Kasim Kashgar, a Uyghur dissident and former Voice of America (VOA) journalist, is among a group of ex-VOA employees charting new paths after being dismissed amid government cutbacks. Kashgar, who fled China in 2017 to escape the mass detention of Uyghurs, worked for VOA under a pen name due to concerns about retribution against his family. He reported on the plight of China’s ethnic minorities, including Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Mongolians, producing content in multiple languages.
Kashgar and over 1,000 VOA colleagues were dismissed or barred from working in March 2025 as part of actions taken during the Trump administration. While some full-time employees remain on payroll pending legal challenges, many contractors like Kashgar were left without employment protections. After losing his job, Kashgar developed an English-learning app serving the Uyghur diaspora, which provided modest income. He continued to pursue launching his own news outlet, the Uyghur Monitor, registered under the nonprofit name Kozet, meaning “to observe.”
Kashgar became part of the Freedom Media Innovation Lab, a program established in 2026 by American University’s Kogod School of Business to assist former VOA journalists in creating sustainable media ventures. The initiative offers training in entrepreneurship, financial management, storytelling, and technology, culminating in a pitch competition with awards up to $50,000. Kashgar secured $45,256 in funding to support his project, which had already received grants from the National Endowment for Democracy and other organizations.
Among other alumni navigating their second careers is Rendy Wicaksana, a former VOA Indonesia correspondent based in New York. After losing his contractor role in March 2025, he co-founded Suara Amerika, a social-media-focused platform addressing issues relevant to the Indonesian diaspora, including U.S. immigration policy. Suara Amerika emphasizes community engagement and educational content rather than traditional news coverage. Despite not winning funding in the pitch competition, its founders remain committed to refining their business model and seeking additional resources.
Another participant, Salem Solomon, an Eritrean-born former VOA anchor who remains on paid administrative leave, is revitalizing her media project, Africa Talks. Launched initially as a volunteer endeavor, Africa Talks aims to provide consistent, in-depth reporting across the African continent rather than episodic crisis coverage. Solomon plans to use potential funding to employ local reporters and provide journalist training. Although her pitch was not among the funding recipients this round, she values the entrepreneurship education and community support the program has provided.
The Freedom Media Innovation Lab, backed by American University with nearly $1.5 million raised toward a $2 million goal, plans to invest in 10 to 12 ventures from this initial cohort while preparing for subsequent rounds of support. The program is seen as a response to the challenges faced by journalists displaced from the government-funded broadcaster, offering a combination of capital and business guidance to sustain independent journalism efforts worldwide.
Michael Abramowitz, VOA’s director who is suing the government over the workforce reductions, noted the significant impact on displaced employees. David Marchick, interim president of American University, highlighted the initiative’s potential to foster media enterprises that contribute to free and reliable information in regions where press freedom is limited. Program lead Susan Apgood emphasized the ongoing necessity of journalism, noting that the lab aims to equip journalists to maintain independent reporting despite shrinking traditional funding.