As of yesterday all staff at Voice of America have been put on administrative leave. Other entities like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia lost their funding.
What’s VOA? Not a dumb question if you’re in the US, as it has been radio and TV news for a global audience (hundreds of millions per week) and isn’t even available in the US except on the web. Read more on the background and yesterday’s announcement here. The Reuters story talks about ‘gutting’ VOA et al and how it is ‘unsalvageable’. Yet the article goes on to say VOA will be not destroyed outright but stripped to the bone, to the minimum required for basic functioning required by law. So I suppose they mean to put everyone on leave until they can decide what skeleton crew to bring back for a VOA fit for purpose, for the New Way. But that’s just speculation.
It’s a very sad day. VOA and Radio Free Europe are strictly not propaganda, no matter what anyone says. They were created to combat authoritarianism through independent, fact-based journalism. Bias is in fact not tolerated. For many in the world, they have long been respected, often the best source of quality, balanced news coverage in regions where that was in short supply.
Just a few days ago, before the hammer fell, I was in downtown Nairobi and had a chance to peek inside the famous Chester House, the old building where many of the big foreign news agencies were once headquartered for decades. All except one moved out years ago into new digs elsewhere, including VOA, but it was cool to see such a legendary place. It was also poignant, like a ghost of the past.
Voice of America in DC was just about ready to move from its aging headquarters near the Capitol into a sparkling new building that had been in the works for years. Last week it was deemed an example of waste.
REM’s “Radio Free Europe” has been my song of the day. Especially the bracing live version on their 1983 TV debut on Letterman. Energy crackling through them, especially guitarist Pete Buck who looks like he’s being electrocuted. Four dudes from Athens GA that shaped the musical landscape and the very image of America for decades.
Soft power. I’m with them.
~
Decide: defy the media too fast
Instead of pushing palaces to fall
Put that, put that, put that up your wall
That this isn't fortunate at all
Radio station: decide yourself
We're calling out in transit
Calling out in transit
Radio Free Europe