BBC News, a separate program, is primarily funded by consumer-paid TV licenses in the UK. BBC Media Action, the charitable arm, had a full 8% of their budget provided by US taxpayers through the international funding program.
"A free press is essential to freedom and democracy – and 75% of countries around the world do not have a free press. BBC Media Action supports local media around the world to deliver trusted information to people most in need," the BBC said in a statement.
"Like many international development organisations, BBC Media Action has been affected by the temporary pause in US government funding, which amounts to about 8% of our income in 2023-24," they justified. "We’re doing everything we can to minimise the impact on our partners and the people we serve."
"As the BBC’s international charity, we are completely separate from BBC News, and wholly reliant on our donors and supporters to carry out our work," they said in conclusion.
BBC Media Action is an international charity that works to fight "disinformation." They say as part of their mission that "In a world of disinformation, distrust and division, we share the BBC’s values, skills and experience to bring people together, and foster greater understanding and trust." The program is in 30 countries worldwide and reaches over 100 million people annually with their content.
The charity states that they bring these viewers "media and communication for stronger democracies, a safer, more habitable planet and inclusive societies." Their method is to "combine world-leading media support, creative storytelling and evidence-based advocacy to provide impartial, trustworthy media content to people and communities in need around the world."
BBC Media Action's "What We Do"
Many of the USAID programs were intended to further democracy, and the programs of BBC Media Action come under that heading. President Joe Biden sought over $42 billion in funding for this agency, which has long arms reaching out into every corner of the globe. They work in Africa, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in Europe and the Caucasus.
In addition to aiding the work of BBC Media Action, the taxpayer-funded USAID spread queerness globally, advocated for abortions, worked to launch a Sesame Street-style program in Iraq, trans comic books in Peru, and other measures essential to spreading progressive ideology globally.
USAID payments were halted and the agency brought under the control of the State Department after the non-governmental agency the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, revealed waste and bloat within the agency. It was also made clear through the expose of their funding that a great deal of money has been poured into spreading progressivism worldwide.
