Statement by CEO Lansing on the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi

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Image from entry: Alyssa Edling (center) and Thomas Malia (second from right) both with PEN America, join others as they hold signs of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a news conference about his disappearance in Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, in front of The Washington Post in Washington. (AP Photo, Jacquelyn Martin)

I am deeply troubled by the sudden disappearance of Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi, and I join the united call from media, government and human rights officials for information about his whereabouts.

Unfortunately, this incident is part of a growing global trend of threats against the press. Every day journalists around the world, including those who work for the five networks of U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM)-Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks-face dangers to their lives and livelihoods for simply reporting the truth.

Corrupt and repressive governments around the world share a common trait: the desire to control information and suppress free media. As such, they are threatened by independent journalists and often criminalize their indispensable work.

No one, especially governments, should be allowed to silence journalists. USAGM, like Khashoggi, understands that an informed world is a safer world, and it is a prerequisite for democracy to work.

The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international media, whose mission is to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. USAGM networks include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti), Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa). USAGM programming has a measured audience of 278 million in more than 100 countries and in 59 languages.