IPI dismayed by Voice of America news director's removal. deNesnera was apparently removed due to his emphasis on editorial independence and a fair and balanced news reporting.
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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PRESS RELEASE/ALERT - UNITED STATES
6 July 2004
IPI dismayed by Voice of America news director's removal
SOURCE: International Press Institute (IPI), Vienna
(IPI/IFEX) - The following is an IPI press release:
Vienna, 6 July 2004
IPI Dismayed by VOA News Director's Removal
On 1 July, Andre deNesnera was removed from his position as news director of
the Voice of America (VOA) and assigned a reporting job as VOA diplomatic
correspondent. The reorganisation to the newsroom was carried out by the
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) without warning and left many staff
feeling concerned.
VOA news director since March 2000, deNesnera oversaw a newsroom that
emphasised editorial independence and affirmed fair and balanced news
reporting. In September 2001, deNesnera withstood pressure from the state
department to suppress an interview with the leader of Afghanistan's ruling
Taliban militia, Mullah Mohammed Omar.
When writing to staff on the subject of the Mullah Omar interview, deNesnera
said, "I want to commend you for the sterling work all of you have done
during these trying times - and I urge you not to fall under the spell of
'self-censorship.' If you do, 'they' have won." In June 2002, deNesnera
received a "constructive dissent" award from the American Foreign Service
Association for preserving the integrity of the VOA's news broadcasts.
Speaking of deNesnera's removal, IPI Director Johann P. Fritz said, "I am
worried that this is the first step in dismantling the VOA's news structure.
As news director, deNesnera stood for the fundamental right of editors and
journalists to set the news agenda themselves and his demotion sends the
wrong message to both his former staff and any successor."
"From now on, VOA journalists will be fearful for their jobs if they dare
criticise decisions and the future news director will have a clear precedent
that says, 'If you defy the BBG or the state department, there is a price to
be paid.' The net effect will be that individuals unconnected to the news
service will play a greater role in deciding content; something which is
profoundly damaging to the credibility of the organisation."
"I am also concerned that deNesnera's removal is one of a series of
decisions that reveal a disregard for the editorial independence and news
values that have served the United States well in the past. At a time when
there is a desperate need for a greater understanding of America's policies,
particularly in the Middle East, the VOA, which for decades has successfully
undertaken this role, appears to have been neglected in favour of other
organisations."
"News services such as Radio Sawa, the satellite television station al-Hurra
and Radio Farda, are not governed by the VOA's charter which entrenches
balanced reporting. Their formats also radically depart from that of the
VOA's. Several of the services emphasise music and soft-news over hard
breaking news with the consequence that many important news stories are not
reported as and when they happen," Fritz added.
"By taking this route, I am afraid the good work of U.S. international
broadcasting services will be undermined. The U.S. government should
remember that it takes decades of hard work to build a solid reputation for
balanced and fair news reporting but only seconds to lose it."
For further information, contact IPI at Spiegelgasse 2/29, A-1010 Vienna,
Austria, tel: +43 1 512 90 11, fax: +43 1 512 90 14, e-mail: Michael Kudlak
at mkudlak@freemedia.at, Diana Orlova at info@freemedia.at, or David Dadge
at ddadge@freemedia.at, Internet site: http://www.freemedia.at
The information contained in this press release/alert is the sole
responsibility of IPI. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit IPI.
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thanks for the update
Posted by: Chris at January 8, 2006 10:18 AM