5 Comments

Mr. Mirengoff considers and rejects the idea that VOA should run critical material to show the USA enjoys a free press. I pretty much agree with his conclusion. But there is another reason why there should be some critical reporting. That is to avoid VOA from being and seeming to be a propaganda vehicle. I agree with him that VOA should be a voice for presenting to the world the positive case for the USA to the rest of the world. But it should also be and appear to be a news vehicle.. When there is important news that does not reflect well on the U.S. that should be reported, but in a way that puts it in perspective and fairly presents defense of what has been done, if any defense is available. I also think that on some matters VOA may want to present balanced discussion of various matters, that may include some critical views. There should be representatives of the reasonable critical viewpoint as well as others supporting the government's. In some cases, particularly during Democratic administrations, that may include some conservative voices, when the action in question is supported by liberals. For example, there should be conservatives criticizing things like irresponsible treatment of minors who think they are "transgender." In other cases, there should be reasonable liberals such as, for example, William Galston of the Wall Street Journal. My concern about Lake is that she may tend to be a propagandist. She also has demonstrated in her political career, a propensity for bad judgment.

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Thanks for presenting these excellent points. Perhaps the best approach for VOA would be the following, based on the lyrics on an old song written by Johnny Mercer:

Accentuate the positive.

Minimize the negative.

Hear from Mr. In-Between (but only in limited doses).

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(One mans opinion, freely given an worth ALMOST that much)

VOA Should be The Voice Of America (ALL America), not just the voice of Corporate Media, which IMO is what it has become over the decades. Its either That or get rid of it.

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It is a propaganda vehicle. That was what it was intended to be when it was created. Of course propaganda presenting true reality to those trapped in the Soviet Bloc. That is its purpose and if it's not serving it's purpose I see no reason why it should continue to exist at tax payer expense.

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I had no idea that VOA has turned into an American version of the BBC. It's original purpose of course was to give those trapped behind the Iron Curtain a taste of American style freedom. Now it's just another left wing tool to attack Western Civilization to the benefit of our enemies. Better to shut it down than to allow it to continue in this manner.

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