VOA Journalists Sue, Allege Trump Appointee Forced Pro-Trump Propaganda
A group of veteran Voice of America (VOA) journalists and press freedom groups have filed a federal lawsuit alleging a concerted effort by the Trump administration to transform the independent, taxpayer-funded broadcaster into a government propaganda mouthpiece. The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., names the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), its acting CEO Michael Rigas, and Trump appointee Kari Lake, who oversees VOA. Plaintiffs accuse the leadership of ordering the airing of pro-Trump propaganda, suppressing critical coverage, and forcing out a majority of the outlet's staff, actions they claim violate VOA's charter mandating accurate and objective journalism. The lawsuit contains specific allegations, including that VOA was forced to broadcast White House statements nearly verbatim and air photos of former President Donald Trump “in the style of Dear Leader Kim Jong-Il.” Journalists contend that Lake and agency leaders used VOA to control reporting, “suppressing” material the administration opposed and passing off “partisan messages” as news. These actions, the staffers argue, have turned what remains of the largely shut-down global news service into a voice for propaganda rather than its intended mission. The legal challenge comes amidst a series of rulings against the administration's management of USAGM. In a related development, a U.S. judge recently ordered the Trump administration to reopen Voice of America, a decision hailed by plaintiff Patsy Widakuswara, who expressed hope that the American people would “continue to support our mission to produce journalism, not propaganda.” The lawsuit represents a significant confrontation over press freedom and the independence of U.S.-funded international media, with journalists striving to uphold the outlet's legacy of providing uncensored news worldwide.
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Voice of America journalists allege Trump is making news outlet a propaganda source | PBS News
The latest dispute reflects differing views between journalists and President Donald Trump's administration, which has promoted friendly outlets that rarely offer more than gentle questioning — most notably at the Pentagon. Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis ...
Journalists with Voice of America have partnered with multiple press freedom groups to file a new lawsuit over what they say is the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to turn the independent, taxpayer-funded media organization into the government’s propaganda outlet. The lawsuit filed Monday accuses the United States Agency for Global Media – which oversees VOA – and its leaders of trying to turn the newsroom ...
A group of veteran Voice of America staffers sued its parent agency and Donald Trump appointee Kari Lake on Monday, alleging that Lake ordered the U.S.-funded news organization to air pro-Trump propaganda on its airwaves in violation of its charter after she forced out the majority of its staff.
Voice of America staffers accused Kari Lake and the U.S. Agency for Global Media of "censorship" and "propaganda" in a new lawsuit filed in federal district court in Washington, D.C. The employees said Lake and Michael Rigas, the acting CEO of U.S. Agency for Global Media, used VOA to control journalists' reporting, "suppressing" material the Trump administration opposed and passing off "partisan messages" as "news...
Voice of America journalists allege Trump wants to make outlet a propaganda source :: WRAL.com
Some journalists at Voice of America charged in a lawsuit Monday that the Trump administration — while largely shutting down the government-run outlet that provides news around the world — has turned what remains into a voice for propaganda.
Some journalists at Voice of America charged in a lawsuit Monday that the Trump administration — while largely shutting down the government-run outlet that provides news around the world — has turned what remains into a voice for propaganda. The lawsuit alleges that VOA transmissions to ...
Three VOA journalists had sued the Trump administration. One of them, Patsy Widakuswara, said she was deeply grateful for the judge's decision. "We hope the American people will continue to support our mission to produce journalism, not propaganda," she told the Associated Press news agency.
They claimed that VOA has been forced to broadcast White House statements nearly verbatim and that it aired photos of Trump “in the style of Dear Leader Kim Jong-Il.” They also allege the agency’s leaders suppressed VOA staffers from covering news stories the administration did not like ...
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