Trump's selection of Kari Lake for a role at Voice of America prompts apprehension
Trump's Wednesday night online post declared, "I'm thrilled to announce that Kari Lake will be our upcoming Director of Voice of America (VOA)". This statement hints at potential conflicts over VOA, which evolved into an ideological battleground during Trump's initial term.
Some VOA staff members express concern over the possibility of Lake, a local TV anchor turned critic of media and advocate of election conspiracies, leading the organization.
A VOA employee told CNN, "We're crossing our fingers that the safeguards will hold."
The main question is, what role should VOA play and whom should it serve?
As part of the US Agency for Global Media, VOA includes networks like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. It is recognized for its award-winning journalism and promoting democratic values internationally. Historically, VOA has been portrayed as a counter to foreign propaganda and a symbol of free, fair, and truthful news reporting by the US government.
VOA claims to have a "firewall" that prevents interfering U.S. government officials in objective, unbiased reporting.
Installing a new VOA director is a complex process beyond a simple social media announcement.
In essence, Trump's announcement functions more like a recommendation – a highly impactful one.
His statement specifies that Lake will be appointed by the next US Agency for Global Media leader, who Trump will soon reveal.
Reforming VOA
During Trump's first term, it took two years for his appointed head of the agency, Michael Pack, to gain Senate confirmation. Once confirmed, Pack instigated turmoil inside VOA, dismissing network leaders, packing boards with Trump supporters, reportedly attempting to manipulate news coverage, and recruiting political appointees to investigate a VOA White House reporter for alleged bias against Trump.
Supporting these actions, certain conservatives were pleased. However, a federal investigation subsequently investigated whisleblower complaints and disclosed an extensive list of misconduct.
As a consequence, Congress enacted reforms. The International Broadcasting Advisory Board is now tasked with collaborating with the U.S. Agency of Global Media's CEO. By law, the VOA head can only be “appointed or removed” by a board majority vote.
This extensive bureaucracy is intended to maintain some autonomy for broadcasters.
This is why Trump's announcement of Lake is perceived as "putting the cart before the horse" by a VOA veteran.
The advisory board recently swore in a new VOA director, Michael Abramowitz, a few months prior. Abramowitz, a former Washington Post correspondent and Freedom House president, maintains that VOA's mission is to produce "accurate, comprehensive, and objective news and [tell] America's story to people worldwide, many of whom have no other source of information."
Trump, during his statement, described this mission in more overtly political terms. He claimed that Lake – who vehemently criticized American journalists during her two unsuccessful Arizona election bids – will "ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast worldwide FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, as opposed to the falsehoods spread by the Fake News Media."
Anonymously speaking to CNN, a VOA employee expressed that Abramowitz has been well-received in the organization, while "many of us are alarmed" by the prospect of Lake replacing him.
First, Trump must nominate someone to head the U.S. Agency of Global Media. Then, this individual and the advisory board will consider the VOA position. The advisory board's composition will shift towards Republican affiliation next year due to one member from Trump's State Department. However, the remaining board members' terms provide some protection from political pressure.
Reached on Wednesday night, current board chair Kenneth Jarin, a Biden appointee with two more years on the board, had no comment.
The business community and media outlets are eagerly watching the potential appointment of Kari Lake as the Director of Voice of America (VOA), given her past criticisms of the media and advocacy for election conspiracies. This move could potentially lead to disputes over VOA's journalistic integrity and commitment to promoting democratic values internationally.
The announcement of Lake as the potential VOA Director has raised concerns among some employees, with one stating, "We're crossing our fingers that the safeguards will hold." This sentiment reflects the importance of maintaining the organization's firewall and commitment to objective, unbiased reporting.
