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American Thought Leaders

How America’s State-Funded Media Can Be a Powerful Tool Against Adversaries: Michael Pack

Feb 5, 2025
Michael Pack, a documentary filmmaker and former head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, dives into the world of state-funded media as a powerful tool for public diplomacy. He discusses the staggering impact of a $900 million budget and its reach across 70 languages. Pack advocates for promoting American values globally, particularly emphasizing how breaking down China's internet firewall could transform public discourse there. Additionally, he shares insights on the evolving media landscape, censorship, and the importance of balanced storytelling in documentaries.
35:31

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Michael Pack emphasizes the crucial role of the U.S. Agency for Global Media in promoting diverse American values abroad, particularly against authoritarian regimes.
  • He advocates for breaking down China's internet firewall to enhance access to a variety of ideas, envisioning significant societal change through open discourse.

Deep dives

Investment in Culture and Public Diplomacy

The left has made significant investments in cultural initiatives since the 1960s, with every American university featuring a film school that typically promotes a woke perspective. This coverage highlights the importance of utilizing public diplomacy to counter authoritarian narratives, particularly from adversarial nations like China and Russia. The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), presided over by Michael Pack, oversees several important broadcasters with a dedicated budget of around $900 million to promote American values globally. It emphasizes the need for American ideas to be shared widely, suggesting that if the Chinese populace could access diverse viewpoints, it may lead to transformative changes within the country.

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