United States. 'Nicolás Maduro did not close our bureau,' she said, of Venezuela's authoritarian leader. 'Donald Trump closed it. I find this astonishing.' Valladares Pérez is one of hundreds of VoA journalists who remain shut out of their newsroom nearly two months after Donald Trump signed a late-night executive order aimed at dismantling their parent company, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The journalists had been hopeful they might be able to return to their broadcasts this week – VoA was even included in the rotation of news outlets assigned to cover the president as part of the White House press pool. But whiplashing court orders and a newly announced 'partnership' to broadcast a hard-right, pro-Trump news outlet have clouded their path forward. 'We have 3,500 affiliates around the world – these are television stations, radio stations, digital affiliates, who depend on our content,' said Patsy Widakuswara, VoA's White House bureau chief, who is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the president's authority to gut an independent agency. 'The void is going to be filled by our adversaries – it already is.' VoA's pro-democracy programming reaches hundreds of millions of people across the globe, broadcasting in 47 languages. It is often the only alternative to state-run media in places where press freedom is severely restricts, including in Russia, China and Iran. But the administration has denigrated the outlet as the 'Voice of Radical America' and accused it of producing 'propaganda'. Following Trump's March edict, VoA's broadcast went dark for the first time since its founding during the second world war, initially to counter Nazi propaganda. Some radio stations began playing music instead of the news. VoA's website remains frozen in time, the homepage dated to that Saturday morning. As many as 1,300 VoA employees have been placed on administrative leave. The order also directed USAGM to cancel the federal grants that support VOA's sister outlets Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Without funding, those broadcasters have struggled to remain operational. The Trump administration has defended the decision to cut the broadcasters as part of its effort to downsize the federal government and slash what it described as 'frivolous expenditures that fail to align with American values or address the needs of the American people'. 'Shut them down,' the Trump ally and adviser Elon Musk declared on X earlier this year, as his so-called 'department of government efficiency' began its work. In response to the president's March order, Kari Lake, a fierce Trump loyalist and prominent election denier who was installed as a special adviser to the US's global media agency, declared that VoA's networks were 'not salvageable'. But it appears the former local news anchor turned unsuccessful Republican candidate is now working to bring the news outlet back on air and online in some capacity. In a statement on Monday, Lake said 'the plan has always been to have meaningful, comprehensive, and accurate programming. However, this administration was halted in its tracks by lawfare, which prevented the implementation of much-needed reforms at VoA.' On Tuesday night, she announced on X that the One America News Network (OAN), which has perpetuated conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and was sued by voting-machine companies for promoting claims of election fraud, will provide VoA's 'newsfeed and video service free-of-charge'. Last month, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle VoA, as well as Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. But VoA staff and journalists remain on administrative leave while the court process plays out. The judge, US District Judge Royce Lamberth, later ordered the administration to restore funding Congress appropriated for Radio Free Europe, but the ruling was paused on appeal. On Saturday, a divided panel of three circuit court judges paused parts of the ruling, ordering the Trump administration to return the VoA employees back to work. In a dissent, federal appeals court judge Cornelia Pillard warned that the stay 'all but guarantees that the networks will no longer exist in any meaningful form' by the time litigation is resolved. Challenging the ruling, attorneys representing the VoA journalists have asked the full US court of appeals for the DC circuit to rehear the case en banc. The Trump administration's attempt to dismantle the US's largest and oldest international broadcaster is part of a broader crackdown on press freedom in the US, journalists and experts say. In late April, the president also signed an executive order aimed at slashing federal funding for NPR and PBS, accusing the news outlets of similarly spreading 'radical woke propaganda'. 'The reason we have such a huge audience is because we're not propaganda,' Widakuswara said. 'Much of our audience lives in places where there is government propaganda, and they can smell it a mile away. They turn to us because they trust us.' Ilan Berman, senior vice-president at the American Foreign Policy Council, said VoA and its sister outlets were an 'indispensable' asset in the information war, countering anti-American narratives and disinformation in unfree societies. 'Authoritarian regimes understand very well that controlling information is essential to controlling their populations,' Berman, who serves on the board of RFE/RL and MBN, wrote in an email, while traveling in the Middle East, where he said media outlets hostile to the US already saturate the airwaves. 'America and its allies have unfortunately been playing defense for a while now,' he added. 'And the shuttering of our messaging outlets is only going to make those voices stronger, and ours weaker.' Desperate to return to work, Widakuswara has been leading the charge to raise awareness of VoA's plight and keep newsroom morale up amid the turbulence of the last several weeks. On 4 May, the account, @savevoanow was suspended by X, the platform owned by Musk, for allegedly 'violating rules against inauthentic accounts'. The account has since been restored but it unnerved Widakuswara and her colleagues, who have vowed not to remain silent. 'What we're fighting for is not just for our job but our continued editorial independence,' the White House reporter said. A 'reward to dictators and despots' The silencing of VoA has alarmed press freedom advocates but drew gleeful reactions from Chinese and Russian state media. 'We couldn't shut them down, unfortunately, but America did so itself,' said Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the Kremlin-backed RT network, who cheered Trump's 'awesome decision'. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a prominent press freedom organization, called Trump's effort to eliminate the news outlets a 'reward to dictators and despots' and urged Congress to restore the agency it created 'before irreparable harm is done'. 'When a US president is behaving this way domestically towards media, it creates a kind of permission structure for world leaders to treat the press the same way in their home countries,' said Katherine Jacobsen, the CPJ's Canada and Caribbean program coordinator. US-based foreign journalists whose visas are now in jeopardy because of the dismantling of USAGM say deportation to their home countries would put them at risk of reprisal, imprisonment and possibly even death at the hands of authoritarian governments. 'In Burma, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, there were people who fought for freedom and democracy, and they came to work at RFA,' Jaewoo Park, a journalist for Radio Free Asia in Washington, recently told the Guardian. 'It's very risky for them. Their lives are in danger if Radio Free Asia doesn't exist.' According to the agency, 10 of its journalists remain jailed or imprisoned around the world – in Myanmar, Vietnam, Russia, Belarus and Azerbaijan. At the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the organization's president, Eugene Daniels, voiced solidarity with VoA's journalists. 'To our friends at Voice of America, I can't wait until you're back at the White House grounds to continue reporting important stories for audiences around the world, especially in countries where leaders suppress the freedom of expression and the press,' he said during a speech that eschewed punchlines in favor of a robust defense of the first amendment and press freedom. Valladares Pérez is also looking forward to that day. 'Our reporters want to go back to work. Our job is not to be at home, being silent and not publishing,' she said. 'Our job is to take our microphones, to keep talking, reaching our audiences and telling them what's happening in the US. This is our mission.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Embattled Voice of America to use newsfeed from hard-right network
A hard-right, Trump-supporting US news network that perpetuated conspiracy theories about the 2020 election will provide news coverage for Voice of America (VoA), the Trump administration said. Kari Lake, a special adviser to the body that oversees the government-funded VoA, announced on X that One America News (OAN), which was sued by voting machine companies for promoting claims of election fraud, will provide 'newsfeed and video service'. 'Every day I look for ways to save American taxpayers money. Bringing in OAN as a video/news source does both,' Lake said. 'OAN is one of the few family-owned American media networks left in the United States. We are grateful for their generosity.' Related: Maga media mob: meet the new rightwing faces in the White House briefing room The news that OAN, which many see as a pro-Trump propaganda outfit, will provide content for VoA, which has traditionally been a more politically neutral news source, is a move that will spur further fears about Donald Trump's crackdown on the press. OAN, which spread conspiracy theories about the coronavirus epidemic, almost exclusively interviews Republican politicians and rightwing voices, including this week the founder of an organization that denies the existence of the climate crisis. VoA journalists, who have been shut out of their newsroom since Trump signed a mid-March executive order that took them off the air and offline, denounced the move. 'Congress mandated VOA to report reliable and authoritative news, not to outsource its journalism to outlets aligned with the president's agenda,' VoA's White House bureau chief, Patsy Widakuswara, and Washington-based press freedom editor, Jessica Jerreat, said in a joint statement. 'VOA already has talented and professional journalists ready to tell America's story in line with the VOA Charter, but we are blocked from our own newsroom. That is why we will continue fighting for our rights in court.' Widakuswara and Jerreat are the lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging Trump's changes. A look at OAN's recent output gives a taste of what listeners would be in for. Dan Ball, a primetime OAN host, introduced his show last week by telling viewers: 'God help us, cackling Kamala comes out of hiding, rearing her ugly head for the first time since her devastating loss to Trump.' On Tuesday's show, Ball discussed Trump meeting with Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, adding that the meeting comes 'as the global trade war continues – and yes we are winning'. Lake, a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for Arizona governor, serves as a special adviser to the USAGM, VoA's parent company. Trump signed an executive order on 15 March which aimed to dismantle that agency, and VoA has not produced any content since then. As many as 1,300 VoA employees have been placed on leave. VoA was founded during the second world war to combat Nazi propaganda, and became a pro-democracy voice heard by millions around the world. In April, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration's order to shutter VoA, but the ruling has been caught up in a government appeal. In March, Lake announced that VoA would no longer use news reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. 'We should not be paying outside news organizations to tell us what the news is,' Lake said. 'With a nearly billion-dollar budget, we should be producing news ourselves.' Lauren Gambino contributed reporting
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Embattled Voice of America to use newsfeed from hard-right network
A hard-right, Trump-supporting US news network that perpetuated conspiracy theories about the 2020 election will provide news coverage for Voice of America (VoA), the Trump administration said. Kari Lake, a special adviser to the body that oversees the government-funded VoA, announced on X that One America News (OAN), which was sued by voting machine companies for promoting claims of election fraud, will provide 'newsfeed and video service'. 'Every day I look for ways to save American taxpayers money. Bringing in OAN as a video/news source does both,' Lake said. 'OAN is one of the few family-owned American media networks left in the United States. We are grateful for their generosity.' The news that OAN, which many see as a pro-Trump propaganda outfit, will provide content for VoA, which has traditionally been a more politically neutral news source, is a move that will spur further fears about Donald Trump's crackdown on the press. OAN, which spread conspiracy theories about the coronavirus epidemic, almost exclusively interviews Republican politicians and rightwing voices, including this week the founder of an organization that denies the existence of the climate crisis. A look at OAN's recent output gives a taste of what listeners would be in for. Dan Ball, a primetime OAN host, introduced his show last week by telling viewers: 'God help us, cackling Kamala comes out of hiding, rearing her ugly head for the first time since her devastating loss to Trump.' On Tuesday's show, Ball discussed Trump meeting with Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, adding that the meeting comes 'as the global trade war continues – and yes we are winning'. Lake, a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for Arizona governor, serves as a special adviser to the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VoA's parent company. Trump signed an executive order on 15 March which aimed to dismantle that agency, and VoA has not produced any content since then. As many as 1,300 VoA employees have been placed on leave. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion VoA was founded during the second world war to combat Nazi propaganda, and became a pro-democracy voice heard by millions around the world. In April, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration's order to shutter VoA, but the ruling has been caught up in a government appeal. In March, Lake announced that VoA would no longer use news reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. 'We should not be paying outside news organizations to tell us what the news is,' Lake said. 'With a nearly billion-dollar budget, we should be producing news ourselves.'
The Guardian
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Voice of America to resume airing after court halts Trump's dismantling of broadcaster
Voice of America (VoA), the US-taxpayer funded news service for overseas listeners, could be back on the air as soon as next week, after a federal appeals court granted a temporary stay on an executive order dismantling the broadcaster. VoA was effectively shut down after Trump signed an order on 14 March dismantling or shrinking seven agencies including the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The USAGM is an independent government agency that oversees VoA and distributes congressionally appropriated funds to several non-profit broadcasters which provide news and information in almost 50 languages in countries with limited or no access to independent media sources. After nearly every affected network sued, US district judge Royce Lamberth, a Ronald Reagan appointee, granted a preliminary injunction in late April, ruling that the executive order was arbitrary and likely exceeded the president's authority. The Department of Justice appealed. On Thursday, a Washington DC federal appeals court, which included two Trump appointees, partly upheld the lower court ruling that will enable VoA to resume broadcasting while the appeal plays out. VoA staff can begin a 'phased return' to the office and resume programming next week, according to an email from the justice department shared with the Washington Post. Some VoA and USAGM staff have had access to their government email accounts restored. But the latest court ruling was bad news for the other publicly funded broadcasters. The Trump administration's freeze on congressionally approved funds for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks will remain in place while the lawsuit makes its way through the court. While VoA is a federal entity, the other broadcasters are private non-profit organizations. The funding freeze has already forced them to make staffing cuts and reduce content. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion The USAGA had, until now, enjoyed bipartisan support, due to the vital role VoA and the other foreign-news broadcasters play in advancing democracy and US interests by reaching about 360 million people in countries that have little to no independent press. The Guardian has contacted both the USAGA and VoA for comment.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US judge orders Trump administration to restore Voice of America
A U.S. federal judge on April 22 ordered the Trump administration to restore all employees and contractors at Voice of America (VoA), saying the administration's efforts to dismantle the outlet likely violated U.S. law. As part of his administration's wide-reaching funding cuts, U.S. President Donald Trump has tried to gut the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VoA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction and ordered the administration to restore all employees and contractors to their news programs. The decision comes less than a month after a court on March 28 issued a restraining order to prevent the mass firing of some 1,300 VoA employees. "(The administration) took immediate and drastic action to slash USAGM ... without regard to the harm inflicted on employees, contractors, journalists, and media consumers around the world," Lamberth said. "It is hard to fathom a more straightforward display of arbitrary and capricious actions than the Defendants' actions here." Lamberth ordered the reinstatement of all employees and the restoration of VoA programming so that it can "serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news." VoA is a government-funded media founded in 1942, broadcasting in almost 50 languages around the world. Trump has denounced the outlet as "radical propaganda" and issued an executive order on March 14 slashing funding for USAGM. A week earlier, Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) carried out an inspection of VoA that resulted in the dismissal of Ukrainian journalist Ostap Yarysh. DOGE is headed by billionaire CEO Elon Musk, who has called to "shut down" public media. "It's just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of U.S. taxpayer money," Musk said on Feb. 9. DOGE's efforts to reshape the government through dramatic funding cuts have faced ongoing legal challenges in U.S. courts. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Explosions rock what could be one of Russia's largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
