Trump Administration Freezes Media Literacy

Many people are not aware that support for media literacy around the world has been impacted by the Trump transition. The funding freeze on all foreign aid spending has not been reversed, and that's the aid that supports media literacy education and other efforts to counter disinformation and improve independent media. 

This freeze affects many people who live and work in the most difficult and dangerous places in the world. Our colleagues have reported on how their have been personally affected by the decision to dismantle government agencies including USAID. They have received Stop Work Orders (SWOs) on most of their programs and the bank accounts have been frozen. Here in the U.S. and around the world, this will affect people's salaries and benefits, office rent, and everything else. 

Can you believe it? They have also been forced to eliminate all DEIA activities (the "A" stands for accessibility). Thought leadership on technology facilitated gender-based violence has been making media literacy education more inclusive and accessible -- and now, all of that work will likely be eliminated.

More than 500 staff in the U.S. and around the world will be either placed on unpaid leave, terminated, or have their hours drastically reduced, and all remaining employees will be given a 20% salary cut for the next 30 days, at least. This includes colleagues in Ukraine, Palestine, Syria, Sri Lanka, Georgia, El Salvador, Serbia -- again, some of the hardest places in the world to work for a American-funded organization, particularly in the fields of youth and women empowerment, education, and information integrity and resilience. 

Funds for local organizations including media organizations and independent journalists, have also stopped. And Alan explained that the staff has even been forbidden to communicate with their international colleagues! 

We recommend that you contact your U.S. Senator and Representative. Click here to access the contact information. Tell them this: "Media literacy education is too important as a tool for public diplomacy to be stopped now, at a time when American values of democracy and robust free expression are more important (and more at risk) than ever before. Congress must protect federal programs that advance media literacy education locally and globally!"