USAGM Watch Media Commentary
“Voice of America junket shows it needs new leadership“
By
Michael Rubin in The Washington Examiner, February 23, 2023
So where does the money Congress dispenses to VOA go? According to acting director Yolanda Lopez’s weekly email, junkets are high on the list. …
While Lopez and Amanda Bennett, the CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, cut back on shortwave and radio broadcasting, often the only media target audiences can access in times of war and revolution, is it a wise strategic choice to divert funds to a mission that Netflix could provide at no cost to taxpayers? Unfortunately, it seems that VOA leadership increasingly treats its budget as a slush fund for vanity projects. …
VOA is home to many professionals whose commitment to their core mission is lifelong. They chose VOA for a purpose and resent its treatment by its appointed leadership as a resume builder …
