United States Embassy’s clarification regarding funding for Pakistani media outlets

Islamabad, May 12, 2014 (PPI-OT): There have been numerous inaccurate or misleading statements in the media recently regarding United States funding for Pakistani media outlets. The United States Embassy provides funding and support to a broad range of Pakistani organizations, including media outlets to facilitate professional development and capacity building activities.

The U.S. government strongly supports vibrant, professional, and independent media in Pakistan as we do worldwide. U.S. government assistance supports Pakistan’s media sector broadly, to include a range of print, broadcast, and radio formats.

For example, the United States funds capacity building in the form of archiving capabilities, opportunities for journalists to develop their professional skills in the United States through exchange programs, and educational and training opportunities for journalists, editors, and producers.

These programs are not targeted to any one media group, are geared to supporting the community of journalists as a whole, and aid the efforts of journalists to pursue balanced reporting and accurate messaging on events in Pakistan and elsewhere. Suggestions to the contrary are inaccurate, and aim to mislead.

For more information, contact:
Alberto Rodriguez
Spokesman
Information Office Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
U.S. Embassy, Islamabad- Pakistan
Cell: +92300 501 2640
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
E-mail: webmasterisb@state.gov