Reporters Without Borders (RSF) revealed that USAID funded 6,200 journalists, 707 non-state media outlets, and 279 media-focused NGOs in more than 30 countries in 2023.
The 2025 US foreign aid budget allocated $268.4 million to support “independent media and the free flow of information,” the organization reported citing a now-removed fact sheet.
The agency has been using these funds to provide training and support to “strengthen independent media,” including large media organizations and smaller or individual media sources operating under “repressive conditions.”
RSF also highlighted that USAID is the primary donor for independent media in Ukraine, where nine out of 10 outlets rely on international subsidies.
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In Ukraine, RSF stressed the need for $96 million over three years to rebuild the independent media landscape, which has been weakened by the war in the country.
However, US President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze billions in global aid, including media funding, has caused confusion and uncertainty among affected organizations, it said.
The organization highlighted that several Ukrainian outlets have announced the suspension of their activities and are searching for alternative solutions.
It warned that this could open the door to funding sources that may compromise editorial independence.
RSF denounced the aid freeze, stating it has plunged NGOs, media outlets, and journalists into “chaotic uncertainty.”
The organization called on international public and private entities to commit to the sustainability of independent media.
-Source: AA
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