JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC

One of the less publicized areas in which President Trump has been trying to undermine journalism is his handling of the Voice of America, a government-controlled, international television and radio network funded by the U.S. federal tax budget.

Since being appointed in June to head the U.S. Agency on Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, Trump ally Michael Pack has been reaching deep into the ranks of VOA, trying to promote “friendly” reporting toward Trump and, at the same time, root out reporters and editors he regards as not sufficiently sympathetic to the Trump administration.

A die-hard conservative, Pack has no journalistic background. He has written, directed and produced more than a dozen documentary films, including two with former Trump aide Steve Bannon.

Michael Pack

Among the VOA journalists Pack investigated was Steve Herman, VOA’s White House bureau chief. Senior aides to Pack claimed, among other things, that Herman’s tweets of people relaying criticism of the president showed he was biased. Herman remains on the job despite the pressure to sideline him.

The most outrageous and brazen move, however, was Pack’s attempt, unveiled in late October, to repeal a federal rule meant to protect VOA and four other USAGM networks from editorial interference. In a statement, Pack said he was using his powers as chief executive to roll back the regulation, known as the “firewall” rule, because it was harmful to the agency’s and national interests.

VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content in 47 languages and distributes the content to affiliate stations around the globe. Its mission, as described in a story by National Public Radio, “is a form of soft diplomacy: to embody democratic principles through fair reporting and to replace a free press in countries where there is none.”

In his statement, Pack made no pretense of believing in the firewall principle, asserting that USAGM was tantamount to a cheerleader for U.S. policy. The networks’ primary goal, he said, should be “to serve United States interests through Government sponsored news abroad.”

“Because of this special mission,” his statement went on, “USAGM and its networks do not function as a traditional news or media agency and were never intended to do so. By design, their purpose and focus is foreign relations and the promotion of American objectives — not simply presenting news or engaging in journalistic expression.”

Several USAGM executives whom Pack had suspended punched back hard. They filed a federal lawsuit alleging Pack’s attempt to gut the firewall principle was unconstitutional. Joining the plaintiffs was Kelu Chao, VOA managing editor and the service’s top nonpolitical executive.

So far, their suit has been successful. Last Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell ordered USAGM and Pack to stop interfering in news coverage and editorial personnel matters. Pack and his aides’ actions, she said, amounted to a “chilling of First Amendment expression.”

VOA journalists were thrilled and relieved at the ruling. Acting VOA Director Elez Biberaj said in a statement that editorial independence and journalistic integrity were “the core elements that sustain VOA and make us America’s voice.”

“A steady 83% of VOA’s audience finds our journalism trustworthy,” he added. “There are few, if any, media organizations that can claim such trust. I am proud of our journalists who continue to uphold VOA’s traditions of providing our audience with accurate, objective and comprehensive reporting.”

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The best news of all? Like Trump, Pack will soon be packing his things and leaving office.

Back in June, Andrew Bates, a spokesman for now President-Elect Joe Biden’s campaign told Vox that Biden would be firing Pack if he won the Nov. 3 election.

“Michael Pack is decidedly unqualified,” Bates said, “and his actions risk hijacking invaluable, nonpartisan media institutions that stand up for fundamental American values like freedom and democracy in the world.”

Pack, of course, is just one of many swamp dwellers Trump put in place to try to twist the federal government into a pretzel that suited his purposes, and it will be good to see the winds of change sweeping Pack away.