The Challenge at Voice of America: A New Director Proposed

Voice of America (VOA) is an international news broadcaster funded by the US government. Usually, presidents don’t choose VOA’s director. But President-elect Donald Trump has a different idea. He proposed Kari Lake, a former local TV anchor who has criticized media and denied a US election result. Journalists at VOA worry about what this could mean for their job. VOA is part of the US Agency for Global Media. They make award-winning journalism and promote democratic values worldwide. They say they have rules to keep US officials from interfering with their news. Current VOA director, Michael Abramowitz, is well-liked. But Trump thinks Lake should take over. He says she will share American values fairly and accurately. During Trump’s first term, his pick for the agency, Michael Pack, caused trouble. He dismissed leaders, stacked boards with loyalists, and tried to change news coverage. A federal investigation found many problems. After this, Congress made changes to protect VOA’s independence. Now, Trump wants to put Lake in charge. But first, he needs to choose a new head for the US Agency for Global Media. Only then can Lake be considered for VOA. Many VOA employees are worried about this change. They like Abramowitz but fear what Lake might do.