MLSA - One of the most established broadcasting institutions funded by the public budget of the United States, Voice of America (VOA), was condemned to silence in March with an executive order signed during Donald Trump’s second presidential term. The silencing of the 83-year-old institution, which broadcasts in 49 languages including Turkish, signifies a worrying rupture not only for American media, but also for journalists trying to report news under pressure from authoritarian regimes.
According to the news report published in Journo by journalist Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu, with the executive order signed by Trump in March, VOA’s budget was cut; approximately 1,000 journalists either became unemployed or were put on compulsory leave. The day after its publication, news broadcasts on radio and TV channels were replaced with music programs.
A Washington-based federal judge described this decision as a “violation of press freedom” and on April 22 issued a stay of execution. However, on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, a scene familiar from Turkey was staged in the United States as well: upon the government’s objection, the appellate court stepped in and overturned the stay of execution.
Although Judge Cornelia Pillard emphasized that the decision would cause “irreparable harm,” with the majority formed by two other judges appointed during the Trump era, VOA’s hope of broadcasting again was postponed to another spring.
The window from VOA Turkish looking toward Turkey also closed
Freelance journalists who have been following developments in Turkey for VOA Turkish for more than 12 years were also directly affected by this process. As of March 15, payments to “stringer” journalists around the world were halted, and like many of her colleagues, Yazıcıoğlu also became unemployed.
VOA Turkish had been targeted in Turkey with the SETA report in 2019, and later in 2022 its website was blocked under license pressure from RTÜK. However, after technical support from the central office ended, the broadcasts that had continued with the “mirror site” method also effectively came to an end.
International reaction: Harm to democracy, support to authoritarian regimes
The decision drew reactions not only from within the United States but also from public broadcasters in Europe. France Médias Monde and Deutsche Welle described the decision as “a blow to press freedom” in a joint statement. The International Press Institute (IPI) warned, “This move will strengthen autocrats.”
Journalism suspended, those who made a living from journalism were victimized
As of today, VOA’s restarting its broadcasts depends on the U.S. Congress reapproving the budget in October. Otherwise, all personnel, including civil servants, will be unemployed. For freelance journalists in many countries including Turkey, the process has already ended.
These developments were recorded as a striking example of how journalism can be disrupted not only in authoritarian regimes but also in countries that claim to be democratic, through interference from those in power.
Resource: Journo - Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu
