TRANSCRIPT:
Voice of America in everybody’s — in decent people’s — opinions is worth[while] because it’s part of pluralism in media, which is very important to everybody around the world. The existence of the Voice of America is important, and media outlets led by professional, ethical journalists, like those at VOA is crucial. These platforms are essential for preserving the pluralism, which is needed across all continents.
The United States, along with the rest of the world, must recognize the importance of maintaining diverse and independent media voices. The more media outlets and the more journalists there are, the stronger the pluralism, and the healthier the democratic discourse.
Politicians have no place in banning or silencing independent media. Any media outlet that operates standards is a legitimate part of press freedom and should be protected as such.
Published
Pradalié is president of the International Federation of Journalists and a longtime French public broadcasting journalist. Her career included work at ORTF and France Télévisions, where she served in a variety of field and management roles.