Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
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Week 20: What do THREATS TO JOURNALIST SAFETY look like?
Journalism has become an increasingly dangerous profession. While threats to physical safety – such as attacks, kidnapping, sexual assault, and arbitrary detention – are clear-cut examples, threats may also be more insidious. Intimidation, SLAPPs, looming unemployment, impunity, and online harassment may not physically harm journalists, but they drive fear and self-censorship. Threats to journalist safety can look like the recent arrest of a Belarusian journalist after the plane he was on was rerouted under the orders of Belarusian authorities. His family now fear that he has been tortured. But while journalist safety threats may come from governments, they may also come from everyday citizens. Growing hostilities have been noted across Europe, such as in The Netherlands, Germany, and Austria where public broadcasters have been forced to remove logos on their vehicles, cameras, and clothing, and deploy increased security with their journalists.
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What we're watching...
The British Broadcast Challenge
The British Broadcasting Challenge
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The Truth Matters Podcast: Ep 1 – A Guide to Misinformation
RTÉ: Social media has done wonderful things to our lives, but it has also brought problems. Hate speech and toxic abuse are the worst aspects of that – and so is misinformation, writes Shane Creevy.
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ETHIOPIA: Ethiopia Expels New York Times Reporter Who Covered Tigray War
VOA: Ethiopia has expelled a foreign correspondent working for The New York Times after earlier revoking his license over “unbalanced” reporting, a government official has confirmed.
ETHIOPIA: EU ‘seriously concerned’ about press rights in Ethiopia
Politico: Brussels cites ‘shrinking space for freedom’ after killing of one journalist and expulsion of another.
GUINEA BISSAU: Human Rights Lawyer Expresses Concern about Relentless Press Freedom Violations in Guinea Bissau
MFWA: A human rights lawyer in Guinea Bissau, Luiz Vaz Martins, has expressed concern about the deteriorating press freedom environment in the country and urged the authorities to take steps to pull the country back from the brink of press freedom notoriety.
NAMIBIA: NBC Board Update on Industrial Strike (Media release)
NBC: The NBC Board of Directors and Management would like to convey their appreciation for all the NBC staff who remained at work while also thanking those striking employees who have decided to return to work in order to serve the Namibian nation diligently.
NAMIBIA: Namibia: Public Broadcaster’s Final Offer Divides Striking Employees
Broadcast Media Africa: According to BMA’s media sources, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Board of Directors has made a resolution that has left the striking workers divided.
NAMIBIA: NBC Strike Peters Out … As Workers Turn On Nevonga
Via All Africa: The struggling national broadcaster, Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) employees’ strike continues with the majority of employees still on strike, while a sizable number returned to work late last week, restoring some radio services.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC News And Current Affairs Division Launches #Coverup Safety Campaign (Press release)
SABC: The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) News & Current Affairs division launches the #COVERUP campaign today. This campaign comes amid the rise in COVID-19 infections and increasing fears of the third wave of the pandemic. It also coincides with the country’s second phase of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout programme.
UGANDA: 32 Media Houses Sue Govt Over Licence Fees
All Africa: A total of 32 radio and television stations have sued government and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), challenging the recently levied trade licence fees that they say subject them to double taxation.
ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe journalists charged with criminal insult over interview on politician’s personal life
CPJ: Zimbabwean authorities must immediately drop the insult charges against two journalists with the Zim Morning Post news website and repeal the country’s criminal insult laws, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
REGIONAL: COVID-19 and Press Freedom: Media Support Organisations in West Africa Share Perspectives
MFWA: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a lot of studies, reports, and conversations on the devastating impact of the pandemic on news media organisations in West Africa.
AFGHANISTAN: Freedom of speech facing increased threats
MENAFN: Supporting the Open Media in Afghanistan (NAI) has expressed concerns on the threats facing the freedom of speech and freedom of press.
BANGLADESH: Bangladesh: Arrest of Journalist Investigating Corruption
HRW: Detention of Rozina Islam a Major Strike Against Media Freedom
HONG KONG: Future sours for Hong Kong’s brazen Apple Daily tabloid
HKFP: A shadow of fear hangs over Hong Kong’s outspoken and staunchly pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, with its billionaire owner Jimmy Lai now jailed and many reporters asking themselves: “Are we next?”
HKFP: Embattled public broadcaster RTHK has deleted a story about the annual Tiananmen Massacre anniversary long-distance run from a news show.
HONG KONG: Its independence waning, RTHK plans new programs to boost national identity
Apple Daily: Hong Kong’s public broadcaster, once known for its independent news coverage, is introducing a torrent of government-affiliated programs under an official directive to rein in the media.
HONG KONG: Outside team to produce Legco Review: RTHK
RTHK: RTHK on Monday said it has hired an outside team to take over production of the TV programme, Legco Review, for the time being after the latest episode aired last Friday contained footage of organisers of the annual June 4 candlelight vigil taking part in a run.
INDIA: DD International coming to change global narrative
New Indian Express: The public broadcaster last week floated an expression of interest (EOI) for DD International, inviting comments from private players to draft a detailed project report for the new channel.
INDIA: India police visit Twitter offices after BJP tweet flagged as manipulated media
The Guardian: Move in Delhi comes after tweet by spokesperson of the ruling Hindu-nationalist party was tagged as ‘manipulated media’.
INDIA: India tells social media firms to take down ‘Indian variant’ posts
France 24: India’s government has ordered social media platforms to take down content that refers to the “Indian variant” of the coronavirus.
INDIA: Indian media have gone easy on Modi. That’s changing because of the pandemic
CNN Business
INDIA: PCI notice to Delhi government over press freedom
New Indian Express: The Press Council of India (PCI) has sought a report from Delhi’s chief secretary (CS) and the directorate of information and publicity (DIP) on a complaint filed by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari.
JAPAN: Latest Broadcast Technology to be Exhibited Online (Press release)
NHK: “Future immersive VR display”, “Space-sharing content viewing system”, and other latest research results will be presented by NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories (NHK STRL) in its online exhibition “STRL Open House 2021” from June 1 to June 30.
MALAYSIA: Stop harassing us for doing our job, media groups urge government
Malay Mail: A coalition of media NGOs and organisations has urged the government to stop harassing journalists and the press for merely carrying out their duties.
MYANMAR: US journalist detained in Myanmar: employer
France 24: An American editor of a Myanmar-based news outlet was detained by authorities in Yangon as he attempted to board a flight out of the country Monday, his employers said.
PAKISTAN: Bill for protection of media persons presented in Sindh Assembly
Dawn: The journalists and other media practitioners shall have protection against disclosure of professional sources of information under The Sindh Protection of Journalists and other Media Practitioners Bill 2021 that also bars government officials and institutions from forcing them to disclose the identity of their professional sources.
PAKISTAN: Modernisation of State media (Editorial)
Pakistan Observer: Whilst every government used Radio Pakistan and PTV as their mouthpiece but unfortunately, nothing was done in the past to transform them as per the modern day requirements. This is the reason that today they present a sorry state of affairs like any other state enterprise.
SOUTH KOREA: ‘The future vision of KBS, deliberate discussion from the public’ ended successfully (Korean – Press release)
KBS: A deliberate discussion to explore the “public responsibility and obligations” that must be newly implemented along with the sustainable development plan of KBS was held at KBS Art Hall from yesterday (22nd) until today (23rd). Throughout the two days, 200 people from the public participation team participated in the discussion on each topic, showing a high degree of enthusiasm.
TAIWAN & CHINA: Taiwan Says China is Spreading Fake News During COVID Spike
VOA News: A Taiwanese official accused China on Saturday of spreading fake news about the COVID-19 situation on the island, saying this was why the government was publicizing and refuting instances of false information that have been circulating online.
THAILAND: Thailand tightens information law (Opinion)
Bangkok Post
REGIONAL: Press freedom violations and attacks on journalists spiralling in South Asia
IPI: In recent months, arrests and legal harassment of journalists and media organizations have steadily risen in four South Asian countries – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal -, according to data collected by the International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom.
AUSTRALIA: ‘India, we are with you’: SBS Radiothon Appeal to raise funds for India’s COVID crisis
SBS: As India finds itself amidst the world’s worst COVID crisis, the SBS India COVID Appeal Radiothon aims to assist the embattled country by raising funds through UNICEF to help save lives and deliver urgent medical supplies to its overwhelmed healthcare sector.
AUSTRALIA: It’s time for the government to walk the talk on media freedom in Australia (Opinion)
The Conversation: When the Australian Federal Police (AFP) raided journalists and media organisations two years ago, it showed the balance between national security and journalism is severely out of whack in Australia.
ABC News: Government agencies should have to prove “real and serious” harm caused by the publication of classified intelligence and information before a criminal investigation can be launched, according to a Senate committee investigating press freedom in Australia.
AUSTRALIA: Statement on freedom of expression at SBS
MEAA: The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance has today written to SBS after concerning reports that some journalists at SBS have been pressured to remove their signature from an open letter urging balanced coverage of Palestinian perspectives in the current Middle East conflict.
AUSTRALIA: VIDEO: ABC Chair Ita Buttrose speaks about Australia Talks National Survey (Watch)
ABC Australia: ABC Chair Ita Buttrose says the Australia Talks survey was designed to find out Australians’ attitudes and views, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
AUSTRALIA: WIN News slashes more regional TV journalism jobs in Queensland, Victoria, parts of NSW
ABC News: Regional TV station WIN News has announced it will cut more regional journalism jobs in Queensland and Victoria.
NEW ZEALAND: Five people reported for harassment or sexism at state broadcaster Radio New Zealand
NZ Herald: Five Radio New Zealand employees have been accused of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or sexism in the last five years – three of whom have left the broadcaster as a result.
NEW ZEALAND: Media can make and break leadership in volatile times
RNZ: A new analysis finds media coverage is more important than ever after Covid-19 in shaping our perception of leaders’ success, trustworthiness and transparency (or a perceived lack of them). But – as we hear so often these days – trust in the media themselves is falling fast. So how does that work?
NEW ZEALAND: NZ On Air apologises to former employee attacked by musician
RNZ: New Zealand On Air has admitted it failed to offer adequate support to a staff member who was assaulted by an award-winning musician in 2017.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Scott Waide: We must invest in our journalism schools to help shape our future
Asia Pacific Report: Papua New Guinea’s Communications Minister, Timothy Masiu, recently told a news conference to mark World Press Freedom Day that the state of journalism and broadcasting in the country has seen a general decline.
ALBANIA: Albania Parliament’s Race to Fill Media Board Causes Alarm
Balkan Insight: An apparent rush to elect board members of Albania’s Audio-visual Media Authority before the next parliament meets in September is prompting concerns that the ruling Socialists are hurrying to fill the board with political sympathisers.
BELARUS: Belarus ‘diverts Ryanair flight to arrest journalist’, opposition says
BBC: A Ryanair plane from Greece to Lithuania was diverted to Belarus for several hours on Sunday, with activists saying it was done to arrest a dissident journalist on board.
BELARUS: Belarus blocks top news site in ‘full-scale assault’ on free press
The Guardian: Widely read Tut.by news site taken offline in latest attack on media freedom, say human rights groups.
BELARUS: Belarus: Blocking leading online media outlet is a brazen attack on freedom of expression
Amnesty International: Reacting to the news that TUT.by, one of Belarus’ leading independent online media outlets, was blocked today by the country’s Ministry of Information, Amnesty International’s Senior Campaigner on Belarus, Aisha Jung, said: “This is a cowardly step taken by a government which fears truth and resorts to brutal measures to suppress human rights. It must end its suffocating crackdown on independent voices and immediately reverse the blocking of TUT.by.”
BELARUS: Lukashenka Signs Amendments Further Restricting Belarus Protests, Media Freedoms
RFE/RL: Belarus’s authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka has signed into law legal amendments severely restricting civil rights and the free flow of information amid a crackdown on the country’s pro-democracy movement.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: “All the pain of the world”: how Bosnia’s Eurovision absence signals the country’s instability
New Statesman: Bosnia’s public TV broadcaster is feeling the pressure of a nation struggling to remain united.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech President bars unfriendly media from receiving information
Euractiv: The Office of Czech President Miloš Zeman, who faces domestic challenges over his ties to Russia, will stop providing information to several investigative media outlets, including public broadcaster Czech Television, Respekt, server Seznam Zprávy and daily Deník N.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech Radio launches new sport radio station (Paywall)
Telecompaper: Czech public broadcaster Czech Radio has launched what it says is the first sport-focused radio station in the country available only in digital channels, except nationwide DAB+ multiplex CRo DAB+.
CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVENIA: Public media independence under threat in the Czech Republic and Slovenia
RSF: The public service media in the Czech Republic and Slovenia are resisting political pressure, including accusations of criminality and threats to funding, but their editorial and financial independence is clearly in danger. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on politicians in these two countries to safeguard public media independence in accordance with Council of Europe recommendations.
DENMARK: Danish report: Backdrop for local news media, while TV moves forward
Nordicom: While revenues for local and regional news media are in decline, the opposite is true for TV and streaming services. In a new report about the Danish media industry, the Ministry of Culture sheds light on the development from 2016 to 2019.
FINLAND: Yle’s board has two new members (Finnish)
Yle: On 18 May, the Supervisory Board of Broadcasting elected at a meeting of the company’s Board of Directors.
CPJ: French authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate threats made to Jean-Jacques Basier and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
FRANCE: French broadcasters close ranks with anti-Netflix merger
Reuters: France’s two biggest private broadcasters are closing ranks to fend off the meteoric rise of U.S. streaming platforms, hoping the desire for a national champion that can take on global video-on-demand giants will trump domestic antitrust concerns.
FRANCE: French public TV channel France 4 avoids planned shut-down, to focus on youth and culture (Paywall)
Telecompaper: French president Emmanuel Macron announced on Twitter that free-to-air channel France 4 will not close in August as expected.
GEORGIA: Unidentified men attack crews with Georgian public broadcaster Pirveli Arkhi
CPJ: Georgian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate recent attacks on employees of the Pirveli Arkhi public broadcaster and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
GERMANY: Public legal radio: Reboot, now (German – Paywall – Opinion)
Süddeutsche Zeitung: ARD and ZDF are getting on in years – and should urgently reform their programs. Because it’s not just Netflix that attracts viewers, other channels are also upgrading.
GERMANY: ZDF long-term study on media use and living environment in Corona times (Press Release – German)
ZDF: Germany has been living with and in the Corona pandemic for about a year – and since the beginning of the crisis, ZDF has regularly asked people about their attitudes and concerns, but also about their everyday life and their media use.
IRELAND: RTÉ to increase voluntary redundancies, suppress posts
RTÉ: RTÉ has said it is to seek in excess of the initial 60 voluntary redundancies, saying that the Voluntary Exit programme is oversubscribed.
IRELAND: RTÉ warns that Irish media up against international interests
RTÉ: Ireland needs to “tool up” to defend itself against massive international media interests, an Oireachtas Committee has heard.
ITALY: Rai: “Social cohesion”, a research for the Public Service mission (Italian)
Rai: “Social cohesion. The challenge of the radio, television and multimedia public service” is a volume resulting from the work of the Rai Studies Office – published by Rai Libri – which investigates the close link between public service media and social cohesion whose concept, together with that of sustainable development, is indicated by the European Union as an ideal to strive for and through which to orient and evaluate policy choices.
LATVIA: Latvian pubcaster begins HD switch
Broadcast TV News: The Latvian public broadcaster’s channels LTV1 and LTV7 have been made available in HD quality to leading cable operators.
POLAND: Add fuel to the fire (German)
Süddeutsche Zeitung: In the clutches of PiS: In Poland, numerous editors-in-chief have to leave, the independence of the Polska Press newspaper group is threatened.
POLAND & CROATIA: Spoof Awards for Intimidating Lawsuits Go to Poland, Croatia
Balkan Insight: Poland’s ruling party chief and Croatia’s public broadcaster were given parody ‘awards’ as part of an initiative to highlight individuals or organisations that file lawsuits intended to intimidate journalists or rights campaigners.
SLOVENIA: Opposition requests session to discuss suspension of STA financing (Paywall)
STA: The opposition Left, supported by the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Social Democrats (SD), Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) and the group of unaffiliated MPs, demands an emergency session of the parliamentary Commission for Public Finance Oversight to discuss the suspension of funding of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA).
SLOVENIA: Slovenia’s Jansa follows Hungary down authoritarian path (Paywall)
Financial Times
SPAIN: RTVE and the Official Associations of Pharmacists agree to fight against false information about health (Spanish – Press release)
RTVE: The RTVE Corporation and the General Council of Official Associations of Pharmacists (CGCOF) have signed an agreement for the active fight against false information on health-related issues.
SWITZERLAND: Swiss parliament wants to reinforce media censorship (Portuguese – Opinion)
Swissinfo: The government and parliament plan to tighten up the law against the media in Switzerland, facilitating the use of interim measures, a particularly powerful censorship tool. These changes were proposed at the same time that some 30 non-governmental organizations recently warned of “gag processes” that threaten press freedom.
UK: BBC to review editorial policies and Martin Bashir hiring
BBC News: The BBC is to review its editorial practices and investigate how journalist Martin Bashir was rehired, following an inquiry into his interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.
UK: Martin Bashir Diana interview: BBC boss Tim Davie accepts ‘multiple serious failures’ (Watch)
BBC News: The BBC’s director general has described the corporation’s failures around Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana as “very, very serious”.
UK: Statement from the BBC Board
BBC Media Centre: As members of the BBC Board we were, like so many others, concerned by the findings in Lord Dyson’s report into the 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.
UK: Secret panel threatens BBC’s future, warn cultural grandees (Paywall)
Financial Times: More than 120 public figures call for government to be more open about plans for UK broadcaster.
UK: Trust is key to BBC’s survival – so it must learn from Martin Bashir scandal
The Guardian: Analysis: a revered public service broadcaster cannot be seen to have an ‘end justifies the means’ mentality.
UKRAINE: Financing challenge for Ukrainian pubcaster
Broadband TV News: Zurab Alasania, the DG of the Ukrainian public broadcaster UA:PBC, has conceded that despite major restructuring financing remains a challenge.
REGIONAL: Clear differences in how Nordic journalists experience their professional role and external influence (Research)
University of Gothenburg: Swedish and Danish journalists describe their role as monitorial to a greater extent than journalists from other Nordic countries.
GENERAL: Ensuring Safety Of Journalists In The European Union: Our Input To The EU’s Upcoming Recommendation (Publication)
EBU: In light of the increasing number of threats and attacks, physical and online, faced by journalists across the EU, the EBU has given input to the European Commission on the upcoming recommendation on ensuring safety of journalists in the European Union.
GENERAL: Streaming giants leave Europe’s TV networks for dust
DW: As Warner and Discovery team up to create yet another global streaming giant, European broadcasters feel the heat. Politicians, tech giants and US peers are hacking away at their business models.
BRAZIL: Access the e-book “The impact of digital platforms on journalism” (Report – Portuguese)
FENAJ: The National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ) launched the e-book “The impact of digital platforms on Journalism”… The publication brings together articles that deal with the political, economic and cultural impact of the world’s mega Internet corporations on the Brazilian journalistic ecosystem, notably the digital business platforms and social networks.
Infobae: They were also equipped with safety masks and helmets to continue covering the national strike in the city.
COLOMBIA: How do peace stations connect with their communities? (Press release – Spanish)
RTVC: The leaders of the peace stations of Ituango, Antioquia; Chaparral, Tolima; Fonseca, Cesar; San Jacinto, Bolívar and Convencion, Norte de Santander tell us, from their perspective, how these spaces of the National Radio of Colombia contribute to the construction of their regions and their communities.
COLOMBIA: This is how RTVC was measured against the challenge of supporting teachers in a pandemic (Press release – Spanish)
RTVC
ECUADOR: More than 1,700 attacks on the press in the Moreno government in Ecuador (Spanish)
Swissinfo: A total of 1,702 attacks on journalists and the media in Ecuador were registered by the Andean Foundation for Media Observation and Study (Fundamedios) during the government of President Lenín Moreno, whose term will end this Monday.
GUATEMALA: Proposed ‘NGO Law’ threatens press freedom, independent reporting in Guatemala
CPJ: Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei should reject a proposed law granting the government broad control over the finances and operations of non-governmental organizations, including nonprofit news outlets and press freedom groups, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
JAMAICA: Gov’t PAC members demand name of journalist in Auditor General Dept enquiry
Jamaica Gleaner: In an unusual request, government members of a parliamentary committee this morning demanded to know the name of a Gleaner journalist who spoke with Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis on a matter being deliberated in Parliament.
NICARAGUA: Newspaper recorded 27 attacks on press freedom in Nicaragua in April (Spanish)
Swissinfo: At least 27 attacks against press freedom occurred in Nicaragua last April, in which aggressions and attacks on journalists predominated, reported this Wednesday the newspaper La Prensa, the oldest in the country.
NICARAGUA: Nicaraguan police invade TV studio and arrest cameraman (Portuguese)
Brasil Online: Nicaraguan police raided the building where the TV program “Esta Semana” is recorded on Thursday and also the newsroom for the “Confidencial” newspaper, led by journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro, a critic of President Daniel Ortega, and arrested one of his videographers, whose whereabouts are unknown at the moment, in addition to harassing a group of journalists who covered the action.
PERU: Journalists are attacked during the demonstration of the leftist Castillo in Peru (Portuguese)
Swissinfo: Three press organizations in Peru on Thursday condemned the attack on several journalists by supporters of leftist candidate Pedro Castillo, whom they accused of inciting these acts two weeks before the presidential vote against right-wing Keiko Fujimori.
URUGUAY: Debate on freedom of expression on television channels moved to Parliament (Spanish – 10 May)
La Diaria: Workers asked to keep an article on conscientious objection of journalists in the media law and a Colorado representative confirmed that he will be in the project.
VENEZUELA: Venezuela Court Seizes El Nacional Media Building in Civil Defamation Case
VOA: One of Venezuela’s oldest newspapers was evicted from its own building Friday, after members of the National Guard, accompanied by a judge, executed a court order.
IRAN: Press freedom violations recounted in real time January 2020 | Reporters without borders
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the unrelenting persecution of press freedom in Iran, of which the latest victims include Rozbeh Priri, a citizen-journalist based in the northwestern province of Eastern Azerbaijan.
ISRAEL: Israeli TV reporters face attacks and threats from Jewish extremists
The Guardian: News channels provide security for some high-profile journalists after they are increasingly targeted online.
ISRAEL: Israel’s arguments for denying foreign reporters access to Gaza are spurious
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns Israel’s week-old ban on foreign reporters entering the Gaza Strip from Israeli territory, which is obstructing media coverage of the conflict. The border must be reopened at once, RSF says.
ISRAEL & PALESTINE: Incite and inflame: Israel’s manipulation of the media (Watch)
Al Jazeera: Ceasefire in Gaza: As journalists in the Strip stop to catch their breath, Israel’s media stand accused of inciting violence against Palestinians.
ISRAEL & PALESTINE: With Gaza Offices Bombed, Journalists Struggle to Keep Reporting
VOA: Youmna El Sayed, a journalist with The Associated Press, lost her office and much of the equipment she uses to report when an Israeli airstrike destroyed the 11-story office building where she worked in Gaza City.
JORDAN: Jordan scores 227.3 points out of 570 in 2020 Media Freedom Status Index
Zawya: Constant endeavours are made to eliminate the restrictions that limit public freedoms and the independence of the Jordanian media.
LEBANON: Study on “Media Trends in Time of Change” (Report)
Maharat Foundation: Maharat Foundation developed a study on “Media Trends in Time of Change” in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program, funded by the European Union and the United States Agency for International Development.
TURKEY: Reactions mount as Erdoğan decree allows arbitrary cancellation of press cards
Stockholm Center for Freedom: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has sparked criticism from opposition politicians and press associations due to a recent decree that paves way for the cancellation of press cards for reasons regarded by many as arbitrary and ambiguou…
TURKEY: Turkey’s Media Weighed Down by Lawsuits
VOA News: ‘We cannot speak of a free press in Turkey’ head of media association says, citing thousands of legal cases filed against journalists.
CANADA: CBC Journalists Told They Can’t Cover Israel-Palestine After Demanding Fairer Coverage
Vice: Two journalists from Canada’s national broadcaster say they’ve been barred from covering the ongoing violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories after signing an open letter calling for more nuanced coverage.
CANADA: Inclusive journalism as seen by Mandy Luk (Blog)
CBC/Radio-Canada: While diversity and inclusion are a key focus in Mandy Luk’s day-to-day life, she is first and foremost a journalist who believes profoundly in the importance of representation in our programming. “It’s about improving our journalism as a public broadcaster,” she says….
Toronto Star: Canadians who work in the digital world say the federal government’s proposed updates to broadcasting regulations could end up hamstringing its own goal of promoting Canadian cultural content.
CANADA: New initiative will see Facebook pay 14 Canadian media outlets for content (Paywall)
The Globe and Mail: Under the News Innovation Test, Facebook will pay publishers an undisclosed amount to include selected links on their pages that bring users to news sites.
CANADA: Radio Canada International: Unveiling a fresh vision for the future (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: Featuring more languages, more newsworthy content and a revamped look and feel, the completely redesigned website positions RCI squarely in line with 21st-century news delivery and consumption patterns.
US: A third of large U.S. newspapers experienced layoffs in 2020, more than in 2019
Pew Research: Staff layoffs continued to pummel the beleaguered U.S. newspaper industry in 2020. A third of papers with an average Sunday circulation of 50,000 or more experienced layoffs last year, a period complicated by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis which examined news articles that cited staff layoffs at these outlets.
US: DOJ Access to Journalists’ Phone Records Is Ruled Out by Biden (Paywall)
The Wall Street Journal: President Biden said he wouldn’t allow his Justice Department to gain access to journalists’ phone and email records.
US: How local news organizations are taking steps to recover from a year of trauma
American Press Institute: More than a year after the global pandemic became official, local journalism still grapples with the fallout — not only from the coronavirus but also by an intense nationwide racial reckoning, regional disasters including fires and storms, and ever-present gun violence and mass shootings.
US: How New York City Is Saving Its Local News Outlets (Opinion – Paywall)
The New York Times: At a time when newsrooms nationwide are laying off reporters and some are closing down, a program begun by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration has been helping to sustain small, independent media outlets in every corner of the city.
US: How NPR and stations are working together to expand regional news (Paywall)
Current: NPR and stations have found early success at attracting support from major donors and adding reporting capacity to the system with a journalism hubs model.
US: The missing middle: Reimagining a future for tweens, teens and public media (Paywall)
Current: Researchers from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center report on how public media can create media that’s relevant to the lives of the teens and tweens who make up Gen Z.
US: PMJA Editor Corps Gets $45K Boost from CPB (Press release)
CPB: The Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) Editor Corps is accepting new requests for editing help from public media newsrooms through an additional $45,000 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
Climate journalism: bandwagon, zeitgeist or audience growth opportunity?
Journalism.co.uk
How can journalists improve coverage of the COVID-19 vaccines? Knight Center offers free, self-directed online course (Opportunity)
Knight Center: Journalists who want to best inform the public about the vaccines and combat disinformation surrounding them can now take “Covering the COVID-19 vaccine: What journalists need to know” for free, online and at their own pace.
How to future-proof journalism after COVID-19 (Opinion)
VIEWdigital
Launched on May 18, the JTI online platform represents new dawn for media integrity, transparency and sustainability (Initiative)
RSF: “At the core of the JTI is the self-assessment of media outlets to diagnose, optimize and promote the accuracy of their journalism, with the aim of building a healthier news ecosystem, identifying and rewarding reliable reporting and restoring audiences’ confidence in journalism at large.”
Listening to what trust in news means to users: qualitative evidence from four countries (Report)
Reuters Institute: How do people view media they come across in everyday life, and what can that tell us about why they do (and do not) trust the news they encounter?
CJR
LSE Blogs: Mária Žuffová discusses the role of freedom of information (FOI) laws in journalism.
The pandemic’s lessons for journalism
Judith Nielson Institute: The past year has been a learning moment for us all, including journalists, writes Desi Anwar.
Thinking of starting a local digital news site? Do it, but be aware of the pitfalls.
Poynter: Funding and training are plentiful and displaced journalists are eager to recommit to a community news mission, but the picture is not all sunny.
What Does Journalism for a Just Economy Look Like?
Nonprofit Quarterly
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