{"id":46559,"date":"2020-11-22T08:30:40","date_gmt":"2020-11-22T12:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=46559"},"modified":"2020-11-22T08:31:07","modified_gmt":"2020-11-22T12:31:07","slug":"radio-waves-potential-for-change-at-usagm-judge-rules-pack-unconstitutionally-interfered-with-voa-solar-cycle-25-could-be-strong-and-def-con-ham-radio-videos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/radio-waves-potential-for-change-at-usagm-judge-rules-pack-unconstitutionally-interfered-with-voa-solar-cycle-25-could-be-strong-and-def-con-ham-radio-videos\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio Waves: Potential for Change at USAGM, Judge Rules Pack Unconstitutionally Interfered With VOA, Solar Cycle 25 Could be Strong, and DEF CON Ham Radio Videos"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio<\/h2>\n

Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em>\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s<\/em> Radio Waves<\/em>, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0<\/strong>Enjoy!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em> contributors Dan Robinson and Eric McFadden for the following tips:<\/p>\n

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The Biden Choice on USAGM: Business as usual, or major change (USC Center on Public Diplomancy)<\/a><\/h3>\n

Several years ago, I wrote about ongoing problems at Voice of America and its parent agency, which re-branded in 2018 as the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), and how Donald Trump would deal with them.<\/p>\n

I suggested that the Voice of America could be shut down with little impact on the global media scene. This sparked outrage in some quarters, especially from those invested in perpetuating the yearly $600 million to $800 million taxpayer-funded media structure aimed at foreign audiences.<\/p>\n

Space limitations prohibit a thorough review of events since Donald Trump’s nominee to head USAGM, Michael Pack, finally achieved Senate confirmation and took up his post after being blocked for two years by Democrats and some anti-Trump Republicans.<\/p>\n

Pack faced a wave of hit pieces by major anti-Trump media as he moved to gain control of the bloated and entrenched USAGM bureaucracy, confront security issues at USAGM, and tackle political bias at VOA. His removal of key officials in charge of USAGM networks is still being fought out in the courts.[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Trump Appointee Unconstitutionally Interfered With VOA, Judge Rules (NPR)<\/a><\/h3>\n

The chief executive over the Voice of America and its sister networks has acted unconstitutionally in investigating what he claimed was a deep-seated bias against President Trump by his own journalists, a federal judge has ruled.<\/p>\n

Citing the journalists’ First Amendment protections, U.S. Judge Beryl Howell on Friday evening ordered U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack to stop interfering in the news service’s news coverage and editorial personnel matters. She struck a deep blow at Pack’s authority to continue to force the news agency to cover the president more sympathetically.<\/p>\n

Actions by Pack and his aides have likely “violated and continue to violate [journalists’] First Amendment rights because, among other unconstitutional effects, they result in self-censorship and the chilling of First Amendment expression,” Howell wrote in her opinion. “These current and unanticipated harms are sufficient to demonstrate irreparable harm.”[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n