President-elect Trump has chosen Kari Lake, a former television news anchor, to head Voice of America, a state-funded global media organization. Lake has been known for her hardline views on immigration and denying the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump stated that Lake would ensure American values are broadcast accurately and fairly around the world, contrasting with what he calls the “lies spread by the Fake News Media”. VOA operates in over 40 languages and claims a weekly audience of more than 354 million people worldwide.
During Trump’s first term, there were reports of political appointees at the US Agency for Global Media investigating VOA’s White House Bureau Chief for bias against the former president. This led to criticism from media freedom organizations. In 2020, a group of senators announced they would review USAGM’s funding after CEO Michael Pack, appointed by Trump, fired or reassigned numerous senior staff. An independent report found that Pack had breached regulations meant to prevent political interference in editorial decision-making.
Lake’s appointment has raised concerns due to her controversial views and background in denying the results of the 2020 election. Critics worry about the impact she may have on the objectivity and credibility of VOA’s reporting. However, supporters applaud Trump’s decision, believing Lake will help promote American values on the global stage. It remains to be seen how Lake’s leadership will affect VOA’s operations and reputation moving forward.
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