A bill to protect the independence of journalists by preventing undue political influence at the United States Agency for Global Media.

Bill: 116-s-4808
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2020-10-19
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Department of State

Federal officials

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government studies and investigations

International exchange and broadcasting

News media and reporting

Political parties and affiliation

Right of privacy

U.S. Agency for Global Media
Latest action: action_date: 2020-10-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-10-19
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill modifies provisions related to journalistic independence and the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees public service media networks that provide news and information in countries where the press is restricted.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill establishes a noninterference standard that provides U.S. international broadcasting with the expectation that other U.S. government agencies or officials shall not interfere with its journalists. It also requires the Department of State and the Broadcast Board of Governors to (1) respect the professional independence and integrity of the USAGM, its broadcasting services, and its grantees; (2) protect USAGM journalists from undue interference by U.S. government agencies or officials; and (3) ensure that USAGM employees are judged solely on the basis of their adherence to professional standards of broadcast journalism.</p> <p>Further, the bill requires the Inspector General of the State Department and the Foreign Service to investigate any potential infringements to journalistic independence by senior USAGM officials or other federal officials. </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4808 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 19, 2020 Mr. Murphy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To protect the independence of journalists by preventing undue political influence at the United States Agency for Global Media.

1. Noninterference standards for United States international broadcasting Section 303(a) of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 ( 22 U.S.C. 6202(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (7), by striking and at the end; (2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (9) expect noninterference from other United States Government agencies or officials with respect to its journalists, particularly any investigation into the private political views expressed by its journalists. . 2. Responsibility of Chief Executive Officer to protect journalists and other employees from undue influence and adverse actions based on expression of political views Section 305(b) of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 ( 22 U.S.C. 6204(b) ) is amended— (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting and journalists after broadcasters ; (2) by striking the Board each place such term appears and inserting the United States Agency for Global Media ; (3) by striking shall respect and inserting the following: “shall— (2) respect ; and (4) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (2) protect United States Agency for Global Media journalists from any undue interference from United States Government agencies or officials; and (3) ensure that United States Agency for Global Media employees are judged solely on the basis of their adherence to professional standards of broadcast journalism in the course of their work. . 3. Investigation of infringements to journalist independence by the Inspector General Section 310A of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 ( 22 U.S.C. 6209 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking Broadcasting Board of Governors and inserting United States Agency for Global Media ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (c) Investigation of infringements to journalist independence The Inspector General of the Department of State and the Foreign Service shall, in the course of his or her duties, investigate any potential infringements to journalistic independence by United States Agency for Global Media senior officials or other Federal officials, including informal and formal attempts to influence the content of broadcasts or to exert pressure on journalists. .