This bill modifies provisions related to journalistic independence and the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees public service media networks that provide news and information in countries where the press is restricted. Specifically, the bill establishes a noninterference standard that provides U.S. international broadcasting with the expectation that other U.S. government agencies or officials shall not interfere with its journalists. It also requires the Department of State and the Broadcast Board of Governors to (1) respect the professional independence and integrity of the USAGM, its broadcasting services, and its grantees; (2) protect USAGM journalists from undue interference by U.S. government agencies or officials; and (3) ensure that USAGM employees are judged solely on the basis of their adherence to professional standards of broadcast journalism. Further, the bill requires the Inspector General of the State Department and the Foreign Service to investigate any potential infringements to journalistic independence by senior USAGM officials or other federal officials.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
International Affairs
Department of StateFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment studies and investigationsInternational exchange and broadcastingNews media and reportingPolitical parties and affiliationRight of privacyU.S. Agency for Global Media
A bill to protect the independence of journalists by preventing undue political influence at the United States Agency for Global Media.
USA116th CongressS-4808| Senate
| Updated: 10/19/2020
This bill modifies provisions related to journalistic independence and the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees public service media networks that provide news and information in countries where the press is restricted. Specifically, the bill establishes a noninterference standard that provides U.S. international broadcasting with the expectation that other U.S. government agencies or officials shall not interfere with its journalists. It also requires the Department of State and the Broadcast Board of Governors to (1) respect the professional independence and integrity of the USAGM, its broadcasting services, and its grantees; (2) protect USAGM journalists from undue interference by U.S. government agencies or officials; and (3) ensure that USAGM employees are judged solely on the basis of their adherence to professional standards of broadcast journalism. Further, the bill requires the Inspector General of the State Department and the Foreign Service to investigate any potential infringements to journalistic independence by senior USAGM officials or other federal officials.
Department of StateFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment studies and investigationsInternational exchange and broadcastingNews media and reportingPolitical parties and affiliationRight of privacyU.S. Agency for Global Media