The U.S. Agency for Global Media on Thursday announced that journalist-turned-politician Kari Lake will join the agency as a special adviser.
A journalist for 30 years, Lake was named by President Donald Trump in December as the person he would like to have lead Voice of America (VOA).
Lake’s selection for that role has been slowed while Trump’s pick to head the USAGM — conservative political activist and writer L. Brent Bozell III — awaits his Senate confirmation hearing.
The agency is also waiting for a new bipartisan board to be installed, which will work alongside the CEO on issues including appointing or dismissing network heads.
Roman Napoli announced Lake’s arrival in an email to the staff. Napoli is carrying out the duties of USAGM chief executive; the previous head, Amanda Bennett, resigned.
Lake “brings a wealth of experience in broadcast journalism, having spent more than two decades as an anchor and reporter in major media markets,” Napoli wrote.
In highlighting her accomplishments, Napoli said Lake had interviewed leaders, including two U.S. presidents, and had been awarded two Emmys for international reporting.
“As Senior Advisor of the Trump Administration, Kari will help USAGM implement the policies and strategies needed to streamline the agency, its networks, and its grantees,” the email said.
USAGM oversees several entities dedicated to reporting news and combating censorship that have a combined weekly audience reach of more than 420 million. Those organizations include VOA, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and the nonprofits Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Open Technology Fund and Frontline Media Fund.
As well as overseeing the independent networks, USAGM has a stated mission to “inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.”
In his email to the staff, Napoli said Lake’s experience “will be invaluable as we continue our mission to clearly and effectively present the policies of the Trump Administration around the world.”
USAGM’s public affairs department did not immediately respond to VOA’s request for comment.
An editorial firewall prevents USAGM from involvement in the journalistic output of the entities it oversees.
The media outlets under USAGM have been combating disinformation and propaganda since VOA’s first broadcasts in Nazi Germany during World War II. It has also attracted criticism for alleged bias, coverage, mismanagement and security lapses including vetting of staff.
Lake referenced some of the criticism directed at USAGM in her remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week.
Lake told the audience that as VOA director she will focus the news agency on producing “accurate and honest reporting.”
“VOA has been telling America’s story to the world for 83 years this Monday. Sometimes the coverage has been incredible and sometimes it’s been pitiful,” Lake said. “We are fighting an information war, and there’s no better weapon than the truth, and I believe VOA could be that weapon.”
Among those who have called for the network to be cut is Trump special adviser Elon Musk.
“We won’t become Trump TV,” she said, “but it sure as hell will not be ‘TDS TV.’ You can find all the Trump Derangement Syndrome that you want over on CNN, MSNBC, PBS, ’60 Minutes,’ The Washington Post and The New York Times.”
As well as a background in journalism, Lake has more recently been a politician.
She left her job at an Arizona news station over what she has said she felt was disinformation about the pandemic. She ran unsuccessfully for governor of Arizona and challenged her loss in lawsuits. A run for senator was also unsuccessful.
