DISINFO: Radio Liberty and VOA are a part of American propaganda machine and are banned in the US
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: radiovesti.ru (archived)*
  • Date of publication: June 02, 2020
  • Outlet language(s): Russian
  • Reported in: Issue 201
  • Countries / regions discussed: US
Tags:
Propaganda Media

DISINFO: Radio Liberty and VOA are a part of American propaganda machine and are banned in the US

SUMMARY

There are channels recognised as propaganda. Radio Liberty, Voice of America – they are banned from broadcasting in the USA. They are not media. Every bastard who sat on Radio Liberty and Voice of America – they generally do not have the right to call themselves journalists. They generally have nothing to do with the media. They are the wheel and cog of the American propaganda machine, which is even forbidden to broadcast on the territory of the United States. It is forbidden.

RESPONSE

No evidence is provided to support the accusation that VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty spread propaganda, nor that they are banned from broadcasting in the USA. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative aimed at discrediting Western media and journalists. RFE/RL and VOA are a part of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The U.S. Agency for Global Media and the media organisations that it supports can make their content available in broadcast quality upon request within the United States. This is due to a law that went into effect on July 2, 2013, amending the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, known as the Smith-Mundt Act. USAGM is an independent federal government agency that oversees all US civilian international media. In addition to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), it includes Voice of America, Radio and TV Marti, Radio Free Asia, Alhurra, and Radio Sawa. RFE/RL journalists report news in 22 countries where a free press is either banned by the government or not fully established. It provides a service that many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussions and open debate. One of the radios’ most successful projects is Current Time, a 24/7 television network in Russian.

USAGM networks are legally mandated to present accurate and objective news and information. The mission statements of the networks reinforce the commitment to high-quality journalism and serving as a model of the free press. All of the networks – Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV & Radio Sawa) – are considered vital, objective news sources and are frequently cited by major media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, and CNN, for their high-quality reporting on topics ranging from the tragic self-immolations in Tibet to human rights issues in Iran.

Read a similar case: "The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), known for its Radio Liberty / Radio Free Europe project, systematically spreads disinformation".

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Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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