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.
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Press freedom: Hong Kong journalist vows not to give up
DW: Just over two years since Stand News closed following a police raid amid pressure on Hong Kong’s free press, former employees speak out about how their journalistic work has changed.
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Finding happiness in journalism, with Avery Holton
Journalism.co.uk: Journalists need to hold onto joy to overcome sadness, fear or anger so often associated with the profession. But newsroom managers also have a role in keeping spirits lifted.
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ALGERIA: Tebboune’s media ‘reforms’ won’t unmuzzle Algeria’s press (Column)
World Politics Review: In late November, Algeria’s pliant National Assembly adopted new laws regulating the media and journalism proposed by the government of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
BURKINA FASO: Local bank accused of silencing media outlet in Burkina Faso
BNN: In a chilling revelation that has sent shockwaves through the media fraternity, a prominent figurehead of Burkina Faso’s media sphere, Marcus Kouaman, has taken a stand against what seems like an attempt to muzzle the press.
CAMEROON & US: Journalist arrives at Northwestern, under threat, with much to share
Evanston Roundtable: Mana’s decades in Cameroonian journalism led to his departure after colleague’s murder
DR CONGO: DRC elections: RSF condemns attack on RFI correspondent
Africa News: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Thursday condemned the attack on a correspondent of the French radio station RFI in Kinshasa by “presidential party militants” during the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
ETHIOPIA: Ethiopia media sector alliance reviews four-year progress amidst challenges in journalism
BNN: The Ethiopia Media Sector Alliance (EMSA), an initiative instituted in 2019 to invigorate Ethiopia’s media sector, recently convened a meeting to evaluate its four-year trajectory. The gathering, held at the UN Economic Commission for Africa conference center in Addis Ababa, was marked by the participation of a diverse group of stakeholders, including media representatives, academics, civil society, and international supporters.
GAMBIA: Pap Saine harps on state of Gambian media
The Point: Veteran journalist and co-publisher of The Point, Mr Pap Saine, said newspapers and journalism in The Gambia have made significant progress in the midst of fierce competition.
GBC: Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Professor Amin Alhassan, visited the Modern City Hotel in Tamale to support Chef Faliatu during Cook-A-Thon Day 6.
GHANA: NPP MP Hawa Koomson denies assaulting a journalist
Pulse: The Minister for Fisheries and Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya East Constituency, Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson, has refuted claims of her involvement in the incident reported on January 4, 2024, concerning the assault on David Kobbina, a journalist from Cape FM in the Central Region.
GHANA: Season of intimidation: attacks on Ghana press escalate ahead of 2024 polls
Al Jazeera: Ghanaian journalists become targets of political actors and security operatives ahead of 2024 elections.
KENYA: CPJ Calls for Investigation of Attack On 5 Kenyan Journalists Reporting a Raid On Nairobi Bar
CPJ: In response to news reports that private security personnel assaulted and harassed at least five journalists covering a January 5 raid on a bar in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, by police and drug enforcement officers, the Committee to Protect Journalists has urged a transparent and immediate investigation.
KENYA: Nation media group plans major redundancy scheme
Africa Intelligence: With profits continuing to shrink, the Aga Khan’s media company is planning layoffs across the board.
KENYA: State to start paying Sh1.7bn media pending bills
The Star: The government owes media houses Sh1.7 billion in pending bills exposing the financial struggles that the sector players are currently undergoing.
LIBERIA: Court arrests journalist Sekou Sheriff for alleged blackmail, criminal coercion
Daily Observer: In a surprising development, Journalist Sekou Sheriff, CEO of The Voice of Liberia (VOL), a radio station in Monrovia, was arrested on Thursday, January 4, by a sheriff of the court after the Monrovia City Magisterial Court issued a warrant for him.
MOZAMBIQUE: Authorities must investigate ‘deplorable killing’ of newspaper editor (Press release)
Amnesty International: Authorities must conduct a thorough, impartial and effective investigation into the killing of journalist João Fernando Chamusse.
NIGERIA: Police confirm killing of Nigerian journalist
Premium Times Nigeria: The police in Edo State have confirmed the killing of a journalist in the state.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC SPORT SECURES RIGHTS TO BROADCAST THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2023 IN IVORY COAST AND THE REST OF CAF EVENTS (Press release)
SABC: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 broadcasting rights and the rest of CAF events for the 2024 season.
SOUTH AFRICA: South African journalist Thomo Nkgadima charged with intimidation after photographing mayor’s home
CPJ: South African authorities should drop criminal trespass and intimidation charges against freelance journalist Thomo Nkgadima and ensure that members of the press do not face reprisal for reporting issues of public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.
SUDAN: Journalists still trapped in Sudan’s civil war
RSF: As Sudan’s journalists continue to be trapped in an eight-month-old civil war, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reminds the two parties to the conflict, the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, that they could be held criminally responsible if journalists are killed or injured, and that protecting media personnel must be a priority.
TUNISIA: Al-Jazeera Journalist Samir Sassi Arrested On Undisclosed Charges in Tunisia
CPJ: On Wednesday, January 3, police raided and searched the home of Sassi, a reporter at Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera, in the capital Tunis and arrested him, according to news reports and the outlet’s Tunisia bureau chief, Lotfi Hajji, who added that the police confiscated Sassi’s laptop, his phone, several books, and the phones of his wife and children.
TUNISIA: Tunisian journalist Zied el-Heni arrested after criticizing commerce minister
CPJ: Tunisian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Zied el-Heni and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.
REGIONAL: Pay-TV Subscription Across Africa Set To Increase By 12 Million By 2029 – Report
Broadcast Media Africa: According to a report by Digital TV Research, the number of pay-TV subscribers in Africa will climb by 12 million between 2023 and 2029.
AFGHANISTAN: Journalists centre expresses concern over media rights violations in Afghanistan
ANI: The Afghanistan Journalists Center stated that in 2023 it had documented 168 instances of journalists’ rights being violated in Afghanistan, and it raised alarm about these crimes, TOLO News reported.
AFGHANISTAN: Media rights violations rise as journalists detained and sentenced (Press release)
IFJ: In another spate of crackdowns on Afghan media workers, journalist Abdul Rahim Mohammadi was reportedly detained by the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence in Kabul on December 4, while on December 10, Radio Nasim manager Sultan Ali Javadi was sentenced to one year in prison in a Taliban court in Nili, Daikundi.
CPJ: On December 22, police in the capital, Baku, detained Eminov, a freelance reporter who contributes to the popular YouTube-based broadcaster Kanal 13, as he was on his way to conduct an interview, according to media reports and the outlet’s chief editor Anar Orujov, who spoke to CPJ in a telephone interview.
BANGLADESH: A legitimate election in Bangladesh depends on a free press
The Diplomat: Journalists, whose daily reports are the lifeblood of information flows that make dynamic economies possible, risk being silenced in an amplified government crackdown.
BANGLADESH: Bangladesh slams global media, alleges disinformation over internal political situation
Firstpost: The Bangladesh government has slammed sections of the international media over alleged disinformation regarding the arrest of opposition party leaders ahead of elections in the South Asian country.
BANGLADESH: CPJ urges Bangladesh authorities, political parties to ensure media freedom ahead of election (Press release)
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Bangladesh authorities and all political parties to respect the right of journalists to report freely and safely ahead of Sunday’s upcoming national election.
CHINA: China targets friendly media, diplomats to ‘tell story of Xinjiang’
Al Jazeera: Beijing organises visits to far western region where it is accused of potential crimes against humanity, but not everyone is convinced.
HONG KONG: How independent media is navigating Hong Kong’s closing press freedom environment
IJNet: Hong Kong is no longer the bastion of press freedom in the Asia Pacific it once was. Since Beijing imposed the National Security Law (NSL) in July 2020, newsrooms have been raided, journalists arrested, and news outlets shut down.
INDIA: Indian journalists targeted by Israeli spyware again: what do we know?
Al Jazeera: A new forensic investigation by Amnesty International and The Washington Post has shown the use of the Israeli Pegasus spyware, likely by the Indian government, to surveil high-profile Indian journalists. A report detailing the findings was published on Thursday. Here is what we know.
INDIA: Sony ready to abandon $10bn Zee deal that would create Indian media powerhouse
Financial Times: Sony is prepared to call off a merger agreement between its Indian arm and Zee Entertainment, the subcontinent’s largest listed media group, following numerous delays to complete a deal that would create a $10bn entertainment business, according to two people with direct knowledge of the talks.
INDIA: ‘The last press conference by an Indian PM in India’ was 10 years ago on this day
The Wire: Journalist Pankaj Pachauri has pointed out that on this day in 2014, Dr Manmohan Singh fielded over 62 questions from 100 journalists in what was the last presser by an Indian PM in India.
AFP: A video has been viewed millions of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows prominent Indonesian journalist Najwa Shihab endorsing Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, who is running in the February 2024 election.
ABC News: Taking any chance he can to be seen wiggling his hips and shaking his arms, a 72-year-old with a dark past now has a new cute “teddy bear” image.
JAPAN: Japan warns about spread of false social media info on Noto quake
The Mainichi: False information concerning a powerful earthquake in central Japan on New Year’s Day has been spreading on social media platforms, prompting the government on Wednesday to call for the public to exercise caution.
KAZAKHSTAN: Kazakh journalist imprisoned on extortion charge launches hunger strike
Radio Free Europe: Kazakh journalist Vladimir Severny, who was sentenced to seven years in prison earlier this month on extortion charges that he rejects, launched a hunger strike protesting his incarceration, his lawyer said on December 29.
MONGOLIA: Jailing of high-profile journalist shocks Mongolia’s media industry
Voice of America: The jailing of journalists in Mongolia is rare, which makes the arrest of Unurtsetseg Naran, one of the country’s most influential reporters, all the more shocking to the country’s media.
MYANMAR: A photojournalist released in Myanmar: RSF urges the junta to free the 64 other reporters still detained (Press release)
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is relieved by the release of Myanmar photojournalist Kaung Sett Lin, but insists that he should never have been arrested. The organisation urges the military junta to free all the 64 other journalists still detained in the country.
MYANMAR: Covering conflict is risky but vital for Myanmar media
Voice of America: As Myanmar’s opposition forces and ethnic armed groups step up their fight against the ruling junta, the country’s media outlets are working to cover the action.
NEPAL: Nepalese media faces sustainability crisis, says report
The Himalayan: The Nepali media witnessed huge financial crisis in the past one year- 2023, thereby causing severe dent on sustainability of free press.
PAKISTAN: Pakistani journalists continue to pay high price for free speech as 2023 marks another tough year
Dawn: The year 2023 was not an easy one for journalists in Pakistan. The increasing number of attacks on members of the press fast eroded whatever semblance of free speech was left in the country.
PHILIPPINES: Decriminalising libel
Rappler: From 2004 to 2012, Philippine legislators filed more than 60 bills seeking the decriminalization of libel or at least the abolition of imprisonment with regard to libel cases. But things have not moved.
PHILIPPINES: Philippine broadcast regulator suspends TV show of former president Duterte
The Diplomat: Duterte’s TV show will be off the air for two weeks. Has the former president finally lost the backing of the ruling coalition?
SOUTH KOREA: KBS Broadcast Policy 2024: New KBS, Delivering Impartiality and Innovation
KBS: KBS has announced its Broadcast Policy for 2024 as New KBS, with a focus on Delivering Impartiality and Innovation. This year, KBS aims to fulfill its responsibilities as a public broadcaster through impartial content and innovative initiatives.
SOUTH KOREA: Why South Korea has backed down from plans to ease ban on North Korean media
NK News: South Korea appears to be backing down from a plan to ease restrictions on accessing North Korean media, a reversal that several experts called counterproductive and out of step with Seoul’s stated desire to protect internet freedom.
TAJIKISTAN: In Tajikistan, independent media throttled by state repression
CPJ: Rahmon’s bid to centralize control includes efforts to silence political opponents, human rights activists, and independent voices.
TAJIKISTAN: Tajikistan’s Media Landscape In Its ‘Worse State’ Since Independence, Watchdog Says
RFE/RL: The media landscape in Tajikistan is in its “worst state” since the Central Asian nation’s civil war in the 1990s as the country’s authoritarian president, Emomali Rahmon, establishes himself as an “absolute power with no tolerance for dissent,” a media watchdog said.
TAIWAN: As election day looms, foreign press focuses on China despite local concerns
Focus Taiwan: As foreign media outlets descend upon Taiwan ahead of the 2024 presidential and legislative elections, overseas coverage is likely to remain tightly focused on the country’s dealings with an increasingly bellicose China.
TAIWAN: Instructions for vote counting by the Public Broadcasting Group (Press release – Chinese)
PTS: For the 2024 presidential election, China Television will coordinate the vote counting project of the public broadcasting group and recruit 1,500 ballot operators to be stationed in the six cities to provide the latest votes and total votes of the public broadcasting channels.
TAIWAN: Journalist held in Taiwan over fake opinion polls
NHK: Taiwanese authorities have detained a journalist accused of publishing fake opinion polls on Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election.
South China Morning Post: Post reporter with mainland China passport among journalists forced to cancel travel plans because of restrictions.
THAILAND: Come have fun with the Children’s Day event “Thai PBS Kids Day 2024. Happy Children” (Press release – Thai)
Thai PBS: This Children’s Day, Thai PBS would like to invite the little ones to have fun while learning with “Thai PBS Kids Day 2024, Good Mood Kid” on Saturday, January 13, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., packed with activities.
AUSTRALIA: ABC Radio 2024: How will shake-up at networks impact ratings across the new year?
Mediaweek: After a number of key changes announced during the latter half of 2023, ABC Radio management has been reminded how deep the attachments are that listeners have to the stations they help fund.
AUSTRALIA: Inside the overhaul at the ABC
The Saturday Paper: The overhaul that’s intended to rescue the ABC from demographic disaster is looking shaky as more senior staff leave, among them some of the stewards of its transformation.
NEW ZEALAND: 2023 in New Zealand’s media: a very chilling play-by-play
The Spinoff: There were some dramatic stories, and some big wins – but the overall trend was very troubling for New Zealand’s domestic media.
NEW ZEALAND: National library saves Fairfax photo archive from US landfill
RNZ: Thousands of photos of Māori life from the early 20th century have been brought back into New Zealand hands by the National Library, after nearly ending up in an American landfill.
NEW ZEALAND & THE PACIFIC: Pacific uniqueness is our ‘superpower’ to tackle challenges ahead (Column)
PMN: As the world starts to focus on the region “in which the sun never sets”, PMN is well placed to be the platform to amplify Pacific people’s voices, writes Don Mann.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Ongoing concerns about press freedom and independence
Civicus Monitor: There have been continued concerns around the state of press freedom in the Solomon Islands and the influence of China on media independence.
REGIONAL: Dreaver’s decades of impact: Pacific journalist honoured in New Year awards
Cook Islands News: TVNZ’s Pacific correspondent and former Cook Islands News journalist Barbara Dreaver talks to Pacific Media Network’s Khalia Strong on three decades reporting on Pacific issues, and making her parents proud.
AUSTRIA: New ORF article: “Penalties are the last resort” (German)
Kurier: The new ORF contribution came at the turn of the year. According to ORF boss Weißmann, penalties will be withheld until the summer.
AUSTRIA: ORF rejects allegations about ORF.at (Press release – German)
ORF: The accusations currently made in an APA statement by the VÖZ and in various print and online media that the ORF-G and thus also the new ORF.at offering would be a “deceptive package” and that the ORF would be using “tricks” are firmly rejected by ORF Director General Roland Weißmann.
BELARUS: Journalists’ repression intensified in 2023
EFJ: The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) have just published their annual report. The figures show that the repression of journalists and the media has not abated: 32 journalists and media workers are in prison and 12 independent media have been declared “terrorist organisations”.
BELGIUM: 70 years of television: from four-lens drum cameras to iPhone fiction (Press release – Dutch)
VRT: October 31, 1953 marked the start of television in our country and we will celebrate that for another year. During the Christmas period you could visit the Expo TV70 in the iconic Flagey building.
DENMARK: DR’s archive offer premieres with newly restored TV classics (Press release – Danish)
DR: ‘Gensyn’ is the name of DR’s new archive offering, which will premiere on DRTV this spring. This happens, among other things, with a newly restored version of the TV classic ‘The House in Christianshavn’.
FINLAND: Swedish-language media in Finland gets creative to stay afloat
IJNet: Swedish is Finland’s second official language, yet less than 6% of the population are native speakers. … Several Swedish-language outlets, however, are keeping their literary tradition alive while finding innovative ways to survive.
FRANCE: France Télévisions, the No. 1 media outlet for the French (Press release – French)
FranceTV: An offer rich in diversity, close to the public through its incarnation and innovative in its creations
GERMANY: 40 years of “WISO” on ZDF: Start into the anniversary year with a documentary about the basic heritage idea (Press release – German)
ZDF: Anniversary for “WISO” at the beginning of the new year: The ZDF magazine for business and social affairs has been on the air for 40 years – “WISO” was first shown on ZDF on January 3, 1984.
GERMANY & UKRAINE: Russia attacks journalists’ hotel in Kharkiv (Press release – German) (31 December)
ZDF: A ZDF team was also hit in a Russian rocket attack on a hotel in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Saturday. The seven-member team led by ZDF reporter Alica Jung was in the Kharkiv Palace Hotel at the time of the shelling when the rocket hit the building.
ICELAND: A new service contract with the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation (Press release – Icelandic)
RÚV: Emphasis on the Icelandic language, dissemination of older content, services for children and young people and access to RÚV’s media for all are among the focus points in the new service agreement of the Minister of Culture and Business with Ríkisútvarpið ohf. which was signed recently. The contract is valid for four years.
ITALY: 70 years Rai. Money: digital transition and sustainability among the future challenges of public service (Press release – Italian)
Rai
ITALY: “United against disinformation”, record numbers for the IDMO campaign (Press release – Italian)
Rai: The Rai campaign for IDMO “United against disinformation” closes with record numbers: over 848 million contacts.
LITHUANIA: Guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence prepared by LRT (Press release – Lithuanian)
LRT: LRT constantly strives to improve and keep up with the latest technologies – artificial intelligence has recently become one of them. In order to take advantage of this tool while fulfilling the public broadcaster’s mission to inform, educate and mobilize the public, LRT has developed principles that determine the responsible use of AI.
POLAND: Polish media conflict pits government against far right
Deutsche Welle: Newly elected Prime Minister Donald Tusk has relaunched Poland’s public broadcaster, wresting control from the previous far-right government.
POLAND: The bold move behind Vogue Polska’s AI-generated cover
The Fix: The cover sparked discussions on ethics and the intersection of technology and creativity, challenging traditional norms in the fashion industry
POLAND: What does Sienkiewicz’s decision to liquidate TVP mean? The lawyer explains (Polish – Payroll)
Business Insider: TVP goes into liquidation. Now Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz will appoint its liquidator. The legal chaos caused by PiS’s actions makes the minister’s decision practically unquestionable.
SERBIA: Prosecution launched 73 cases related to attacks against journalists in first 11 months of 2023 (28 December)
Slavko Curuvija Fondacija: Veran Matić, a member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, has presented a statistic confirming that the State Prosecutor’s Office launched 73 cases linked to attacks and threats to the safety of journalists between the beginning of the year and the end of November 2023, with 23 of those cases having so far been resolved.
SLOVENIA: Clarifications on Nina Kojima’s accusations (Press release – Slovenian)
RTV SLO: Due to extremely demanding financial conditions, the management of Television Slovenia supported the proposal to terminate cooperation with part-time colleague Nina Kojima.
SLOVENIA: Explanation regarding the unauthorized attempt to enter the premises of RTV Slovenia (Press release – Slovenian)
RTV SLO: Fifteen employees of RTV Slovenia were sent to wait for work at home from January 3, 2024 to January 31, 2024, with the order on the temporary assignment of civil servants.
SLOVENIA: Radio Slovenia and MMC enter the new year with many changes (Press release – Slovenian)
RTV SLO: In 2024, Radio Slovenija will continue to prepare a number of diverse shows, podcasts, concert broadcasts, radio games and sports broadcasts, which will allow us to continue to be a loyal companion of listeners.
SPAIN: In 2023, La 1 obtains its best annual data since 2018, with its highest historical interannual growth (Press release – Spanish)
RTVE: RTVE obtains its best annual data since 2020 and is the only group that improves. Achieves its greatest growth in the last 13 years
SWEDEN: The technology that elevates the viewing experience (Press release – Swedish)
SVT: SVT and the production company Filmlance saw the possibilities in the latest generation of audiovisual technology and joined hands. Now the audience is offered a more engaging picture and sound experience in SVT Play.
UK: How Ruben Reuter challenges disability prejudice in the media industry
Journalism.co.uk: The young Channel 4 News journalist with Down’s syndrome is winning over viewers with his engaging style, impactful stories and candid reporting
UK: U.K. Broadcaster Channel 4 Plans Layoffs Amid Advertising Slump
Variety: Layoffs are in store at U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 amid a continuous decline in TV advertising, Variety has confirmed.
UK: UK Government Blocks Woman Of Color Joining Channel 4 Board Amid Diversity Row
Deadline: The British government has blocked a woman of color from being appointed to Channel 4‘s board for a third time, raising further questions about ministers meddling in media appointments.
UKRAINE: More media targeted by Russian strikes around the New Year
EFJ: Russia launched two massive attacks in Ukraine between 29 December 2023 and 2 January 2024, which injured three journalists and damaged four newsrooms.
REGIONAL: 108 journalists spent New Year’s Eve in prison in Europe
EFJ: While the overall number of journalists detained in Europe has fallen slightly compared to last year (108 instead of 124), repression has increased considerably in certain countries, such as Azerbaijan, where the number of journalists detained has almost quadrupled, as well as in Russia, which this year has become the country that imprisons the most journalists in Europe (40 in total, in Russia and occupied Ukraine).
REGIONAL: IJ4EU rebooted: €2M in grants for cross-border journalism in Europe (Grant & opportunities)
IPI: The Investigative Journalism for Europe fund is back with a new and improved programme of support for watchdog reporting.
ARGENTINA: Uncertainty in public media: without appointments and with directors on vacation (Spanish)
DataClave: The definition of the state company of Public Television and National Radio has been stretched since the inauguration of Javier Milei. The director appointed by the PRO stopped his duties in the midst of a broad purge of journalists.
ARGENTINA: Víctor Hugo and other journalists were disaffected from public media (Spanish)
El Litoral: This Friday it was learned that the government left about 500 employees from Radio Nacional, who had contracts until the end of 2023, as part of the adjustment plan faced by the administration of the radical Javier Monte, until the privatization proposed by the president is resolved.
BRAZIL: National Radio Network exceeds 1,200 station registrations in 2023 (Press release – Portuguese)
EBC: In the last week of the year, the National Radio Network (RNR), of the Superintendency of Communication Services (SUSEC), of Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC), surpassed the mark of 1,200 registrations from broadcasters across the country.
COLOMBIA: Noticias Caracol journalists denounce harassment by a former military man: they had to change their routines for safety (Spanish)
Infobae: Noticias Caracol staff publicly denounced a series of harassments by a former military officer identified as Alfredo Navas Alvis , who served in the Army for 20 years and reached the rank of first vice sergeant.
HONDURAS: RELE condemns the murder of journalist Francisco Ramírez Amador in Honduras and calls on the State to strengthen protection for the press at risk (Spanish)
OAS: The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) strongly condemns the murder of journalist Francisco Javier Ramírez Amador, and calls on the Honduran authorities to investigate the case in a complete, effective and impartial manner. to prosecute and punish those responsible, and to take urgent measures to strengthen the protection of the press at risk.
MEXICO: Let Ciro tremble! New multiplatform news program arrives on open TV: Reference Point (Spanish)
Regeneracion: With the objective of serving audiences, public television in Mexico is about to start a new news effort, Point of Reference.
MEXICO: The Mexican Public Media System opens its first Call for “Mexican Social Voices” (Spanish)
El Heraldo: The Mexican Public Media System begins 2024 with a new way of doing radio, from the public service, by and for the people of Mexico.
NICARAGUA: The 8-year sentence against journalist Víctor Ticay adds to the list of human rights violations (Spanish)
IFEX: Organizations defending freedom of expression demand the immediate release of Ticay and the suspension of the recent constitutional reforms linked to the crime of “treason to the country”, for being a vehicle that seeks to facilitate the violation of Human Rights of critical people, opponents or perceived as such.
PERU: Record of attacks against journalists in 2023 (Spanish)
RFI: In Peru, the National Association of Journalists denounces a black 2023 for the freedom of reporting with a record of attacks on reporters.
VENEZUELA: The shocking report that reveals the attacks against journalists in Venezuela (Spanish)
Infobae: A report, released a few weeks ago, by the NGO RedesAyuda, directed by journalist Melanio Escobar, coordinated by Luis Serrano and authored by journalist Nickole Quilarque, reveals how a campaign of harassment and threats against journalists or other professionals related to the media.
REGIONAL: The view of childhood on public media (Spanish)
Redacción Rosario: They ask for more programs for preteens and adolescents, they are concerned about the care of animals, the environment, relationships between their peers and school, getting bad grades, bullying and the stereotypes that society creates about the body; in addition to global social issues, such as wars.
IRAN: Iranian journalist Hasan Abbasi rearrested and held incommunicado
CPJ: Iranian authorities should immediately release journalist Hasan Abbasi, whose whereabouts are unknown since his arrest, and drop any charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.
IRAN: Restrictions on detained women journalists following a protest in prison
IFJ: Imprisoned Iranian journalists Elaheh Mohammadi, Niloofar Hamedi and Nasim Soltan Beigi, among other women prisoners, were restricted from contact outside for one month, after they chanted slogans about “unfair sentences” when high-ranking judicial authorities visited Tehran’s Evin prison on 27 December.
IRAN: State Broadcaster IRIB Is Iran’s Most Money-Losing Government Entity (23 December)
Iran Focus: The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Organization (IRIB) is the most financially detrimental government entity in the country, with a substantial budget but a limited audience.
ISRAEL: ‘Journalists see their role as helping to win’: how Israeli TV is covering Gaza war
The Guardian: The TikTok videos feature Israeli soldiers, standing under the concrete blast barriers of a military base, in front of a rolling green landscape or beside armoured vehicles.
ISRAEL & GAZA: Al Jazeera accuses Israel of targeted killing of two of its journalists in Gaza (Watch)
The Guardian: Al Jazeera has accused Israel of the targeted killing of two of its journalists in Gaza as the head of the advocacy group Reporters without Borders decried a “never-ending slaughter” in the territory that had killed 79 journalists in the span of three months.
ISRAEL & GAZA: Journalist casualties in the Israel-Gaza war
CPJ: The Israel-Gaza war has taken a severe toll on journalists since Hamas launched its unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7 and Israel declared war on the militant Palestinian group, launching strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip.
TURKEY: 168 female journalists stood trial in Turkey in 2023: report
Turkish Minute: The Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG) has released a report focusing on alleged rights violations of female journalists in Turkey in 2023, which found that 168 of them stood trial throughout the year, the Stockholm Center for Freedom reported, citing the Evrensel newspaper.
EFJ: Furkan Karabay, editor for the independent news website Gerçek Gündem (“The Real Agenda”), was taken into custody by the Istanbul police on 28 December 2023, following an article on the trial of judiciary members. The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) demand his immediate release and urge the authorities to withdraw all charges against him.
UAE & UK: Telegraph takeover: Gulf bidders promise press freedom
BBC: The Abu Dhabi-backed bidder for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph has said journalists will be given total editorial freedom.
CANADA: APTN’s winter broadcast and streaming lineup embraces kinship and warmth for the months ahead (Press release)
APTN: This winter, APTN is pleased to launch a new slate of programming that is equal parts educational and heartfelt.
CANADA: CBC News Promotes Brodie Fenlon to Top Role
The Hollywood Reporter: He replaces Susan Marjetti, who is retiring as general manager at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., where she worked for 35 years.
CANADA: The Liberals are running out of time to Poilievre-proof the CBC (Opinion – Paywall)
The Globe and Mail
US: CPB CEO defends new policy for diversity reporting (Paywall)
Current: In a letter to Sen. Ted Cruz, CPB’s chief executive refuted criticism that updated grant rules are discriminatory.
US: More city hall coverage won’t be enough to revive local news
Nieman Lab: Whether it’s a new round of journalist layoffs or further consolidation into the hands of a few owners, the problems confronting local media in the U.S. are easy to see.
US: NPR’s new executive editor scouts paths for audience growth (Paywall)
Current: “We need to be connecting with different communities, folks with different perspectives in the country and in the world,” says NPR’s Eva Rodriguez.
US: The Messenger’s board weighed shutting it down over cash shortfalls: sources
Semafor: The board of the startup news organization The Messenger weighed shutting the publication down at a meeting on Friday, after learning that the company is on track to run out of cash at the end of January.
US: Voice of America Names Standards Editor (Press release)
VOA: Voice of America has named Natalia Mironova as its new Standards and Best Practices Editor.
10 key steps to building a career in multimedia journalism (Insight)
European Centre for Journalism
120 journalists and media workers killed in 2023, says IFJ
EFJ: 120 journalists and media workers, including 11 women, have been killed in 2023, announced the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on 31 December. Four of them lost their lives in Europe: three in Ukraine and one in Albania.
Academic resources to understand media and journalism better
The Fix: A list of key academic resources that will help journalists get inspired and learn from the developments in academia
At least 8,000 journalism job cuts in UK and North America in 2023
Press Gazette: More than 7,900 journalism industry job cuts throughout 2023 at UK, US and Canadian media outlets have been tracked by Press Gazette.
Boom in AI prompts a test of copyright law
The New York Times: The boom in artificial intelligence tools that draw on troves of content from across the internet has begun to test the bounds of copyright law.
From the inside, a nonprofit news leader says the sector is several years away from its potential (Opinion)
Poynter: It will take decades for nonprofit news outlets to take the place of legacy newsrooms — if the latter do indeed fail.
How AI will reshape journalism’s narrative in 2024 (Opinion)
Poynter: In the intricate dance of media evolution, 2024 marks a pivotal moment, when generative artificial intelligence steps into the spotlight, simultaneously leading and following in the rhythm of innovation.
How media execs are bracing for another year of ad turmoil while finding the bright spots
Digiday: Media execs are setting their ad revenue goals for 2024 with an abundance of caution as they wait and see just how much of the ad market’s volatility in 2023 will persist in the new year.
How Media Help Change Conversation on Mental Health
VOA: At a time when growing numbers of young Americans are diagnosed with mental health conditions, media are looking at ways to cover the issue more responsibly.
How to center resilience and adaptation in climate change coverage
IJNet: “We have to realize that the climate is changing,” Kerkhofs said. “We’re not going to be returning to normal anytime soon, so we’re going to have to prepare for the future.”Here’s more advice from Kerkhofs on how journalists can center resilience and adaptation in their coverage of the climate crisis.
How to report on AI in elections
IJNet: From image generators to chatbots, artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere today; some AI services boast hundreds of millions of users. With one pivotal election just behind us in Argentina, and many more approaching all around the world in 2024, people are worried about AI’s ability to spread electoral misinformation.
Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2024
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: The disruptive power of artificial intelligence (AI) will sweep through the information space this year at a time of intense political and economic volatility around the world.
Moving forward: What’s in store for the media industry in 2024?
TVB Europe: From the revolution of the TV experience, brought about by interactive shopping and monetisation, to a change the definition of who is a broadcaster, the industry is expected to see a number of changes in the next 12 months.
News for All explores how journalism can fix its trust issues
Journalism.co.uk: “Marginalised people and communities regard the impact of journalism’s ‘public service’ in the same way as they regard the police – as an arm of the state, having a profoundly negative impact on their lives”
News media trends for 2024: AI, Whatsapp, newsletters and video among focus areas
Press Gazette: Less than half of news leaders feel confident about their company’s prospects for the next 12 months for the second year running, according to a report looking at news media trends and predictions for 2024.
The things we got wrong in 2023
Semafor: A big part of what we’re trying to do at Semafor is to be transparent with the limits of our knowledge. We try to parse through the facts that we know and what we just think we know, which occasionally isn’t as much as we’d like.
Why break producers are the unsung heroes of fund drives (Paywall)
Current: “Success is in the details. Appointing a wise break producer for fund drives respects both staff and listeners.”
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Header image: An outdoor press conference with multiple cameras and journalists. Credit: Michael Fousert / Unsplash.com
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