Head of U.S. Government News Agency Rejects Twitter’s ‘Government-Funded’ Label
The United States Agency for Global Media is Fully Financed by the US Government
The head of the United States Agency for Global Media, which is entirely funded by the US government, has recently deemed it “very misleading” that Twitter designates the organization as “government-funded.” Amanda Bennett, CEO of the US Agency for Global Media, rejected Twitter’s classification during a State Department briefing when asked about Twitter’s decision around designating Voice of America, an agency subsidiary, as “government-funded media.” Twitter has given this label to several American outlets, including NPR, which is partially financed by the government.
According to a State Department transcript, Bennett stated, “We flat out reject the implications of the label ‘government-funded.’ Of course, we are government financed, but such a label has a potential to mislead.” Bennett, who is a former Voice of America director, claimed that the term could be interpreted as “government-controlled.” She affirmed that the US Agency for Global Media and all its subsidiaries are “independent” and “not government-controlled.”
It may be difficult for Bennett to make her case. The Biden administration has granted the US Agency for Global Media $840 million this fiscal year. The agency functions in 62 countries and has the task of “telling America’s story and countering anti-American propaganda.” Voice of America’s mission is to “represent America” and to “present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively.”
Recently, critics have criticized the agency for its biased coverage of world events and its loyalty to President Joe Biden. Republicans have investigated Voice of America for its prejudiced coverage of Iran. During the 2020 presidential campaign, Voice of America faced criticism as its Pakistan office published a video of Biden asking for Muslim voters’ support.
The US Agency for Global Media recently paid the liberal journalism institution Poynter Institute to teach its reporters how to be “balanced and bias-free,” says the Washington Free Beacon.
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