U.S. President Joe Biden’s nominee to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) pledged Tuesday to advance the agency’s mission of objectivity and balanced reporting at a time when disinformation is on the rise globally.
Former Voice of America director Amanda Bennett told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee she would be a pragmatic leader willing to adapt news delivery to whatever suits audiences best.
During the hourlong hearing, senators questioned Bennett on her record at VOA, how she would handle challenges facing the free press amid a global trend of disinformation, and USAGM’s ability to deliver news to audiences under authoritarian regimes.
If confirmed, Bennett would lead USAGM, the federal agency with an $840 million annual budget that oversees VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Middle East Broadcasting Networks and the Open Technology Foundation.
USAGM is currently led by former VOA director of programming Kelu Chao, who holds the CEO position in an acting capacity. Chao was assigned the position after Michael Pack, the last presidential appointee, resigned at Biden’s request.
In her opening remarks to the committee, Bennett spoke of the role journalism plays in society. “We’re at a critical moment in history," she said. “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.”
Bennett said she would work with all USAGM entities to maintain high journalistic standards and protect the safety and privacy of journalists and audiences.
Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, who presided over the hearing and cited Russia’s crackdown on opposition to its war in Ukraine and the threats to media globally, said, “It’s clear that [USAGM’s] mission of providing balanced and objective media to societies without a free press has never been more important.”
Senator John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming, said Bennett’s nomination comes at a time when press freedom and democracy are declining around the world.
“U.S. international broadcasting has a very important role to play with authoritarian governments [that] shut down the news and censor their people; this agency can give credible and timely and accurate information,” he said.
Senators also examined Bennett’s record while VOA director between 2016 and June 2020, when she resigned before Pack took over. During the Trump administration, the agency came under criticism from the president for using Chinese government data on coronavirus infections and deaths, implying the agency was “soft” on China, an accusation VOA vigorously disputed at the time.
Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, said he backed Bennett’s journalistic track record leading the federal agency’s news coverage during her VOA tenure.
Bennett denied the agency had provided uncritical coverage of China, saying, “My entire journalistic career has been devoted to giving truthful news and information and not advocating for any position whatsoever, especially not a repressive regime.”
Bennett’s nomination is expected to pass the Democratic-controlled committee in the coming weeks before moving to a full floor vote in the U.S. Senate.
Her journalism experience and her experience as head of VOA were cited as reasons for her suitability for the role.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist has a long career in U.S. media, including as executive editor at Bloomberg News and managing editor of newspaper. She was a reporter for the for more than two decades, including in Beijing.
Ambassador Karen Kornbluh, a former member of the USAGM’s governing board, told VOA that Bennett’s media background and knowledge of USAGM from her time as VOA director make her a strong candidate. She said Bennett could set “the standard for all who follow.”
“Her leadership is essential at a time of resurgent authoritarianism around the world — to ensure that people living under repressive regimes not only have access to accurate information but also can see models of excellent journalism in practice.”
Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee staff, speaking on background, highlighted to VOA key areas they believe the next head of the agency should focus on.