Former US official criticises Voice of America’s 'dull broadcasts'

David J Trachtenberg is a former principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for International Security Policy at the US Department of Defense.

In today’s Christian Science Monitor he says that VOA’s editorials “are mostly vapid, uninspiring news reports posing as editorial opinions ‘reflecting the views of the United States government.’ They fail to articulate the rationale and context that would help others understand US policies. ”

Trachtenberg says that “VOA’s editorial approach appears to be influenced by fear – fear that it may say something provocative, fear that it may seem heavy-handed, fear that its journalistic integrity and credibility may suffer, fear that it may be seen as a propaganda outlet for an administration that is increasingly disliked by the audiences it targets.”

Strong stuff, and we await with interest an official reponse from VOA and/or the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

Read the OpEd

Source: Media Network