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On World Press Freedom Day, 3 May, The Guardian published an investigation warning that a reduction in US involvement in supporting independent journalism around the world would have profound consequences.
The key blow, according to experts, was Donald Trump’s decision in March to effectively shut down the Voice of America (VOA), a global broadcaster founded in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda. Broadcasting in 49 languages, reaching more than 425 million people, was stopped.
“For a lot of societies that don’t have access to independent news, it was like the United States just disappeared,” said VOA chief correspondent Steve Herman.
In addition, the Trump administration has cut off funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a key source of independent information for Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Such decisions were welcomed by representatives of authoritarian regimes: in Russia, China, and Azerbaijan, they were called a “victory”.
“This is a profoundly destructive move that will be difficult to undo. Trump has effectively destroyed something that was a value – the independent press,” said Martin Baron, a well-known American journalist.
The Guardian emphasises that with 3/4 of the world’s countries lacking free media, the US abandoning its leadership in the field of free speech opens the door to propaganda and disinformation.
