President-elect Donald Trump announced his decision to appoint Kari Lake as the director of Voice of America (VOA), the United States’ largest international broadcaster. The move comes after Lake, a staunch Trump ally, lost her Arizona Senate bid to Democrat Ruben Gallego in November.
Lake, a former Phoenix news anchor, and two-time Republican candidate is known for supporting Trump’s disputed claims about the 2020 election. She expressed enthusiasm for her new role, stating, “under my leadership, the VOA will excel in its mission: chronicling America’s achievements worldwide.” Her appointment requires Senate confirmation.
Voice of America, founded in 1942, operates under the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Broadcasting in 49 languages, VOA reaches an estimated 354 million people weekly. It has a staff of 2,000 and an annual budget of $260 million.
Concerns over VOA’s editorial independence have arisen, particularly during Trump’s first term, when Michael Pack, a conservative filmmaker, was appointed CEO of USAGM. Pack’s tenure included controversial decisions such as not renewing visas for international journalists, which drew criticism from Congress and advocacy groups.
Currently, John Lippman serves as VOA’s acting director, while Amanda Bennett leads USAGM as CEO.
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
