VOA, Radio Farda Cover Iran-Israel Conflict Despite Trump Cuts/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Despite major staffing cuts and funding threats, U.S.-funded Radio Farda and Voice of America’s Persian service are broadcasting vital coverage of the Iran-Israel conflict. Their journalism persists amid government pressure, legal battles, and digital censorship in Iran.
Persian-Language Crisis Reporting + Quick Looks:
- Radio Farda debunks Iranian state media during conflict.
- VOA Persian staff recalled amid Iran-Israel war escalation.
- Radio Farda sees 77% web traffic surge in one day.
- Iranian officials pressure families of Farda staff members.
- USAGM faces lawsuits over cuts to foreign-language media.
- Journalists work without access to AP, Reuters, or AFP.
- Cuts raise long-term viability concerns despite urgent demand.
- Israeli airstrike hits Iran’s state media HQ during broadcast.
VOA, Radio Farda Cover Iran-Israel Conflict Despite Trump Cuts
Deep Look
As missiles fly between Israel and Iran, two key U.S. government-funded media outlets — Radio Farda and Voice of America’s Persian service — are back in action, broadcasting reliable, real-time coverage in Farsi despite ongoing budget cuts, furloughs, and political pushback from the Trump administration.
Radio Farda, operated by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and based in Prague, continues to produce journalism despite losing more than half its staff to furloughs. VOA’s Persian team, which had been on administrative leave since March, was abruptly ordered back to work Friday. Staff scrambled to restart production amid the fast-moving crisis.
“We’ve been giving minute-by-minute updates to Iranians about the war,” said Golnaz Esfandiani, managing editor of Radio Farda. The outlet has published explainers on Iran’s nuclear program, posted quick-turn video reports, and maintained a high tempo of coverage across digital platforms. According to Esfandiani, their website traffic surged 77% on Friday compared to its 30-day average.
Despite the surge in public reliance, the station’s staff are under increasing pressure. Families of five Radio Farda employees in Iran have been harassed by government operatives trying to shut down the station’s reporting. Meanwhile, VOA remains banned in Iran, although many Iranians continue to access it through digital workarounds.
The Trump administration has aimed to downsize the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees both outlets, alleging liberal bias. But the decision to recall Persian staff at VOA signals a reluctant acknowledgment of the agency’s value during global crises.
“We are ramping up — as we’ve always planned to do — to meet this historic moment,” said USAGM’s acting CEO Kari Lake.
The recall was abrupt. One staffer returned within three hours and worked until midnight helping produce a one-hour Persian-language broadcast. About 50 employees have resumed work, though many remain uncertain about job security or funding longevity.
Access to crucial journalistic tools remains limited. The administration canceled VOA’s subscriptions to major wire services like the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse. Staffers said this hampers the quality and speed of their reporting.
For journalists at both outlets, it’s a race against time — and uncertainty. “Why dismantle a working system only to rebuild it during a crisis?” asked Patsy Widakuswara, VOA’s White House correspondent and plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the agency’s management.
VOA has resumed social media updates, video explainers, and Persian-language briefings. One recent clip described where Iranian missiles were landing in Israel and how Iranians were trying to get uncensored information out via social platforms.
But critics warn that cutting services, even briefly, can have lasting effects. “International broadcasting cannot be turned on and off like a light bulb,” said Tom Kent, former RFE/RL president and former AP editor. He warned that Iranian audiences may turn permanently to other sources.
Despite recent Israeli strikes that targeted Iranian state media facilities — including one attack during a live broadcast — Iran’s Republic of Iran News Network is still operational. The U.S.-funded Persian outlets, however, remain under financial strain. Radio Farda still has access to international news wires, but those licenses are due to expire at the end of June.
Three furloughed Radio Farda employees have been reinstated to help with war coverage. Esfandiani hopes the conflict will highlight the station’s value to skeptics:
“It’s an information war,” she said. “Iran, Russia, and China would love to see us gone.”
VOA staffers are equally wary of the future. One anonymous employee said, “We were recalled because someone in the administration saw our value. But what happens next week?”
For now, both outlets are back on air and online, battling disinformation and delivering crucial reporting to a region starved for independent news. But their future remains uncertain — and the need for trusted journalism more critical than ever.
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