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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ALGERIA: Algeria passes law to protect media freedom. Others used to imprison journalists remain on the books.
ABC: Algeria’s National Council passed a new media law that officials hailed as a major victory for the country’s journalists as concerns about press freedoms have plagued President Abdelmajid Tebboune’s first term in office.
BURKINA FASO: Alarming overhaul of Burkina Faso’s media regulator (Press release)
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is concerned about a new law in Burkina Faso that overhauls the country’s media regulator, the Superior Council for Communication (CSC), and thereby increase the government’s control over the media landscape.
BURKINA FASO: Burkina Faso bans distribution of Le Monde newspaper (German)
Deutschlandfunk: The coup government in Burkina Faso, West Africa, has banned the distribution of the French daily newspaper Le Monde until further notice. She accuses the paper of tendentious reporting about a military attack on suspected Islamists.
BURKINA FASO: Journalist’s personal battle as Burkina militants target women
The Citizen: Award-winning journalist finds it impossible to forget the heartbreaking stories she has covered about sexual assault in Burkina Faso’s jihadist war
CAMEROON: Confusion over release of key suspects in murder case of journalist Zogo
Africa News: Nearly 11 months after the assassination of Cameroonian radio host Martinez Zogo, the state scandal that it triggered continues to shake the nation.
CONGO: Is Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera’s trial fate already sealed? (Press release)
RSF: What with a biased investigation, a sham expert report, a refusal to hear defence witnesses and disturbing comments by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s president, there is every reason to question the fairness of a Congolese journalist’s trial in Kinshasa
ESWATINI: State must regulate media – MP Welcome
Swazi Observer: Former journalist Mbabane East Member of Parliament, Welcome Dlamini, said the State should regulate the media. Dlamini, who also is the President of the Swaziland National of Journalists (SNAJ), was speaking yesterday afternoon during the second day of the parliamentarians’ five-day induction conference at the Happy Valley Hotel.
ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian authorities detain Ethio News chief editor Belay Manaye without charge
CPJ: Ethiopian authorities should unconditionally release Belay Manaye, chief editor of Ethio News, who has been detained without explanation for three weeks, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday.
GAMBIA: Historic verdict in quest for justice for murder of RSF’s Gambia correspondent in 2004 (Press release)
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) hails a German court’s historic decision to convict a Gambian citizen of a crime against humanity for his role in the murder of RSF’s correspondent in The Gambia, Deyda Hydara, in 2004, as well as a second murder and an attempted murder.
GHANA: Ghana’s media treats terrorism as a threat from outside – it overlooks violence at home (Column)
The Conversation: In 2022, 43% of all global terrorism deaths occurred in the Sahel – the region south of the Sahara Desert and stretching east-west across the African continent. West Africa had recorded 1,800 terrorism attacks as of June 2023, resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths.
GHANA: Kojo Oppong Nkrumah urges judges to uphold the rights of journalists
Ghana Web: Ghana’s minister of information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has said that freedom is the “cornerstone” of every democratic society, highlighting that “it is a fundamental right that must be protected and upheld.”
GUINEA: Guinea’s access to social media restricted again, group says
Bloomberg: Internet access to social media platforms in Guinea has been restricted since last week, according to a consumer group.
KENYA: Nothing that belongs to KBC will be sold – CS Owalo
The Star: Nobody from the private sector will utilise any KBC property without a clear framework, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has said.
MALI: In Mali, 1 journalist killed, 1 injured, 2 kidnapped by unidentified gunmen (Alert)
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed and saddened by an attack on four journalists in northeastern Mali by unidentified gunmen last month, in which one journalist was killed, a second injured, and two were kidnapped.
NIGER: Community radio in Niger: Bringing together IDPs and local communities
DW Akademie: DW Akademie and Réseau de Journalistes Sensibles aux Conflits have developed innovative radio formats to foster dialogue between internally displaced persons and host communities in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.
NIGERIA: Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria get new leadership
Voice of Nigeria: The Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON), the umbrella body of all broadcast media outfits in the country, has inaugurated a new leadership.
NIGERIA: Nigerian press advocates hail ECOWAS court ruling on media laws
Voice of America: Nigerian press freedom advocates are praising a recent ruling from the court of West African bloc ECOWAS that ordered Nigerian authorities to review sections of the country’s Press Act.
NIGERIA: NTA and Radio Nigeria face imminent reform to restore past glory – Govt minister
Broadcast Media Africa: In Nigeria, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stated that the Nigerian federal government would implement transformative reforms aimed at resurrecting the glories of two iconic institutions in the country’s media landscape, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
NIGERIA: This initiative is building financial sustainability for Nigerian newsrooms
IJnet: During the COVID-19 pandemic, media outlets across Nigeria plunged into a financial crisis. Many newsrooms in the country laid off reporters or reduced the size of their print editions, while still others slashed salaries or stopped publishing altogether.
SIERRA LEONE: Death of Canadian journalist Stephen Douglas in Sierra Leone shrouded in mystery
The Globe and Mail: As Sierra Leone’s coastal capital awoke to the staccato rhythm of gunfire last Sunday, Canadian journalist Stephen Douglas Lett stood on his apartment balcony near downtown Freetown and sent phone messages to friends and colleagues.
SOUTH AFRICA: The harmful effects of tone-deaf journalism on women and girls (Opinion)
Eyewitness News: On Tuesday, the 28th of November 2023, The Star newspaper ran a front-page story with a headline that read: “Black women don’t want condoms”.
SUDAN: How women journalists stay safe while covering Sudan’s war
DW Akademie: A new DW Akademie project brings together Sudanese women journalists and editors who are covering their country’s war. Their own safety and the safety of their colleagues on the front lines are paramount concerns.
TOGO: Two Togolese journalists arrested for defamation of government minister
Global Voices: The arrest and imprisonment of two Togolese journalists in mid-November highlights the precariousness of journalists’ rights in this West African country.
ZAMBIA: Harassment of media rife in Zambia
CAJNews: There is concern over what critics argue is the shrinking of media space in Zambia under the new government.
AFGHANISTAN: UNESCO and media freedom organisations call for continued support to Afghan media and journalists (Press release)
UNESCO: Faced with a persistently struggling media landscape in Afghanistan, where more than half of the media outlets active prior to August 2021 have been forced to close, UNESCO convened a coordination meeting in Brussels on 22 November 2023.
AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijan summons French, German, and US ambassadors regarding media funding
My Ind Makers: Azerbaijan summoned the U.S., French, and German envoys to express its protest against what it alleges are “illegal financial operations” in support of an investigative news outlet. This move comes in response to the recent arrest of three individuals affiliated with the independent online platform Abzas Media.
AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijani journalist Aziz Orujov detained for 3 months, office and home searched
CPJ: Azerbaijani authorities should release Aziz Orujov, director of the popular television channel Kanal 13, from detention on charges of illegal construction, and cease their legal harassment of independent media, the CPJ said Wednesday.
BHUTAN: Media attrition in Bhutan: How much, who, why, and to what effect?
Kuensel: With the National Assembly elections coming up on November 30 and January 9, the role of the media in Bhutan’s young democracy is being spotlighted. Objective, thorough reporting is essential for investigating the most pressing social challenges and sharing the platforms of parties vying for the chance to address them.
CAMBODIA: State media expanding, embraces modern tech
Phnom Penh Post: State media outlets are expanding their quality broadcasting scope and promoting professional standards in every format, aligning with the evolution of modern technology, according to Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra.
CHINA: Meta warns that China is stepping up its online social media influence operations
NPR: China is stepping up efforts to manipulate people in other countries on social media, becoming the third most common source of foreign influence operations, behind Russia and Iran, according to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong Paper Says ‘Missing’ Reporter is Safe
VOA: The South China Morning Post has responded to concerns raised over the whereabouts of one of its reporters, saying the journalist is “taking personal leave.” Friends of Minnie Chan raised concerns to the Japanese news outlet Kyodo News about her well being, saying the journalist has become unreachable after traveling to Beijing to report on the Xiangshan Forum.
INDIA: Indian journalist Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek faces criminal investigation for report on anti-Muslim bias
CPJ: Indian authorities must drop all investigations into freelance journalist Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek over his reporting on allegations of anti-Muslim bias in the police force, return his mobile phone, and cease the harassment of his colleagues at Maktoob Media news website, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.
INDIA: Netflix, Viacom18 among streaming firms set to oppose India broadcasting bill – sources
Reuters: Netflix, billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Viacom18 and other streaming companies plan to collectively lobby the Indian government to delay or revamp a broadcast bill they fear will be onerous for the sector, sources familiar with the matter said.
INDIA: Why India’s new draft broadcast bill has raised fears of censorship and press suppression
Scroll.in: The draft broadcast bill covers OTT platforms as well as all digital news media publishers. Experts warn that the bill will have a chilling effect on speech.
INDONESIA: ITE law revision retains threat to freedom of expression (Press release)
IFJ: Indonesian authorities passed the second amendment to the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE Law) on December 5, failing to address freedom of expression concerns raised by press groups and legal experts.
INDONESIA: LPM Lintas: Indonesian student magazine shut down after reporting on sexual harassment investigation
Media Defence: At the State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) in Ambon, Indonesia, student magazine LPM Lintas was shut down in March 2022 after publishing the results of an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment at the university.
JAPAN: Japan’s NHK apologises after reporter’s interview notes leaked, posted on X.
The Mainichi: Public broadcaster NHK announced on Dec. 1 that documents containing interview notes and programming proposals written by a reporter had leaked on the internet after a temporary worker smuggled the information out of the TV station.
KAZAKHSTAN: Kazakh Lawmakers OK Controversial Amendments To Media Law On First Reading
RFE/RL: Kazakh lawmakers have approved on first reading controversial amendments to the law on mass media that would allow citizens to file a libel lawsuit up to three years after publication.
PAKISTAN: Solangi calls for reforms in state broadcasters
Pakistan Observer: Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting MurtazaSolangi has underlined the need for reforms in state broadcasters, including PTV.
SINGAPORE: Singapore to inject $55m into co-productions and virtual productions
Straits TImes: Singapore is launching a new fund to support local media companies to work with international partners, and is also investing more money into developing and funding virtual productions.
SOUTH KOREA: Lee Don-kwan’s 98 days directing attacks on Korea’s free press
Hankyoreh: The former chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission has resigned — here, we take a look at his short yet controversial stint as head of the state broadcasting watchdog.
SOUTH KOREA: South Korea faces the return of media censorship (French)
Le Monde: The conservative president, Yoon Suk-yeol, justifies the new measures to control public broadcasting on the pretext of the fight against “fake news”.
SOUTH KOREA: South Korea’s Yoon vetoes hot-button union and media bills
Nikkei Asia: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol used his veto power to nix high-profile legislation on unions and broadcasters, a move likely to worsen his party’s already-tense relations with the political opposition, labor and media groups.
SRI LANKA: Media minister reveals plans to convert loss making Rupavahini and SLBC into public company
Colombo Page: Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena has revealed plans to convert the state-run Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), which are continuously making losses into a public company.
TAIWAN: Taiwan media executives face scrutiny for election bids
Taiwan News: The National Communications Commission (NCC) wants answers from media groups about senior figures in the election, including Kuomintang (KMT) vice-presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong, reports said Wednesday.
THAILAND: Thai PBS calls for trial of 4K hi-res broadcasting platform
Bangkok Post: Thai Public Broadcasting Service has proposed to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission a trial of the 4K hi-resolution broadcasting platform, airing in 16 provinces.
THAILAND: Thai PBS World Forum explores the intersection of ‘AI and the future of the newsroom’
CTN: The event, centered around the theme “AI and the Future of Newsroom,” provided a platform for thought leadership and the exchange of perspectives among regional media organizations to shape the future of mass media.
UNESCO: Panel explores how ensuring the safety of journalists in covering political events is essential to protecting press freedoms.
AUSTRALIA: ABC coverage of the 2023 voice to parliament referendum (PDF)
ABC: The Referendum Coverage Review Committee (RCRC) is constituted each time a referendum is held. It plays a similar monitoring and advisory role
AUSTRALIA: Guardian bans open letters and posts amid row over Israel
Australian Financial Review: The Guardian’s most senior editors have issued a rare joint message to their staff, warning journalists against signing open letters and posting messages on social media that “risk compromising our editorial integrity”.
AUSTRALIA: Jacinta Price declined 52 ABC interview requests to discuss Indigenous voice referendum
The Guardian: High-profile no campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price turned down interview requests from the ABC to discuss the voice referendum more than 52 times, according to the national broadcaster’s referendum coverage review committee report.
AUSTRALIA: Qantas media favours are all hot air (Opinion)
Australian Financial Review: The airline will help ferry journalists to Switzerland for a one day conference, where among the topics, sustainability and jet fuel will be discussed.
AUSTRALIA: ‘Serious breach’: social media platform X booted from Australia’s misinformation code
The Guardian: X [formerly know as Twitter] has been kicked out of Australia’s voluntary misinformation and disinformation code, after failing to respond to a complaint about shutting down channels for users to report misinformation, during the voice to parliament referendum.
AUSTRALIA: The first Blak-led podcast network is here, and they’ve got plenty to say
SBS: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have always been storytellers, and that tradition has just been given a big boost. Wednesday marked the launch of BlakCast, the country’s first Indigenous podcast network.
NEW ZEALAND: Australian private equity firm eyeing up Mediaworks (Report)
RNZ: Local media company MediaWorks is being eyed by an Australian private equity firm, according to a newspaper report.
NEW ZEALAND: Can the govt make TVNZ and RNZ stop using te reo Māori?
1News: The new deputy prime minister appears to have suggested TVNZ and RNZ could fall under the new government’s remit that Crown Entities communicate primarily in English. But can the government dictate what TVNZ and RNZ broadcast?
NEW ZEALAND: Deputy PM Winston Peters says he is ‘at war’ with the media amid ongoing baseless claims
Stuff: Cabinet has only just met for the first time, but new Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is already levelling false claims and engaging in combative exchanges whenever he sees reporters.
NEW ZEALAND: Deputy PM’s comments a threat to press freedom
IFJ: Journalists and media workers have criticised comments made by newly-elected Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who claimed that a 2020 government media funding initiative constituted ‘bribery’.
NEW ZEALAND: Is Winston Peters right to call state-funded journalism ‘bribery’ – or is there a bigger threat to democracy?
The Conversation: Winston Peters had only just been sworn in as deputy prime minister when his long-standing antipathy to the news media emerged in the form of a serious accusation.
NEW ZEALAND: NZ On Air board member tenders resignation after calling Winston Peters ‘malicious’
Newshub: NZ On Air board member Andrew Shaw has tendered his resignation after Newshub asked questions about the appropriateness of a social media post he shared in which he called Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters “malicious” and the “worst of this gang of thugs”.
NEW ZEALAND: The news is fading from sight on big social media platforms — where does that leave journalism? (Opinion)
The Conversation: The New Zealand news publishers I spoke to generally believe platform algorithms don’t prioritise factual news content. As one observed, the “platforms have the control over algorithms”. Another noted how platforms “can bury or promote you as they like, their tweaks in algorithms determine your fate”.
NEW ZEALAND: Willie Jackson defends state-funded media independence
1News: Former broadcasting minister Willie Jackson is defending the public interest journalism fund his government started during Covid-19, after the deputy prime minister characterised it as “bribery”.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Papua New Guinea announces parliamentary inquiry into media conduct
ABC: Questions are being raised in Papua New Guinea, whether a newly announced parliamentary inquiry into media conduct will be appropriate and independent
AUSTRIA: “ORF KIDS” – ORF’s new streaming offer for children starts on January 1st, 2024 online at kids.ORF.at (Press release – German)
ORF: With the linear 24-hour streaming offer and the option of accessing the content on demand, “ORF KIDS” offers a continuously available programming environment that children and parents alike can trust – ad-free, non-violent and age-appropriate.
BELGIUM: 70 years of TV in Flanders: a journey through decades of information, entertainment and connection (Press release – Dutch)
VRT
BELGIUM: The future is 33 meters long and 4 meters high: multifunctional VRT studio successfully put into use (Press release – Dutch)
VRT: How can we use our own recording studios as optimally as possible? VRT has considered this question in recent years.
CZECH REPUBLIC: The number one news channel in the country presented a new visual. The improved ČT24 website offers a clearer display and short current news (Press release – Czech)
Czech TV: Czech Television presented the new visual form of the ČT24 news website. It offers viewers and readers a clearer display of articles, brings short current news and improves thematic specials.
DENMARK: DR is taking the next step in its efforts for sustainable production (Press release – Danish)
DR: From 2024, all DR productions must draw up a sustainability plan. Productions of a certain size and type must also prepare a CO2 budget and a CO2 account.
DENMARK: Now you can apply: ‘Giro 413’ has an extraordinary amount to share this year (Press release – Danish)
DR: From 1 December to 31 January, organizations can apply for the money from DR’s ‘Giro 413’ for projects that make life better for socially disadvantaged children and young people under the age of 18 in Denmark.
FRANCE: France 3: massive strike for a moratorium on news reform (French)
Force Ouvrière: For the past three weeks, journalists and technicians at the public regional channels have been on strike. They are demanding more time and resources to implement the reform of regional newspapers, which is increasing the workload on employees.
FRANCE: International Youth Competition for Peace (Press release – French)
France TV: France Télévisions, the leading public broadcasting group, in partnership with UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), is organising the fourth International Youth in the Service of Peace Competition.
HUNGARY: Draft Sovereignty Protection Act poses fresh threat to independent media
EFJ: The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins other partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today to alert the European Union about the chilling impact that the Hungarian ruling party’s proposed Sovereignty Protection Act will have on what remains of the country’s embattled independent media community.
IRELAND: RTÉ Confirms Range of Measures as Part of Cost Controls for 2024 (Press release)
RTÉ: Following the launch of its new direction framework (see www.rte.ie/newdirection), the Government recently announced the provision of €40m in interim funding for RTÉ in 2024, subject to the implementation of further reforms.
ITALY: Agreement signed for the transfer of the Milan CPTV (Press release – Italian)
Rai: The agreement, which provides for the future leasing of the MiCo spaces for a duration of 27 years, will favor a functional upgrade, also in terms of digitalisation, methods and quality of work, ensuring a significant improvement within the real estate plan in terms of financial needs between now and 2032.
POLAND: An information campaign is starting in connection with the change of the broadcasting standard to MUX-3 (Press release – 27 November – Polish)
TVP: During the campaign, Telewizja Polska will inform viewers about the need to have receiving equipment compliant with the new standard, to retune their receivers and update the channel list in order to continue receiving their favorite programs after the change in the standard.
POLAND: Telewizja Polska is a partner of NEM Zagreb in Croatia (Press release – Polish)
TVP: On December 6-8, 2023, the 3rd edition of one of the most important regional meetings of the European television industry – NEM Zagreb – takes place in Croatia. The partners of this year’s edition of NEM Zagreb are Telewizja Polska and the International Television Forum Heart of Europe.
RUSSIA: From Threats to Arrests, Moscow Strikes at Foreign Media (Watch)
VOA: Media covering Kremlin activity are facing pressure as Russia jails American journalists and lists a Spanish journalist as an enemy of the state.
RUSSIA: Russia Orders RFE/RL Journalist Detained Until February
VOA: A Russian court Friday ordered American Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to remain in custody until February 5. The editor for the Tatar-Bashkir Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, or RFE/RL, has already spent 45 days in prison on accusations that she failed to register as a foreign agent.
SPAIN: RTVE launches new WhatsApp Channels (Press release – Spanish)
RTVE: RTVE launches its new broadcast channel on the WhatsApp platform to receive on your mobile all the news and content about the Corporation, as well as all the programming and information about RTVE’s special events.
SWEDEN: SR has done the right thing – to avoid saving more (Swedish)
Aftondbladet: Cilla Benkö addresses Jan Scherman about public service and gets an answer immediately
SWEDEN: “SVT faces dark times with more journalism” (Press release – Swedish)
SVT: SVT’s CEO Hanna Stjärne on extra investments at Lilla Aktuellt, digital verification of information and science journalism.
SWEDEN: This is how Sveriges Radio’s offering is affected in times of austerity (Press release – Swedish)
SR: In a changed media landscape where media consumption looks different and where Sveriges Radio is simultaneously implementing savings, we must have many perspectives in mind when developing the offer for the future, writes Cajsa Lindberg, deputy program director responsible for the offer.
UK: BBC Audiences Review (Press release)
Ofcom: Whether on TV, radio or smart devices, audiences are faced with an overwhelming array of choices, with many gravitating towards streaming services and social media as their preferred content platforms.
UK: BBC licence fee £15 increase too high, culture secretary says
BBC: An increase to the BBC licence fee by almost £15 would “absolutely” be too much, the culture secretary has said.
UK: Culture Secretary: Media Bill will remove threats to public service broadcasters
The Independent: Proposed legislation will enact reform to keep the UK’s public service broadcasters “at the top of their game” and “level the playing field” by removing threats to their sustainability, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer is expected to say.
UK: Working class audiences want the BBC to take more risks when producing new programmes (Press release )
Ofcom: The BBC should take more risks when producing new programmes if it is to reconnect with viewers and listeners on lower incomes, according to new audience research published today by Ofcom.
UKRAINE: Local Media in Economy Mode
EFJ: The results of a survey from the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), “Frontline Local Media Report”, shed light on the difficulties encountered by print local media outlets in the country since February 2022. The report aims to help media outlets in need to restart their journalistic work for public interest.
UKRAINE: “What comes first, being a journalist or being a citizen?” (Testimony)
Nieman Reports: Yana Lyushnevskaya, NF ’24, on the difficult dilemma Ukrainian journalists face when covering war in their own country
REGIONAL: Council and EU Parliament reach provisional agreement on EU law protecting journalists and human rights defenders (Press release)
European Council: The EU has taken an important step towards the protection of journalists and human rights defenders against unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings.
REGIONAL: Key battlegrounds in EU’s new media legislation
EU Observer: After months of intense and often volatile debate, the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) is near completion with a coalition of journalists and civil society groups calling on the European Parliament to hold firm on key issues as it negotiates the final text with the European Council and European Commission.
REGIONAL: Media freedom: Europe’s media cannot be half-free
Social Europe: EU member states must not water down critical legislation protecting media independence and pluralism.
REGIONAL: Slapps: inside Europe’s struggle to protect journalists from malicious lawsuits
The Conversation: There is a growing threat to the rule of law, democracy and human rights in Europe. It manifests as seemingly run-of-the-mill lawsuits. However, on closer inspection, many lawsuits are not as they seem.
ARGENTINA: The importance of public media to guarantee access to information (Spanish)
Télam: The president of Télam, Bernarda Llorente, affirmed that access to public information is a “human right”, when inaugurating the Casa Defensa, headquarters of the new Documentation and Archive Center of the national news agency.
ARGENTINA: Workers of Radio Nacional of Santiago del Estero against “privatization” (Spanish)
Télam: The employees made an open radio in defense of the public media, in rejection “of the privatization” of that station, which they described as “a link between the communities, cities, towns and places that make up the province.”
CHILE: The last session of the Nonviolent Journalism workshop in Cerrillos, Santiago de Chile
Pressenza: We emphasised the meaning of nonviolent community journalism, which implies the affirmation that changes in an evolutionary direction is possible through, among other things, the visibility of grassroots initiatives that are not usually covered by the mass media.
COLOMBIA & PERU: Colombian and Peruvian news outlets bet on ‘gamification’ to attract young audiences and make an impact
LatAm Journalism Review: “Desencanto” is the most recent of five interactive games that Cuestión Pública has produced since 2020 and with which it has consolidated a proposal for “gamification” of data journalism in the region.
BRAZIL: Using the law as a tool for social change in Brazil
Free Press Unlimited: Journalists worldwide face legal harassment aimed at censoring them. It takes a lot of time, money and knowledge for them to stand up against the powerful and wealthy people who often sue them for uncovering corruption.
GUATEMALA: Guatemalan journalists unite in campaign to highlight attacks and criminalization of the press
LatAm Journalism Review: Journalist’s Day in Guatemala should be a time of celebration. However, this year has been a day for peaceful protest and for the publication of awareness campaigns about attacks on the press and citizens’ right to know.
HAITI: ‘I’ll be killed if they find me’: Radio reporter Maxo Dorvil flees Haiti amid gang violence
CPJ: Haitian radio journalist Maxo Dorvil fled the country on November 7, 2023, after reporting that he was shot at twice in less than two weeks near his home on the outskirts of the capital Port-au-Prince.
MEXICO: In 10 days, 8 Mexican journalists abducted or shot at in 4 separate incidents
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a spate of violent abductions and attacks on eight journalists in Mexico and calls on authorities to immediately, credibly, and transparently investigate whether the attacks were related to the reporters’ work and bring the culprits to justice.
MEXICO: Two armed attacks against journalists were recorded on the same day (Spanish)
IFJ: Four journalists from different media, who were sharing a vehicle while covering the news of the murder of a transporter, were attacked with gunshots by men on a motorcycle in the city of Chilpancingo de los Bravo, state of Guerrero.
NICARAGUA: Q&A: Cinthia Membreño on the global network helping journalists in exile
Columbia Journalism Review
VENEZUELA: TeleSUR Prepares Multi-platform Coverage of the Consultative Referendum for the Essequibo
TeleSUR: The multiplatform of Latin America and the Caribbean has prepared a multiplatform coverage of the consultative referendum for the Essequibo, to be held on December 3rd.
REGIONAL: Jael Joseph seeks to unite Caribbean people through media
Caribbean Loop News: With her Jael Joseph LIVE interview series, she aims to bring together viewers from around the Caribbean and the Caribbean Diaspora, allowing them to engage and connect with guests from the Region’s various territories.
LatAm Journalism Review: Stigmatization, threats, detentions, and intimidation are some of the attacks faced by journalists when covering an electoral process.
IRAN: Iranian journalist Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh arrested as authorities ramp up legal pressure on media
CPJ: Iranian authorities must immediately release journalist Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh and cease jailing journalists for simply doing their job, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.
ISRAEL: Communications Minister threatens to sanction ‘Haaretz’ for its Gaza war coverage
IFJ: On 23 November, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi proposed a government resolution to halt any state advertisement, subscriptions or other commercial connection with the progressive Israeli newspaper ‘Haaretz’ citing “defeatist and false propaganda during wartime”.
LEBANON: Social media, messaging apps and TV: The many pathways of disinformation in Lebanon
IJNet: Whether it be on WhatsApp, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok or news sites, people in Lebanon are increasingly consuming information online. With many ways to stay informed, however, there exists a heightened risk of stumbling across unverified news and false information.
PALESTINE: At least sixty journalists and media workers killed in Gaza
IFJ: At least sixty Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed, several have been injured and others are missing during the war in Gaza.
PALESTINE: Gazan journalists catapulted to international prominence (French)
Slate.fr : Since the Hamas attack and the Israeli invasion of Gaza, a number of Gazan journalists have been writing about the war on their personal accounts, and have gained unprecedented popularity.
PALESTINE: ICC chief prosecutor meets Palestinian journalists’ leaders in the West Bank
IFJ: The PJS welcomed the ICC investigation into the situation in Palestine but deplored the scant resources and staff for this investigation as compared to others, a factor that has contributed to the slow progress of its investigation of Palestinian complaints.
PALESTINE: IFJ stands with Palestinian journalists in Ramallah
IFJ: The situation on the ground is deeply concerning , but the journalists are holding their heads high and carrying out their mission to inform despite the situation.
TURKEY: Difficult task in suppressed media environment: Media self-regulation in Turkey
Bianet: The IPS Communication Foundation/bianet, among the partners of the “Our Media” project, together with organizations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, has published a report analyzing ‘media self-regulation.’
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: At the U.N.’s Climate Conference, There are Plenty of Hypocrisies for Journalists to Report On (Report)
NiemanReports: Even the small victories require aggressive reporting and scrutiny
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: COP 28 in the United Arab Emirates: climate of repression for journalists (French)
RSF: The many journalists travelling to Dubai to cover the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, starting on 30 November, face enormous restrictions in a country where the slightest criticism of the government can lead to imprisonment.
Deadline: Canada’s media guild has reacted with shock following the announcement CBC/Radio-Canada will cut approximately 10% of its workforce and bring down its program spend by C$40M ($29.6M) to reduce a major budget shortfall.
CANADA: CBC/Radio-Canada announces programming and job cuts (Press release)
CBC/Radio Canada: CBC/Radio-Canada today announced it will be implementing program and job cuts over the next year in order to manage approximately $125 million in budget pressures forecast for the 2024–2025 fiscal year.
CANADA: CBC/Radio-Canada cuts 800 jobs: interview with CEO Catherine Tait (Watch – French)
CBC/Radio-Canada
CANADA: CBC/Radio-Canada welcomes agreement between the Government of Canada and Google to ensure fair compensation for news content (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: CBC/Radio-Canada is very pleased that the federal government has been able to reach an agreement with Google to support journalism in Canada.
CANADA: Ottawa hints it will take steps to limit how much money CBC could get under Google deal
The Province: The Liberal government is hinting that it will take steps to limit how much money Canada’s publicly funded broadcaster can collect under Ottawa’s new revenue-sharing agreement with Google.
CANADA: The Ombud’s Inbox – November 2023 (Blog)
CBC/Radio-Canada: In the 1980s, a team of researchers reported on a theory they called the Hostile Media Effect.
CANADA: What we know so far about Google’s $100M media fund
CBC News: This week, Google struck an agreement with the federal government that will see the online giant pay $100 million to news outlets across the country.
US: Bipartisan legislation would protect student media from censorship (Listen)
Wisconsin Public Radio: Last month, the Wisconsin Assembly unanimously passed a bill that would protect student-led media from most censorship by school officials.
US: Layoffs hit Lehigh Valley Public Media
Lehigh Valley News: Lehigh Valley Public Media eliminated five positions Friday for a total of nine job cuts in the past three weeks — roughly 12% of its full-time workforce.
US: Maria Martin, radio pioneer and founder of “Latino USA” dies at 72
NBC News: Media pioneer María Martin, the brains behind the public radio program “Latino USA” which elevated coverage of Hispanic issues, has died.
US: Trump has recaptured cable TV’s attention
Columbia Journalism Review: As the 2024 primary season ramps up into full swing, former President Donald Trump is making news both as the frontrunner for the Republican party’s nomination, and due to the trials and indictments he is facing.
Cop28: The Role of Media in Climate Change
CNBC Africa: Media has an outsized role to play in tackling climate change. Consequently, industry leaders are tasked with the all-important role of providing both accurate and engaging information to ensure media platforms are constructively enhancing the policy dialogue and countering the phenomenon of misinformation.
India Today: Elon Musk says that if people want to get honest information, X is their only hope. He also added that other social media apps are “bought and paid for.”
From Puppet to Powerhouse: A Global Study of the Independence of State and Public Media (Study)
Media and Journalism Research Centre: In a world dominated by government-controlled state and public media outlets, the looming specter of a series of intensifying conflicts presents an alarming peril to democratic societies just before a crucial election year, when people will elect their leaders in some 50 nations worldwide.
Generative AI puts trust in the news media to the test
Euractiv: The spread of fake news and disinformation has steadily risen in past years, with audiences increasingly getting their news online, where false information – sometimes generated by AI – spreads faster, threatening audiences’ trust in media.
Here’s how 13 news outlets are using LinkedIn newsletters
Nieman Lab: LinkedIn has been experimenting with newsletters as a way for individuals and companies to connect with readers. There are more than 143,000 newsletters on the platform, with over 500 million subscribers. At least 150 news publishers send newsletters out regularly, said Keren Baruch, LinkedIn’s director of product.
How smarter ad pricing could revitalize podcast revenue
Current: It’s clear that studios are severely undervaluing their podcast audiences.
Media development and artificial intelligence: a call to action
DW Akademie: With the advent of generative AI, the media development sector faces new disruptions of the global information sphere. Experts and partners of DW Akademie see the need for a dedicated joint effort.
Mistakes news organisations make
The Fix: Today let’s look at a few mistakes news organisations often make – and how to think about avoiding them.
Most readers want publishers to label AI-generated articles — but trust outlets less when they do
Nieman Lab: “We already expect quite a lot from the public in terms of media literacy to be able to navigate the contemporary information environment; the use of these technologies in news adds a whole other layer to that.”
Reuters, New York Times Top List of Fossil Fuel Industry’s Favorite Media Partners
Drilled: Taking a hard look at the media industry’s relationship with the fossil fuel industry.
Tips for becoming a better investigative editor
IJnet
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Find a climate angle for something your audiences really care about and 13 more takeaways from the Oxford Climate Journalism Network
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