Foreign reporters who work for Voice of America (VOA) will not get their visas extended once they expire, according to an NPR report.
NPR, citing three anonymous sources, said Michael Pack, the CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), has signaled he will not approve the visa renewals. USAGM, formerly the Broadcasting Board of Governors, is the agency that runs state-owned media, including VOA.
Pack was first tagged for the top job by President Trump in 2018, but was only confirmed by the Senate this June.
On Wednesday, he fired Radio Free Asia chief Bay Fang, according to the NPR report.
Under Pack, top media executives have left USAGM agencies, including former VOA Director Amanda Bennett, who resigned shortly after his appointment.
The decision not to renew visas could hobble VOA’s operations, as the media conglomerate depends on native speakers of foreign languages to produce its content.
VOA’s content, generally regarded as politically neutral by U.S. standards, is targeted to audiences around the world, particularly in countries that lack independent media coverage.
The agency, however, has been criticized by foreign rivals as transmitting pro-American propaganda.
Some foreign-born VOA journalists are nationals of countries where persecution of journalists is common, and could potentially face danger for their work if they were forced to return to their countries of origin.
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JUST IN: US Global media agency won't extend visas to Voice of America's foreign journalists: report https://t.co/ErE0msK8sV
— The Hill (@thehill) July 9, 2020
I’ve known Pack for nearly 30 years. Never would have predicted he’d end up in this role. https://t.co/acSnyXjfwn
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) July 9, 2020
Exactly what you'd think, exactly what Trumpers want, and exactly the reason the Board for International Broadcasting should never have been put under control of the White House (which happened in the last Obama NDAA, ironically enough). https://t.co/anRwHUfc8H
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 9, 2020
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