Patsy Widakuswara
Patsy Widakuswara | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Widakuswara at Donald Trump's 2017 inaugration | |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Journalist  |
| Employer | |
Patsy Widakuswara is a radio and broadcast journalist in the United States who covers the White House and U.S. politics. She is the White House Bureau Chief of Voice of America.[1]
Early life and education
Widakuswara was born in Indonesia, and grew up in Jakarta.[2] She studied International Relations at the University of Indonesia and completed a master's in Journalism from Goldsmiths College, University of London.[3]
Career
Widakuswara has worked in broadcasting and radio in Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and the United States since the 1990s.[3] She began working at Voice of America (VOA) in 2003 as a producer and on-air reporter for the Indonesian Service.[1]
In early 2021, Widakuswara covered the Trump administration for VOA. On January 11, 2021, after VOA news director Robert R. Reilly interviewed Pompeo but did not allow reporters to ask questions, Widakuswara asked Pompeo several questions that he did not answer as he left the building.[4][5] She was hours later removed from the prestigious White House beat and then reassigned to VOA Indonesian service.[6]
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and the White House Press Association condemned Widakuswara's removal.[7][5] U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul and Chairman Gregory Meeks issued a press release on January 12 stating they asked for more information from the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and Voice of America, and "Absent a legitimate reason for this move, which has not been provided, we believe she should be reinstated".[8][6] Widakuswara was reinstated on January 22, 2021.[9]
In September 2023, Widakuswara, while traveling with U.S. vice president Harris, was temporarily barred by Indonesian security officers from covering ASEAN summit meetings, after she shouted questions as the press was being ushered out of a meeting; none of her questions were answered.[2] She was allowed back in after U.S. officials intervened, and an Indonesian foreign ministry official later apologized for the incident.[2] Bernadetta Febriana, a journalist for the weekly magazine GATRA, speaking of the shouting by Widakuswara said: “What is normal in America may not apply in Indonesia."[2]
References
- ^ a b "Federal Faces: Patsy Widakuswara". The Washington Post. March 18, 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Local journalists: US reporter’s ejection from Jakarta summit reflects poorly on Indonesia"
- ^ a b "Patsy Widakuswara - Reporter bio". VOA News. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
- ^ "Patsy Widakuswara: Jakarta native asking Trump administration tough questions". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
- ^ a b Folkenflik, David (12 January 2021). "Voice Of America White House Reporter Reassigned After Questioning Pompeo". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
- ^ a b Nicole Gaouette, Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood (12 January 2021). "Voice of America reassigns White House reporter who tried to ask Mike Pompeo a question". CNN. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
- ^ "United States: CFWIJ condemns the intimidation of journalist Patsy Widakuswara". The Coalition For Women In Journalism. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
- ^ "McCaul, Meeks Ask for Answers on Demotion of VOA Reporter Patsy Widakuswara". Committee on Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
- ^ Beitsch, Rebecca (January 22, 2021). "VOA reinstates White House reporter reassigned after questioning Pompeo". The Hill. Retrieved 23 October 2021.