Trump Admin Targets VOA Persian, Alleging Pro-Iran Bias – By Adam Kredo (Free Beacon) / June 16 2020
After years of complaints, administration pushes major reform at VOA’s Iran service
The Trump administration is seeking to implement a series of major reforms at Voice of America’s Persian News Network, an effort that comes after years of complaints alleging the outlet has exhibited a pro-Iran bias in its reporting, senior U.S. officials told the Washington Free Beacon.
VOA Persian, a taxpayer-funded news service that broadcasts in Farsi with the mission of countering the hardline Iranian regime’s anti-U.S. propaganda, has long been a source of frustration for Iranian dissidents and anti-regime voices in Congress. Its broadcasts, critics allege, consistently portray Iran’s government in a glowing light, undermining the outlet’s mission of providing an unvarnished view of the Middle East.
After years of complaints and investigations by Congress, the Trump administration is taking action, according to Brian Hook, the State Department’s top Iran envoy. Hook and other senior U.S. officials told the Free Beacon that the administration is pushing a series of reforms at VOA Persian that include a change in leadership, a complete overhaul of its programming, and new mandates to ensure coverage no longer fetes the Iranian regime.
Hook said the recent Senate confirmation of Michael Pack as the new head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, VOA’s governing body, has paved the way for the administration to root out corruption and mismanagement at VOA. Pack, a conservative filmmaker and Trump ally, has been viewed with contempt by top VOA officials. Since his appointment earlier this month, two top VOA executives stepped down, citing concerns the outlet would no longer retain its editorial independence. Trump supporters, however, view Pack as an agent for change at a taxpayer-funded organization that has long faced accusations of liberal bias.
Trump has been vocal about his distaste for VOA’s coverage, which is often critical of his administration and its policies.
Continue to article: https://freebeacon.com/national-security/trump-admin-targets-voa-persian-alleging-pro-iran-bias/
