Ksenia Turkova

Recently, a federal judge ordered Voice of America journalists back to work following a year of furlough the judge deemed unauthorized. Now, @VOANews staffers have brought a suit that claims the Trump administration wants the news organization to report state #disinformation and propaganda, along with receiving approvals for sources and on-air guests. Before January 2025, VOA had broadcast continuously since 1942, following a Congressionally funded charter to deliver news, information, and cultural programming via radio, TV, digital, and affiliates in 48 languages to global audiences, especially in countries lacking press freedom. VOA also has served as the primary information source for the U.S. armed forces while traveling abroad. “Without editorial integrity,” the new suit argues, “VOA will be no different than government mouthpieces our audiences already hear in their own country.” This debate involves more than just management influences on the VOA. It is, more than anything else, a debate about the principles associated with America’s role as an advocate of human rights in the world community; the notion that we as a nation of values can use truths to combat information control used in the suppression of other human beings. Arguing otherwise implies our support for such practices. Reporting by @dbauder at the @AP with @RFERL, @atanzeem and @Turkova 👉 tipaz.org/latest-news/dltfcm…