We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/ScriptUS CONGRESS – USAGM (TV)
HEADLINE: US Senators Consider Former VOA Director to Head US Agency for Global Media
TEASER: Amanda Bennett tells senators independent US broadcasting sets crucial example worldwide
PUBLISHED AT: 06/07/2022 at 9:17 p.m.
BYLINE: Katherine Gypson
PRODUCERS: Katherine Gypson
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Bowman, Mia Bush
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, feeds
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:00
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE:
))
((TV/web intro: ))
[[A key U.S. Senate committee considered on Tuesday President Joe Biden’s pick to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Amanda Bennett, a former director of the Voice of America, faced questions about the challenges U.S. international broadcasting faces from changing technologies, threats to journalists and suppression of a free press worldwide. VOA’s congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson has more.]]
((Narrator))
Amanda Bennett, a former director of the Voice of America, now the White House’s nominee to head the six entities of U.S. global broadcasting with an annual budget of more than $840 million.
((Amanda Bennett, USAGM CEO Nominee))
“We're at a critical moment in history. Journalism and public diplomacy alike are targeted as never before by authoritarian regimes using myths and disinformation to undermine those seeking credible, fact-based and unbiased coverage of the world around them. Journalism has been my life.”
((Narrator))
A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, editor and manager for decades in addition to her time at VOA, Bennett would be the second Senate-confirmed chief executive officer for the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The first CEO – conservative filmmaker Michael Pack – resigned at the Biden administration’s request in 2021 after a controversial tenure marked by concerns about the independence of the agency under his leadership.
((Senator Brian Schatz, Democrat))
“How are we going to maintain the reputation of USAGM and restore the sense among people on both sides of the aisle and across the planet that you are not doing anybody's
bidding other than the bidding of fair and accurate information and the dissemination of facts across the planet?”
((Amanda Bennett, USAGM Nominee))
“In my nearly 50-year career in journalism, I have striven to make sure that I uphold the principles of neutrality, non-partisanship, unbiased reporting and journalism, and I intend to keep on fulfilling those principles and those are the principles that USAGM wants at its very heart and soul to maintain and there's no room for partisanship inside the Voice of America.”
((Narrator))
But critics have alleged that during Bennett’s tenure, morale dropped and VOA coverage of China’s handling of the coronavirus was “soft.” She defended her record reporting on authoritarian regimes and heard from Republicans who encouraged USAGM to combat propaganda worldwide.
((Senator John Barrasso, Republican))
((MRT Clip to Come))
“At a time when press freedom and democracy are starting to decline, U.S. international broadcasting has a very important role to play. With authoritarian government shut down the news and censor their people, this agency can give credible and timely and accurate information. There's a need to provide the international community with balance and objectivity – this is especially true in areas of the world where disinformation, propaganda and terrorist ideology dominate the news.”
((Narrator))
((Broll of Capitol Dome, Senate floor))
Bennett’s nomination is expected to pass the Democratic-controlled committee in the coming weeks before moving to a floor vote in the full Senate.
((Katherine Gypson, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Washington , D.C.
Embargo DateJune 7, 2022 21:35 EDT
Byline((Katherine Gypson, VOA News, Washington))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
