Judge rules against Trump global media chief after firings

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has ruled against the head of the agency that runs the Voice of America and other U.S.-funded news outlets who was accused of trying to turn it into a propaganda vehicle to promote President Donald Trump’s agenda.

The ruling effectively bars U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack from making personnel decisions and interfering in editorial operations.

Pack, a conservative filmmaker, Trump ally and onetime associate of former Trump political adviser Steve Bannon, made no secret of his intent to shake up the agency after taking over in June.

He proceeded to purge the leadership at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks and the Open Technology Fund, which works to provide secure internet access to people around the world. The director and deputy director of VOA resigned just days before the firings. Pack also dismissed their governing boards.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/judge-rules-against-trump-global-media-chief-after-firings/ar-BB1bensd?ocid=DELLDHP&li=BBnbfcL

[Blue Owl]

1. Donald J. tRump's no good, very bad November

Damn it feels good to finally see this little prick get some of what's coming to him...

[iluvtennis]

4. +1. nt

[gademocrat7]

2. Good news..

[BlueIdaho]

3. Looks like judges are helping move the transition process along.

Never too soon to start gutting the Trump administration.

[Lonestarblue]

5. I hope Biden can get some of the experienced professionals back in their old jobs.

Trump has filled the government with useless sycophants whose only purpose is to praise their Dear Leader.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Another part of the Trump hostile takeover of America

straight from corporate world

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. Adding a link:

Media

Judge slaps down Trump appointee who has sought to reshape Voice of America and related agencies

By Paul Farhi
November 21, 2020 at 12:24 a.m. EST

A federal judge issued a series of preliminary injunctions against a Trump appointee who has enacted sweeping and controversial changes at Voice of America and other government-funded news networks, effectively stopping the appointee’s efforts to reshape the international broadcasters. ... The ruling late Friday by Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell in Washington was a setback for Michael Pack, who in June took over VOA’s parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), and immediately set about firing senior leaders and disbanding oversight boards.

Pack had asserted the right to direct how journalists at VOA and sister networks such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia covered the news, a violation of the traditional “firewall” that ensures the networks aren’t government mouthpieces. Pack’s declaration was viewed by journalists at the networks as both alarming and ironic, given that their broadcasts — which are intended to counter foreign government’s official censorship and propaganda — would themselves be subjected to potential censorship by a political appointee of the U.S. government.

Pack’s actions and statements, including evidence-free suggestions that VOA was a nest of foreign spies, raised concerns that Pack was seeking to create news favorable to President Trump, his political patron.

Howell’s ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed last month by five senior executives at USAGM whom Pack had fired or suspended in August in what was seen as a purge of those opposed to Pack’s plans. The former employees sought to stop Pack from interfering in the editorial affairs of the broadcasters his agency oversees.

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Paul Farhi
Paul Farhi is The Washington Post's media reporter. He started at The Post in 1988 and has been a financial reporter, a political reporter and a Style reporter. Follow https://twitter.com/farhip