Voice of America needs to keep its objective voice

[Commentary] The Voice of America prides itself on its objective and thorough reporting in scores of countries, including many that lack their own independent media. Critics say it has drifted from its mission of reporting to the world about the United States and its policies and instead is duplicating the work of the four “surrogate broadcasters” -- Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Network -- that aim to report the news for local audiences in countries where media are restricted.

A bipartisan bill headed for the House floor would take a dangerous step toward converting the VOA into another official mouthpiece. The bill’s supporters argue that listeners already assume that VOA is meant to promote U.S. government views and that tax dollars shouldn’t support a purely journalistic operation. But VOA distinguishes itself from state services like Russia Today by embodying the democratic values of independent media and open debate. The US will never beat China and Russia in the game of official propaganda, but it can win the war of ideas -- if it doesn’t lose faith in its own principles.