An independent voice

Voice of America exemplifies nation’s free press

Protecting the independence and journalistic integrity of the Voice of America is key to maintaining the influence of the broadcasting organization worldwide.

Millions of listeners living under oppressive regimes trust the VOA to give them fair and unbiased news. Those listeners know that the VOA, unlike world broadcasters from authoritarian regimes, is not simply a United States propaganda machine.

President Donald Trump has a beef with the VOA. Mr. Trump believes reports aired on the radio stations are too critical of his policies and those of the U.S. government.

Matt Armstrong, a Republican and former member of the board that oversaw the VOA, said the president got it wrong and that the administration’s criticism revealed a “gross” misunderstanding of the agency’s mission.

The president would make a terrible mistake to push the VOA to be a mere reflection of the views of the U.S. government or the president. Such a move could only damage the trust the VOA builds across generations of listeners around the world.

The objectivity of the VOA is what makes for a powerful impact on people who never hear anything critical of their own governments in local media. That dichotomy alone serves American interests abroad — people can dream about what could be in their own countries if a free press existed.

The president recently nominated conservative filmmaker Michael Pack to lead the VOA; his nomination continues to be considered by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. No matter who leads the agency, the independence of the broadcaster must be maintained — as required by law.

That’s right, the VOA has long had a firewall in place to protect its independence. That firewall should not be thwarted by government pressure from the president or anyone else.

Congress made law the standards incorporated in the VOA charter in 1976. Laws passed in 1994 and 2016 aimed to protect the VOA from undue influence or pressure by any U.S. government agency or official.

The VOA firewall requires government officials to respect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcaster. That isn’t simply a good idea — it is essential to the role of the VOA. Even when broadcasting a report that could be considered critical of our government or institutions, it serves an important interest.

The VOA exemplifies what a free country with a free press is about. That is good for America and American interests around the world. It is an example to those seeking freedom, and a cause of fear to totalitarian and oligarchic leaders.