Voices supporting VOA
David Phillips
Director of the Program on Peace-building and Human Rights, Columbia University
TRANSCRIPT:
Voice of America was founded to counter Nazi propaganda. It responded to the communist takeover in Eastern Europe. It also provided an effective response to the Hamas attack on October 7th, 2023.
U.S. foreign policy interests need a tool, an instrument, and with editorial independence, to provide the facts and the truth. Voice of America is important to the U.S. because it provides an objective and reliable, authoritative news source.
It’s not only a form of soft power. It also is an instrument for organizing America’s advocacy and profiling its policy positions around the world. When you silence Voice of America, you not only silence U.S. journalism, you also silence all of its listeners who tune in for news and for information about U.S. policy.
It’s a vital tool for the U.S. to advance its interests and to build partnerships around the world. I’m a big believer in Voice of America and I strongly endorse it and recommend the continuing support by the U.S. Congress for its operations.
Published
Phillips directs Columbia University’s Program on Peace-building and Human Rights and has worked on conflict resolution, human rights and diplomacy.