Statement on the broadcast suspend of Voice of America and financial suspend of Radio Liberty
We could have expected Radio Liberty, Voice of America, or other media committed to truth and democracy to be silenced by Russia or other totalitarian states.
What we could not have expected is that this decision would come from the government of the United States—a country that has, for decades, at least declared its commitment to democracy and freedom.
The highest standards of journalism presented by Radio Liberty and Voice of America for decades have served as models in our part of the world, providing rigorous reporting, in-depth analysis, and courageous investigations. They have served as a safeguard against corruption, the weaponization of information, and authoritarian attempts to suppress democracy.
Now, that safeguard is gone.
If the new world we are entering is one where information is produced and distributed primarily by algorithms—rather than by teams of professional journalists committed to impartial standards—then we, as humankind, are doomed.
We call on the U.S. administration to immediately renew the work of these media outlets.
Statement signed:
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