On Sunday, October 4, 2020, National Public Radio (NPR) reported that two political appointees overseeing Voice of America launched an investigation and compiled a confidential report alleging that Steve Herman, VOA’s White House bureau chief, was biased against President Donald Trump.
We condemn any action taken that undermines the journalistic independence of VOA. AAJA stands with Steve Herman, a long-time AAJA member and board member of the Washington, D.C., chapter of AAJA, and we stand behind a free press, independent of government interference, especially in this moment when a free press is crucial to Americans’ well-being and full participation in democratic processes.