VOA CEO Conflict of Interest Memo

From: Michael Pack, Chief Executive Officer U.S. Agency for Global Media To: The Voice of America, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks Date: October 2, 2020 Subject: Guidance on Conflicts of Interest Reporting the news in a mannerthatis “consistently reliable and authoritative, accurate, objective, and comprehensive” (22 U.S.C. § 6202(b)(1)) requires “fairness, objectivity & balance.” VOA Best Practices Guide, at 8 (June 2020). Managementof conflicts of interest is a key componentof maintaining fairness, objectivity, and balance. Such actual conflicts as well as even the appearanceof such conflicts in the eyes of a reasonable observer must be avoided. See, e.g., VOA Best Practices Guide, at 8-9 (June 2020); The New York Times, Ethical Journalism; The Washington Post, Policies and Standards (Jan. 1, 2016; 12:01 p.m. EST). A keypart of prophetically preventing conflicts of interest amongst journalists is compliance with social mediapolicies. See, e.g., V-A BAM 530, Social Medial Policy (July 8, 2019); VOA Best Practices, at 50 (June 2020). I write to clarify policies and provide guidance on these points. First. Policies regarding conflicts of interest and use of social media shall be enforced as written. Second. Underapplicablepolicies, conflicts of interest are not limited to those involving the recipient of money, ownershipof stock, or gifts. The rule is broader. Simply put, it is a conflict of interest for a journalist to participate personally and substantially in reporting on an issue: (1) in which they have a personalinterest or (2) have publically personally expressed a political opinion. For example, the VOA Best Practices Guide states: ( US. AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA

VOA’s mission is to provide accurate and objective news and information. To facilitate that mission, as journalists, you are expected to remain neutral andobjective in all public appearances and public spaces, including social media. That means that you should try to avoid conductor activity that would call into question your neutrality and objectivity as well as the neutrality and objectivity of VOA. > For example: If as a VOA journalist you are reporting on or otherwise working on a story regarding “X”situation,it is recommended that you avoid publicly voicing your personal opinion about that situation because such activity maycall into question yourcredibility as a journalist and could compromise VOA’s reputation as a reliable and credible news organization. VOA Best Practices Guide, at 111 (June 2020); see also, e.g., The New York Times, Ethical Journalism; The Washington Post, Policies and Standards (Jan. 1, 2016; 12:01 p.m. EST). This is a common sense principle. Recent events require explanation of the following examples, which in somecases, constitute a conflict of interest that can only be remedied by recusal. e Ifa Voice of America (“VOA”) journalist is personally affected by a potential governmentalaction, then they may not cover that issue. For example, a journalist who is workingin the United States on a J-1 visa must follow normal procedures and recuse themselves from any story involving J-1 visas. e AVOAjournalist who publically takes a personal position on an active political issue has a conflict of interest—doubly so if that issue directly affects that individual. For example, a journalist who, in their private capacity, publically criticizes the U.S. Departmentof Justice’s leadership for, among other things, implementingthepolicies and protecting the prerogatives of the Administration must recuse themselves

from reporting on the Department and thepartof the Administration implicated by thecriticism. e A VOAjournalist who expresses personalviews onpolitical topics in their personalsocial media creates the potential for a conflict of interest and should consider whetherrecusal or mitigation is required. For example, a journalist who on Facebook“likes” a commentorpolitical cartoon that aggressively attacks or disparages the President must recuse themselves from covering the President. The obligation to recuse or mitigate conflicts of interest rests with both the individual journalist and their supervisor. If a journalistfails to recuse themselves, it is the obligation of the supervisor to order recusal. Despite the informal nature of this Memorandum, it constitutes a U.S. Agency for Global Media policy, and shall be recorded in the Broadcasting Administrative Manual as such. This Memorandumis not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.