Shutdown of VOA, RFA: A major shake-up for foreign-funded media outlets
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By Phyo Lin Aung (NP News) - March 23
On March 15, the Trump administration issued a directive placing almost all 1,300 employees of Voice of America (VOA) on leave. Additionally, funding for its sister broadcasters, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, was terminated.
This new directive, signed by President Trump, has led to the suspension of operations for several U.S.-based media outlets, including VOA and RFA. Trump signed an order that effectively minimized the activities of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and six other government agencies overseeing these media organizations.
The directive has had a direct impact on news broadcasts in various languages, including Myanmar language broadcasts from VOA and RFA.
VOA’s Director, Mike Abramowitz, posted on LinkedIn, stating, “For the first time in 83 years, Voice of America has been forced to shut down.” He also noted that he himself was affected by this decision.
In addition, the U.S. government announced it would cease annual funding for RFA and its partner outlets starting on March 15, 2025. The decision was reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA), with a letter from USAGM Senior Advisor Kari Lake to RFA’s chairman stating that the funding would be terminated and any unused funds returned to the government immediately.
Earlier, the suspension of USAID impacted journalism outlets that rely on foreign funding. According to local media reports, Mizzima, one of the major news outlets in Myanmar affiliated with VOA, is among those affected by the aid freeze. Though founded in exile in 1998, Mizzima became an internal media outlet after the 2011 media liberalization under the U Thein Sein government. However, since the declaration of the emergency period, it has focused on covering opposition to Myanmar's government and has once again taken on the role of 'exile media.'
It is now reported that the news outlet Mizzima will be unable to pay its journalists and will have to suspend its broadcast services due to the funding freeze. Another outlet that can be regarded as foreign-funded media, Western News, has already reduced its staff, as confirmed by its chief editor, Wunna Khwar Nyo.
It may seem sorrowful to see these news agencies suspended. However, from the outset of Trump's inauguration, these media outlets strongly claimed they were not funded by foreign sources. In reality, when Trump's directives were implemented, these media organizations were among the hardest hit.
Since these outlets are foreign-funded, their news and reporting reflected the biases and interests of their funders. A survey of VOA Burmese reports from December 21, 2024, to January 20, 2025, revealed one news piece related to NUG/PDF, 29 news pieces supporting or inciting conflict, 22 pieces of misinformation with unreliable sources, and 427 regular news pieces.
Similarly, an analysis of RFA news for the same period showed that there were 52 news articles related to NUG/PDF, 400 news articles supporting or inciting conflict, 61 inaccurate news articles with unreliable information, and 210 regular news articles.
Like VOA and RFA, other media outlets such as the BBC, Mizzima, DVB, Irrawaddy, and Khit Thit have also been influenced by their funders’ interests, often criticizing the government’s actions and stimulating extremist forces opposing the government.
Moreover, in their reporting, these media outlets frequently cover armed conflicts by emphasizing the suffering of children, women, pregnant women, disabled individuals, and innocent civilians in the battles. Displaced people are reported to be struggling with poverty and lack of support in areas like food, clothing, healthcare, and education. Reports on the support of NUG/PDF activities, as well as interviews with individuals associated with them, have also been presented. Additionally, the suffering of the people due to power outages and other hardships, such as those in Rakhine State concerning the Bengali migrants, have been highlighted. These reports often raise public concern and have the potential to mislead public opinion.
Furthermore, instead of presenting reports that support or positively portray government actions, these outlets primarily broadcast articles that criticize and attack the government. Some reports have been written with the intent to incite conflicts. The media outlets also prioritize foreign views and opinions, positioning themselves as foreign-backed agencies that emphasize such perspectives.
When these media outlets announced that they would suspend their broadcasts for a while, it was found that most people did not express sympathy. Instead, many comments included things like, “Please don't release your news anymore, thank you. Don't appear again. Stop spreading toxic news—young people are losing their lives because of your misinformation,” and “VOA, RFA, BBC have been spreading misinformation and hate speech to divide the people of Myanmar. You reap what you sow.” This indicates that these media outlets are seen as unreliable by the people and are perceived to be fueling terror acts.
Media outlets play a crucial role in informing the public and shedding light on issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. They are often the voice of transparency, providing insight into governance, social issues, and global events. However, the bias and potential misinformation in some foreign-funded outlets cannot be ignored. These outlets, which may be influenced by external agendas, sometimes prioritize narratives that do not align with the needs or values of the local population.
Considering these risks, it could be argued that removing harmful media outlets may ultimately benefit both the people and the country. When media serves as a tool for division rather than unification, it harms the collective well-being. The focus should be on promoting platforms that genuinely prioritize truth, accuracy, and the welfare of the people they serve.