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| House Measure to Change Voice of America’s Mission Is Drawing Intense Debate | House Measure to Change Voice of America’s Mission Is Drawing Intense Debate |
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| WASHINGTON — A bill to overhaul Voice of America has prompted an intense debate among supporters of the legislation who say it will better enable the broadcast news service to counter Russian disinformation and opponents who say it will turn the service into an American propaganda tool. | |
| The legislation, which recently passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee with bipartisan support, would make changes to the mission of the government-financed Voice of America that its sponsors say would more clearly define its role in support of the United States. Specifically, the bill revises the language of Voice of America’s mission to explicitly state that the outlet has a role in supporting American “public diplomacy” and the policies of the government. | The legislation, which recently passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee with bipartisan support, would make changes to the mission of the government-financed Voice of America that its sponsors say would more clearly define its role in support of the United States. Specifically, the bill revises the language of Voice of America’s mission to explicitly state that the outlet has a role in supporting American “public diplomacy” and the policies of the government. |
| The full House is expected to take up the bill as early as this summer. The Senate is working on a similar bill. | The full House is expected to take up the bill as early as this summer. The Senate is working on a similar bill. |
| Representative Ed Royce, the California Republican who is chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the legislation was essential in the face of negative and inaccurate information increasingly disseminated about the United States abroad. “While countries like Russia have been working 24/7 on their information campaigns, V.O.A. has abandoned its mission to effectively promote the policies of the U.S. even though its charter is clear in this regard,” Mr. Royce said. | Representative Ed Royce, the California Republican who is chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the legislation was essential in the face of negative and inaccurate information increasingly disseminated about the United States abroad. “While countries like Russia have been working 24/7 on their information campaigns, V.O.A. has abandoned its mission to effectively promote the policies of the U.S. even though its charter is clear in this regard,” Mr. Royce said. |
| But the bill, the latest in a decades-old debate in foreign policy circles about the role of Voice of America, has prompted a backlash from journalists, many of whom work at the news service once run by Edward R. Murrow and who pride themselves on the organization’s independence. | But the bill, the latest in a decades-old debate in foreign policy circles about the role of Voice of America, has prompted a backlash from journalists, many of whom work at the news service once run by Edward R. Murrow and who pride themselves on the organization’s independence. |
| “The only thing V.O.A. has left is its reputation, built over decades, as a credible news organization,” said one veteran journalist at the service who asked not to be identified criticizing the legislation. “Changing our focus from straight news to policy promotion will undercut any efforts to keep or build our audience.” | “The only thing V.O.A. has left is its reputation, built over decades, as a credible news organization,” said one veteran journalist at the service who asked not to be identified criticizing the legislation. “Changing our focus from straight news to policy promotion will undercut any efforts to keep or build our audience.” |
| Founded in 1942 as a part of the Office of War Information, Voice of America started with a mission to counter Nazi and Japanese propaganda. During the Cold War, it became part of the State Department and then the United States Information Agency and focused on countering Communist propaganda in East Germany and other Soviet-backed countries. Since 1999, V.O.A. has been overseen by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, an autonomous federal agency. | Founded in 1942 as a part of the Office of War Information, Voice of America started with a mission to counter Nazi and Japanese propaganda. During the Cold War, it became part of the State Department and then the United States Information Agency and focused on countering Communist propaganda in East Germany and other Soviet-backed countries. Since 1999, V.O.A. has been overseen by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, an autonomous federal agency. |
| The legislation not only tweaks the mission of Voice of America, but would also reduce the Board of Governors to an advisory role and create a full-time chief executive to run the agency day to day. The legislation is in response to longtime frustration from members of both parties with the Board of Governors, which has been accused for years of mismanagement and of failing to provide a direction for the broadcast service. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton once called the board dysfunctional. | The legislation not only tweaks the mission of Voice of America, but would also reduce the Board of Governors to an advisory role and create a full-time chief executive to run the agency day to day. The legislation is in response to longtime frustration from members of both parties with the Board of Governors, which has been accused for years of mismanagement and of failing to provide a direction for the broadcast service. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton once called the board dysfunctional. |
| Mr. Royce said the bill would not turn the broadcast service into a government messaging tool because it provided safeguards to keep the government from dictating content. | Mr. Royce said the bill would not turn the broadcast service into a government messaging tool because it provided safeguards to keep the government from dictating content. |
| Walter Isaacson, a former chairman of the Board of Governors as well as a former chairman and chief executive of CNN, said that the legislation was a response to changing times and that Voice of America should have a dual mission to clearly present American policy as well as provide objective news. | Walter Isaacson, a former chairman of the Board of Governors as well as a former chairman and chief executive of CNN, said that the legislation was a response to changing times and that Voice of America should have a dual mission to clearly present American policy as well as provide objective news. |
| “Russia has returned to its old Pravda-like disinformation tactics, China and the Arab nations are creating sophisticated new broadcasts, and Twitter and social networks are changing the game,” Mr. Isaacson said. “We need to respect Edward R. Murrow’s legacy while realizing that even he would be changing with the new technologies and threats.” | “Russia has returned to its old Pravda-like disinformation tactics, China and the Arab nations are creating sophisticated new broadcasts, and Twitter and social networks are changing the game,” Mr. Isaacson said. “We need to respect Edward R. Murrow’s legacy while realizing that even he would be changing with the new technologies and threats.” |
| James K. Glassman, another former board chairman, said he agreed with the move to tweak the mission of Voice of America. “It’s supposed to be this journalism organization and at the same time support U.S. foreign policy,” Mr. Glassman said. “This comes into conflict all the time, and I believe Congress is right to address it.” | James K. Glassman, another former board chairman, said he agreed with the move to tweak the mission of Voice of America. “It’s supposed to be this journalism organization and at the same time support U.S. foreign policy,” Mr. Glassman said. “This comes into conflict all the time, and I believe Congress is right to address it.” |
| But D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, a former member of the Board of Governors, called the legislation problematic because, he said, it would fundamentally change the way the service operated. | But D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, a former member of the Board of Governors, called the legislation problematic because, he said, it would fundamentally change the way the service operated. |
| “The V.O.A. has a pure journalistic mission and it always has,” Mr. Hirschberg said. “It doesn’t do messaging or propaganda. Any legislation that alters the journalistic mission would be unfortunate.” | “The V.O.A. has a pure journalistic mission and it always has,” Mr. Hirschberg said. “It doesn’t do messaging or propaganda. Any legislation that alters the journalistic mission would be unfortunate.” |
| Inside Voice of America, the legislation has created widespread fear among staff members who have long considered themselves professional journalists rather than spokesmen for government policy. During a recent staff meeting, journalists angrily voiced their concerns to managers. One journalist said the broadcast network could see a mass exodus if the legislation passed. | Inside Voice of America, the legislation has created widespread fear among staff members who have long considered themselves professional journalists rather than spokesmen for government policy. During a recent staff meeting, journalists angrily voiced their concerns to managers. One journalist said the broadcast network could see a mass exodus if the legislation passed. |
| Dan Robinson, who worked at the service for more than two decades before retiring this year, said the legislation would create additional problems if passed into law: It could endanger the lives of journalists and broadcasters who work abroad. | Dan Robinson, who worked at the service for more than two decades before retiring this year, said the legislation would create additional problems if passed into law: It could endanger the lives of journalists and broadcasters who work abroad. |
| “So do foreign governments now start seeing journalists from V.O.A. as agents of U.S. policy rather than as journalists?” he said. “That’s a real concern.” | “So do foreign governments now start seeing journalists from V.O.A. as agents of U.S. policy rather than as journalists?” he said. “That’s a real concern.” |
| But Helle C. Dale, a senior fellow for public diplomacy at the Heritage Foundation, who supports changes to overhaul Voice of America and other international broadcasting, said such claims were absurd. | But Helle C. Dale, a senior fellow for public diplomacy at the Heritage Foundation, who supports changes to overhaul Voice of America and other international broadcasting, said such claims were absurd. |
| “It’s not like people don’t already know,” she said. “It’s completely funded by the U.S. government, and it’s called the Voice of America. How does this legislation change this reality?” | “It’s not like people don’t already know,” she said. “It’s completely funded by the U.S. government, and it’s called the Voice of America. How does this legislation change this reality?” |
| In addition to Voice of America, the federal government runs Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Under the legislation, those broadcast outlets would be reorganized into a single organization called the Freedom News Network. | In addition to Voice of America, the federal government runs Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Under the legislation, those broadcast outlets would be reorganized into a single organization called the Freedom News Network. |