Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
Public media is in peril and facing many challenges. Social media platforms are presenting an existential crisis to public service media. Governments are trying to extend their control and influence on the editorial output of the broadcasters. Funding systems for many are up in the air. Journalists are facing threats, attacks and harassment, both online and in-person. But it’s also an exciting time for public service media – digital platforms provide new opportunities to reach audiences, technology means public broadcasters can be innovative in how they provide a public service.
Every week, PMA compiles all the latest news from the public media and media freedom industry. Have a story to feature? Get in touch!
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What we're watching...
In Afghanistan, media students still keen to learn despite Taliban restrictions
VOA: Under the Taliban, the news media in Afghanistan are among the least free in the world, but a new generation of journalists is still keen to learn the skills of the trade. Even women, who are barred from attending university in Afghanistan, are finding ways to study. VOA’s Afghan service has the story, narrated by Bezhan Hamdard.
What we're listening to...
50 years on, is community radio more important?
ABC: Half a century ago, the Whitlam government made critical changes that allowed a third sector of radio broadcasting. As listeners want more choice and regional newspapers decline, where does the role of community radio lie?
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GHANA: Churchill Otieno calls for bold action to ensure future of African media
GBC: President of The Africa Editors’ Forum (TAEF), delivered a powerful address at the opening of the Digital Media Africa Conference 2024, co-hosted by WAN-IFRA, the Aga Khan University, and the Eastern Africa Editors Society.
MFWA: The August edition of the Media Foundation for West Africa’s monitoring of indecent campaign language on radio in Ghana reports that hosts of political analysis and current affairs show on stations aligned to two main political parties in Ghana – the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition, National Democratic Party (NDC) – are worst perpetrators of abusive language.
Abidjan News:“Any measurement of audiovisual media audiences in Côte d’Ivoire outside the supervision and certification of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) is done in violation of the law and is therefore illegal.”
SOMALIA: Impunity for crimes against journalists must end
IPI: The press freedom situation in Somalia remains deeply concerning, as journalists continue to face harassment and threats from both the Somali government and the militant group Al-Shabaab. In addition to verbal and physical threats, journalists in Somalia also face persecution, unlawful arrests, and censorship.
SOUTH AFRICA: South African household levy to fund SABC proposed
My Broadband: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has proposed a household levy as a new funding model to help the state broadcaster collect the necessary revenue to adhere to its public service mandate.
SOUTH AFRICA: You may soon need a TV licence to watch Netflix
Tech Central: SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli has told parliament that the development of a funding model for the SABC “must be expedited”.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: ZIKORA, a project led by Nigerian journalist Chika Oduah, aims to show a different side of the continent through different art forms
REGIONAL: UNESCO sets key criteria for media councils network
IPP: African media practitioners have a vital role to play in shaping public opinion, fostering democratic dialogue and advancing human rights for the region to achieve rapid development, a global civil servant has stated.
CHINA: How China Thinks About AI Safety
China Media Project: China’s attitudes towards AI may be at a turning point, with officials not only pushing it up the list of priorities but also coming to terms with its existential capabilities.
INDIA: Journalist Fatally Shot
IFJ: Broadcast journalist Salman Ali Khan was fatally shot by unknown assailants in the western Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh, India on September 17.
INDIA: Journalist Laments Police Complicity After Facing Harassment by Politician
The Coalition for Women in Journalism: Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with the woman journalist who bravely exposed harassment by Shiv Sena politician #WamanMhatre, highlighting the police’s complicity in shielding him.
JAPAN: NHK Executive Personnel Changes (Press release – PDF – Japanese)
NHK
NEPAL: Media Action Nepal trains grassroots journalists, develops CSJ Code of Conduct
The Himalayan: Media Action Nepal recently concluded a series of two-day training workshops on Conflict-Sensitive Journalism (CSJ) in Karnali Province, bringing together 60 grassroots journalists (20 in each location) from nine districts.
PHILIPPINES: The alleged mastermind behind journalist Gerry Ortega’s murder must be tried immediately
RSF: Joel T. Reyes, the former Philippine governor suspected of ordering the assassination of journalist Gerry Ortega in 2011, surrendered to the police after 13 years on the run. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and a coalition of NGOs call for a swift trial.
SOUTH KOREA: KBS Music Bank demands Real Madrid take responsibility for canceled concert
The Korea Times: The production team behind KBS’s popular music program “Music Bank” has publicly voiced its dissatisfaction with the sudden cancellation of their concert in Madrid, Spain, and has called for an apology from Real Madrid CF.
SOUTH KOREA: South Korean Journalist Retracts Whistleblowing Post After Feeling Threatened
Coalition for Women in Journalism: Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with journalist Kim, who was pressured and coerced into retracting her critical statements about the COO of a music company involved in the 2023 death of a woman artist.
SRI LANKA: Family of murdered Sri Lanka editor seek justice from new President
The Hindu: The anti-establishment editor was murdered as he drove to work in January 2009 by attackers later identified by police as members of a military intelligence unit linked to the once-powerful Rajapaksa family.
SRI LANKA: RSF calls on newly-elected president to commit to press freedom
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the news president Anura Kumara Dissanayaka to make press freedom a priority, with recommendations for concrete measures in favor of the right to information.
TAIWAN: MOFA: Self-censorship undermines Taiwan’s free press
TVBS: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday (Sept. 24) criticized self-censorship among foreign media in Taiwan, arguing it undermines the country’s free and open environment.
THAILAND: Thai PBS produces quality content with the Big Sign feature, which enhances the viewing experience and provides equal access (Press release – Thai)
Thai PBS: Thai PBS produces quality content series and dramas to appeal to the hearing impaired, with the Big Sign feature, which enhances the viewing experience and reaches all groups of people equally on World Sign Language Day.
ABC: The ABC has announced there will be an independent review into a 2022 story that included an “editing error in the audio” of helmet cam footage captured by commandos.
AUSTRALIA: Australia’s social media ban for minors: Has this worked elsewhere?
Al Jazeera: Multiple countries have tried but failed to effectively curb social media access. Will Australia’s attempt be different?
NEW ZEALAND: Funding cuts could see ‘significant change’ for Whakaata Māori
RNZ: A proposal in response to funding cuts will be shared with Whakaata Māori staff by the end of the month.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ cancels release of podcast episode featuring ex-minister Kiritapu Allan
RNZ: RNZ has cancelled the broadcast of a podcast episode featuring disgraced ex-minister Kiritapu Allan, saying it does not meet its standards of impartiality.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ’s online surge could start to worry private media
Newsroom: Public broadcaster RNZ might be struggling to stem its falls in radio listenership, but the audience for its website rnz.co.nz is soaring.
REGIONAL: Australian investment can boost Pacific media resilience
East Asia Forum: Australia’s Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy, released in 2024, aims to bolster regional media by enhancing resilience and quality. This approach addresses the critical need for robust, independent journalism in the region.
AUSTRIA: EBU Radio Audience Trends: How often does Austria listen to the radio? (German)
ORF Public Value: Radio has been a daily companion for people in Austria for 100 years. This is now also indicated by studies by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). More radio is listened to in Austria than in most European countries.
AUSTRIA: ORF Director General Weißmann outlined the corporate strategy “ORF 2030” in the Audience Council (Press release – German)
ORF: ORF Director General Mag. Roland Weißmann outlined the new corporate strategy “ORF 2030” to the ORF Audience Council: “Public broadcasting is indispensable for the functioning of democracy and society in the digital age.
BELGIUM: Innovation? Let’s go! Discover 3 innovative production techniques (Press release – Dutch)
VRT International: VRT is not only an innovator in how it operates, but also on your TV screen, smartphone, tablet, computer and radio, where you’ll notice many novelties. Take a look in the future with three examples of production innovation.
ESTONIA: Hagi Šein in the last interview: politicians still haven’t understood the idea of national broadcasting (Estonian)
ERR: 30 years after Estonia regained its independence, politicians have not understood the idea of public national broadcasting to serve the people and culture, but believe that the media must serve them and the country, power, said TV legend Hagi Šein in his last interview this winter, calling such a way of thinking a tragedy.
FINLAND: Citizens’ initiative on Yle’s funding and tasks (Finnish)
Yle: On Monday, they began collecting names for a citizen’s initiative , which calls for stricter savings for Yleisradio than at present and the limitation of Yle’s statutory duties.
FRANCE: Freedom of expression, pressure on sources: journalists respond to Bernard Arnault (French)
Le Monde: The journalists’ associations express their solidarity with the editorial teams of the media targeted by the billionaire. They firmly reiterate that the mission of the press is not to relay the official communication of companies and institutions.
FRANCE: Online advertising: new lawsuits filed by French media against Google, first hearings begin (French)
Mind Media: A new legal front has officially opened for Google, this time on French soil. mind Media revealed it on May 23 : several French groups were preparing summons against the American group before the Paris commercial court to have its anti-competitive practices in online advertising sanctioned.
FRANCE: TNT: C8, NRJ12 and Le Média go to the Conseil d’Etat to challenge Arcom’s preselection process (French)
Le Monde: The two television channels are challenging the decision by the broadcasting regulator not to renew their TNT broadcasting licences. The radical left-wing channel broadcast on Freebox and the Web, whose application was unsuccessful, is also appealing to the administrative courts.
GEORGIA: Exiled Belarusian journalist and Armenian journalist denied entry without explanation
EFJ: On 15 September, Belarusian journalist Andrei Mialeshka was denied entry to Georgia, where he has lived for the past three years after facing political persecution in Belarus.
GERMANY: Axel Springer splits media, classified businesses
DW: Friede Springer and CEO Mathias Döpfner will own Springer’s media operations, which include Germany’s most-read newspaper Bild and US digital newspaper Politico.
GERMANY: “Documents you feel”: New Instagram channel for young women (Press release – German)
ARD: NDR, SWR and WDR will operate a joint Instagram channel instead of the Instagram channels “swrdoku”, “21 Gramm” and “ndrdoku”. “@yourdoku.ard” offers documentary topics that provide real added value in the everyday lives of young people, are socially relevant and worth talking about – a perfect fit for the core target group of younger women between 25 and 34 years of age.
GERMANY: Year of News: Huge success: Hundreds of people take part in the nationwide ARD News Day (Press release – German)
ARD: Selecting, producing, presenting and discussing news with the editorial teams: citizens were able to do all of this on ARD News Day on September 19. Across Germany, almost 700 children, young people and adults visited the regional broadcasting companies and took part in workshops.
GERMANY & RUSSIA: Fake News: Suspicions surrounding a Russian disinformation campaign to boost the AfD (German far right) (French)
RTBF: An agency linked to the Russian government is running a disinformation campaign aimed at scaring German voters and boosting the far-right AfD party , several media outlets claimed Monday, citing internal documents from a Moscow-based company.
GREECE: Press freedom on trial in Greece: support Alterthess’ appeal
EFJ: The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium expresses its full support for Greek journalist Stavroula Poulimeni and media outlet Alterthess ahead of their appeal on 19 September 2024
ITALY: Radio is great 4 kids (Press release – Italian)
Rai: On the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the radio, Rai Radio Kids meets its audience live for an entire week.
MONTENEGRO: EFJ calls for action over unlawful RTCG Director appointment
EFJ: The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its Montenegrin affiliate, the Trade Union of Media in Montenegro (SMCG), express concerns about the way the Director-General of the Public Service RTCG has been elected on 31 August 2024.
NETHERLANDS: Research: Dutch have the most confidence in public broadcaster’s journalism (Press release – Dutch)
NPO: The news from public broadcasters (such as NOS Journaal, Jeugdjournaal and NPO Radio 1) is trusted the most and this also applies to the journalists and reporters associated with them, according to a representative study by Motivaction.
POLAND: More ambitious reform needed to secure media freedom
EFJ: The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium completed a two-day mission to Poland, 16-17 September, where it held meetings with the Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar, the Ministry of Culture as well as journalists, publishers, regulators, media law experts.
POLAND: Telewizja Polska collected almost PLN 9.5 million in a week for flood victims (Press release – Polish)
TVP: In a week, Telewizja Polska raised almost PLN 9.5 million, all of which will be donated to help flood victims in southwestern Poland.
RUSSIA: TikTok has suspended the accounts of Russian state media, concerned about influencing the US election (Czech)
ČT24: The social network TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has suspended the accounts of Russian state media. The reason is concerns about the possible spread of disinformation before the November presidential election in the United States.
RUSSIA: Why Meta is now banning Russian propaganda
DW: Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp all no longer allow content from Russian state media such as RT. The timing is hardly coincidental.
SPAIN: Teresa Muñoz Guerra, new advisor for representation of groups requiring special protection at RTVE (Press release – Spanish)
RTVE: This new figure seeks to be a tool, both in the process of acquiring and creating audiovisual content, and internally, to analyse the presence of people belonging to these groups within the organisation, their situation and their contributions to it.
SWEDEN: We promise to never be silent – Preparedness Week 2024 (Press release – Swedish)
SR: Today marks the start of Preparedness Week, an annual themed week run by the Norwegian Agency for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, which aims to encourage more Swedes to prepare for a possible crisis.
UK: Marking 50 years since Ceefax – the ‘horse-drawn internet’ – was launched (Press release)
Ofcom: Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of Ceefax, the BBC’s teletext service that allowed viewers to access text-based information on their TV sets, and which blazed a trail for the on-screen services we use today.
REGIONAL: EBU calls on Council of Europe Member States to safeguard public service media (Speech)
EBU: The Council of Europe understands the role of public service media in upholding the fundamental right of freedom of expression, through their mandate to inform, educate and entertain every citizen.
ARGENTINA: The Argentine Journalists collective presented a report denouncing the digital violence promoted by Javier Milei (Spanish)
Nodal: The Argentine Journalists collective denounced, through the publication of a report, “a significant escalation” of attacks on social networks against women journalists, with one peculiarity: “The attacks come mainly from verified accounts and members of the official communication apparatus” and are initiated or replicated “by the President of the Nation, Javier Milei, from the X network”.
BOLIVIA: 82 cases of violations against journalists reported in Bolivia (Spanish)
DW: According to the Observatory of Human Rights Defenders of Unitas, the most frequent violation of the press is the blocking of information followed by threats.
BRAZIL: Agência Brasil launches news delivery service via WhatsApp (Press release – Portuguese)
Agência Brasil: Users registered in the community will receive bulletins with highlights
BRAZIL: Decoding Brazil’s Media Regulation: Key Influencers and Dynamics (Report)
MJRC: The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the regulatory environment and identifies the key organisations and individuals influencing media policy in the country.
BRAZIL: EBC websites have a new look (Press release – Portuguese)
EBC: Starting this Monday (23), the websites of Agência Brasil , Radioagência Nacional and EBC will have a new look. The new pages will have a new layout, more modern and dynamic, facilitating access to information.
COLOMBIA: Gustavo Petro attacked Flip again: “They defend journalists who are paid by big capital” (Spanish)
Infobae: The president assured that the organization remains silent regarding the situation in the Middle East
COLOMBIA: Rtvc will file a criminal complaint against María Fernanda Cabal for comments that generated “threats” against its journalists (Spanish)
Infobae: The management of the Colombian Public Media System Rtvc and its representative, former Attorney General of the Nation Luis Eduardo Montealegre, will file a criminal complaint against the Senator of the Democratic Center, María Fernanda Cabal, before the Supreme Court of Justice for the constant negative comments she has made against the media system.
COLOMBIA: “The country has to come out to defend public media” says former prosecutor Luis Eduardo Montealegre (Spanish)
RTVC Noticias:Luis Eduardo Montealegre argued that the allegations made by María Fernanda Cabal to RTVC would be part of the soft coup against President Petro.
ECUADOR: Two journalists who exposed corruption and drug trafficking forced into exile (Spanish)
Global Voices: With tears in their eyes, grief and sadness on their faces, the Ecuadorian journalist couple Mónica Velásquez and Andersson Boscán announced their departure from the country on the night of September 10, 2024, through a pre-recorded video they made known to the audience of the digital media “La Posta”.
HAITI: Threats Against Haitians Land at the Doorstep of The Haitian Times
The New York Times: Racist emails. Swatting. Intimidated sources. The Haitian Times has been receiving some of the same threats that it has been covering in Springfield, Ohio.
NICARAGUA: The unexpected effect of media censorship in Nicaragua (Spanish)
VOA: Campaigns and actions against journalists and independent media are not giving the expected results to the government of Daniel Ortega. Instead, they have promoted digital forms of journalism for Nicaragua from exile, according to media leaders and audience figures.
VENEZUELA: In Venezuela, AI news anchors aren’t replacing journalists. They’re protecting them
CNN: While in much of the world, journalists view the use of artificial intelligence as a looming threat to livelihoods, in Venezuela – where showing your face on a news report can conceivably land you in jail – many view it more favorably; as protection.
ISRAEL: Israel orders 45-day closure of Al Jazeera West Bank office
BBC: The Israeli military has raided the offices of news broadcaster Al Jazeera in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, confiscated its equipment and ordered it to close for an initial period of 45 days.
LEBANON: Lebanon journalist injured in Israel air strike during live broadcast
Middle East Monitor: A Lebanese journalist sustained injuries after an Israeli air strike hit his home while he was live on air.
TURKEY: Over 150 cases of legal harassment target women journalists in Turkey: CFWIJ research
Medya News: The diverse methods through which the Turkish government continues to weaponise the judicial system to harass and target women journalists critical of its rule have been exposed in a report by The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ).
TURKEY: Turkiye warns misinformation in pro-Israel media fuels occupation
Middle East Monitor: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned of misinformation being spread by the pro-Israel media and stressed the importance of combating it.
UAE & LONDON: ‘Regulation not legislation’: Nadhim Zahawi slams UK for blocking Telegraph sale
Arab News: Former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi has criticised the UK government for blocking the sale of The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator to a UAE-led media company earlier this year, calling the decision “a terrible error of judgement.”
CANADA: APTN, CBC/Radio-Canada and NCTR to host “Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation” September 30 on Parliament Hill (Press release)
APTN: APTN, CBC/Radio-Canada, and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the three partners working collaboratively on the annual production of the national commemorative gathering, Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
CANADA: CBC News and Radio-Canada Info recertified by Reporters Without Borders’ Journalism Trust Initiative (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: CBC/Radio-Canada today announced that the national public broadcaster’s news services have been recertified by the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI).
CANADA: For the first time, Canada’s major content organizations and financiers forge a coalition called “Green Frame” to shrink the industry’s environmental impact and make a sustainable difference (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: Canada’s most significant Crown corporations, federally funded organizations and CRTC mandated screen-based content funds have formed a new coalition called “Green Frame” which strives to reduce the environmental impact of Canadian TV and film production.
US: A new, collaborative model for mapping the US local news landscape (Opinion)
CJR: Over the past few years, the energy around saving and strengthening local news has amped up.
US: CPB Awards Up to $400,000 to Three Public Media Stations to Improve Emergency Alerting (Press release)
CPB: Public radio stations KHNS-FM and KRBD-FM in Alaska and Mountain Lake PBS in New York will receive a total of up to $400,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to upgrade their equipment to provide enhanced emergency alerting.
US: How A.I., QAnon and Falsehoods Are Reshaping the Presidential Race
The New York Times: Three experts on social media and disinformation share their predictions for this year’s chaotic election.
US: NPR hopes podcast bundle can gain traction after slow start
Current: NPR made their podcast bundle available to anyone in July.
US: Public Media Supports America’s Civic Health
CPB: The 2024 Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s (CPB) eighth Public Media Thought Leader Forum this week attracted more than 500 public media leaders, educators, and innovators, together in Pittsburgh, with hundreds more joining virtually, to affirm public media’s important role in strengthening the civic health of our nation.
US: Union group calls for CPB to add board member representing workers’ interests
Current: A coalition of unions associated with the AFL-CIO is advocating for policies that it says would protect nonprofit workers.
US: Why public media’s past might be its future
Current: To succeed in the world of on-demand media choices, public media organizations need to return their focus to creating original local content.
‘Chaotic,’ ‘Misleading,’ ‘Informative’: What Teens Said About 2024 Election Coverage
The New York Times: More than 400 teenagers have participated in the Headway Election Challenge.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Journalism is more precarious than ever. That’s why some young reporters are shunning news organisations and going solo with the help of newsletters, podcasts and other news formats.
Generative AI depends on quality journalism – and should pay for it
WAN-IFRA: ‘Journalists can learn from other industries, such as music, where both the artists and their publishers have worked out arrangements,’ writes Anya Schiffrin, author of AI and the Future of Journalism, published this week.
Google Emails Show Unease Over Advertising Dominance
Wall Street Journal: At antitrust trial, Justice Department argues internal company communications support its claims of illegal monopolization.
How The Economist is using AI to extend its global reach
Press Gazette: The Economist has found a way to publish AI-written translations without human intervention.
Social media owners top global survey of misinformation concerns
The Guardian: Social media owners, politicians and governments are the biggest threats to a trustworthy online news environment, according to an expert group studying misinformation whose work is modelled on the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Spurned by Social Media, Publishers Chase Readers on WhatsApp
The New York Times: News outlets are experimenting with a feature in the world’s most popular messaging app that allows them to send links and headlines directly to followers.
Telegram will give governments more information about users (Czech)
ČT24: The communication platform Telegram will begin to provide governments with more information about its users after pressure from the authorities.
The Questions for Climate Journalism
CJR: Journalists play a critical role in if and how we tell the most important story on Earth.
UN Global Digital Compact signals support for media freedom
DW: DW welcomes the United Nations’ strong commitment to free media and independent journalism. Freedom of expression and information are paramount to an open, secure and sustainable digital future.
We know why journalists leave the profession. A new study looks at why they stay
Nieman Lab: “Joy” may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think about journalism. In some ways, that makes sense: Journalists report emotionally exhausting stories, manage the at-times hostile audience members, and navigate long working hours.
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All PSM Weekly stories are provided for interest and their relevance to public service media issues, they do not necessarily reflect the views of the Public Media Alliance.
All headlines are sourced from their original story.
If you have any suggestions for our weekly round-ups, please email PMA at editor@publicmediaalliance.org.
Header image: black and gray microphone with stand Credits: elijah-merrell, Unsplash.com
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