Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world.
Click on the drop-down menus below to reveal the latest regional stories.
NAMIBIA: NBC gets N$20 million to end strike
The Namibian: The information ministry yesterday [1 October] gave the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation N$20 million to be used for the salary dispute settlement to enable the workers to resume their duties.
SOUTH AFRICA: DA tightens grip on SABC, demanding salaries disclosure
The Citizen: The DA has submitted a request for information act to the SABC and parliamentary questions to the communications ministry demanding information.
SOUTH AFRICA: In Cape Town, journalists count the cost of ‘Day Zero’ water narrative
CJR: “By and large, national and international media did not use Day Zero as an entry point to systemic scarcity issues in the country, or to newer, crippling drought conditions in other towns and cities a stone’s throw from Cape Town.”
UGANDA: Media Owners Suspend Airing Government Programmes
Via All Africa: Media owners in Busoga Sub-region have suspended airing for free all government programmes, citing failure by government officials to utilise the airtime.
SUDAN: Sudan seizes two newspapers as EU urges press freedom
The East African: Sudanese security agents confiscated the entire print runs of two newspapers on Thursday, their owners said, days after the European Union and Washington pushed for press freedoms in the country.
ZAMBIA: TV tax stirs Zambian fears over Chinese ‘debt-trap’ diplomacy
Financial Times: Loan to state broadcaster ZNBC sparks controversy over Beijing’s growing financial clout.
GENERAL: Threats to media freedom in Africa: some old methods and some new
The Conversation
GENERAL: Want to Change How Investigative Journalism is Done in Africa? Here are 14 Recommendations
GIJN: At a time when traditional media organizations in Africa are increasingly failing to hold power to account, it is the nonprofit organizations that are coming to the party, setting an agenda and scrutinizing those in power more than ever before.
BANGLADESH: Bangladesh’s new digital law will silence critics, rights groups say
CNN: Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid has approved a controversial new digital security law that rights groups fear could be used to further erode press freedoms and dissenting voices online.
CHINA: Chinese Leaders Leverage Media To Shape How The World Perceives China
NPR: “A thousand newspapers with the same front page” is how the Chinese have for decades described the enforced uniformity of the country’s state-controlled media.
HONG KONG: Journalist’s Expulsion From Hong Kong ‘Sends a Chilling Message’
The New York Times: The Financial Times said in an editorial Sunday that the expulsion of one of its journalists from Hong Kong sends a chilling message about the steady erosion of basic rights in the semiautonomous Chinese city, as more than 15,000 people signed an online petition calling for an explanation from the government.
INDIA: #MeToo firestorm consumes Bollywood and Indian media
BBC: India’s #MeToo movement arrived in a cascade of allegations as women took to Twitter to call out comedians, journalists, authors, actors and filmmakers – in the process, they have sparked a debate about consent and complicity.
INDIA: Dangerous times for the press in Kashmir
CJR: “In May, foreign journalists received an official warning from the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi about traveling to “certain areas” without asking for permission; we all knew it was referring to Kashmir.”
INDIA: #MeToo firestorm consumes Bollywood and Indian media
BBC News: India’s #MeToo movement arrived in a cascade of allegations as women took to Twitter to call out comedians, journalists, authors, actors and filmmakers – in the process, they have sparked a debate about consent and complicity.
INDIA: Punya Prasun Bajpai: ‘India is witnessing social collapse’ (Interview)
CJR: Bajpai spoke with CJR about the censorship he experienced and why he believes the crisis in India runs well beyond press freedom.
INDONESIA: Sulawesi tsunami: Indonesia battles fake news as hoaxers spread panic
The Guardian: Authorities crack down on reports alleging another huge earthquake and dam collapse were about to strike
JAPAN: Japan must improve its disaster services for foreigners
Nikkei Asian Review: Emergency information needs to address the specific needs of tourists.
JAPAN: NHK President Ryoichi Ueda is the new ABU President
Asia Radio Today: At the recently concluded ABU General Assembly convened in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat, Ryochi Ueda was elected to lead the ABU for the next three years from January 2019 until the end of 2021.
MALAYSIA: Govt wants media council to be set up soon, says Kadir Jasin
FMT: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government wants the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council, advocated by media practitioners since 1974, to be expedited, says A Kadir Jasin, the prime minister’s special adviser on media and communications.
MALDIVES: Broadcasting regulator admits bias, rejects press freedom index
Maldives Independent: The watchdog’s president conceded bias in defamation inquiries initiated by his colleagues.
NEPAL: Ministry asks offices to favour state media
The Kathmandu Post: The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has urged all the government entities to prioritise state-owned media while distributing information and selling advertisements in order to support and help sustain government publications.
PAKISTAN: In Pakistan’s once-vibrant media, some journalists view intimidation as the new normal
Reuters: Pakistan’s media was widely seen as among the region’s most vibrant after military rule ended in 2008, but a dozen newspaper and TV journalists say the industry is now in disarray because of intimidation and army pressure.
PAKISTAN: Media bodies endorse PFUJ demands
The News: All the stakeholders of media industry have agreed to constitute a joint action committee of journalists, editors, broadcasters and owners to save the press and its working force from the increasing onslaught on their professional and economic rights.
PAKISTAN: Treason Trial for Pakistani Journalist Signals New Pressure on Media
The New York Times: A prominent Pakistani journalist has been ordered to face a court hearing on accusations of treason next week, in a case the country’s press corps says is one of several recent attempts under the new government to intimidate the news media into silence.
AUSTRALIA: ABC board appoints independent, external adviser to investigate Michelle Guthrie claims
ABC: The ABC board says it called in an independent adviser the day before Michelle Guthrie’s sacking, to investigate “matters” raised by the former managing director.
AUSTRALIA: ABC spells Australian broadcasting crisis
RNZ: The chair sacked the chief and then quit himself. No-one seems to want the rest of his board of directors. How did Australia’s public broadcaster end up in such a mess so suddenly? How can the ABC be fixed?
AUSTRALIA: Statement from the ABC Board
ABC
FIJI: Bainimarama urges responsible social media use
RNZ: Fiji’s prime minister Frank Bainimarama has warned people to use social media responsibly in the run-up to elections.
NEW ZEALAND: $15m investment in children’s media to strengthen identity
NZ On Air: $15m is being invested in new local children’s content to create a huge range of fun, engaging, (and don’t tell the kids…educational!) content that reinforces identity.
NEW ZEALAND: New funding addresses high-needs gaps in public media content
NZ On Air: Crucial gaps in public media content will be targeted with $4m additional funding provided in this year’s Budget to NZ On Air for contestable funding.
BELARUS: The European Parliament calls for free press in Belarus
IFJ: The resolution addresses the Belarusian government’s decision to block the internet access to the news website Charter 97 as well as pressures against journalists, freelancers and independent media.
BULGARIA: Bulgarian TV journalist raped and murdered in Danube town of Ruse
The Guardian: Viktoria Marinova, 30, had reported on investigation into corruption involving EU funds
CZECH REPUBLIC: Country report: Czech Republic
CMDS: During the past decade, the Czech media market has undergone major shifts that have radically changed the country’s journalism. Much of that was caused by technology. But changes in the country’s media ownership played an equally big role.
FRANCE: Public broadcasting reform: MEPs propose to support production and end “archaisms” (French)
Le Monde: A report issued forty recommendations for the French groups to try and be at the level of multinationals, before the new law, expected in 2019.
FRANCE: The project of a licence fee paid by all: “Universalisation is inevitable”, says Judge Aurore Bergé (French)
France Tv Info: Aurore Bergé, member of La République en marche (LREM) of Yvelines, defended the idea of “universalizing” the public broadcasting licence fee to make it independent of the possession of a television. “Universalization, that is the fact that all households can contribute to public broadcasting, is inevitable,” she said.
FRANCE: What will be the media of the future? Public broadcasters ask French citizens advice (French)
Sud Ouest: On Monday, France Télévisions and Radio France launched an online consultation open to all French citizens on what should be the public media of tomorrow. This consultation aims to “strengthen the dialogue of the two organisations with the entire population.
HUNGARY: Hungarian Investigative Outlet ‘Atlatszo’ Attacked By Pro-Government Media
SEENPM: Hungarian investigative outlet Atlatszo has been the target of pro-government media attacks since it recently revealed links between members of the Hungarian elite, including Orban, and a luxury yacht and private jet, the outlet said Tuesday.
IRELAND: Broadcasting regulator gets blunt on public service media
The Irish Times: BAI calls for ‘urgent’ funding boosts for RTÉ and TG4 likely to be ignored.
IRELAND: Taoiseach says Government is examining RTÉ funding
RTE: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil that he has met the director general and chairperson of RTÉ in recent days to discuss funding at the national broadcaster.
ISLE OF MAN: Manx Radio posts loss of £37,975 despite cutting costs by 5%
BBC News: Manx Radio has posted a financial loss for a third successive year.
ITALY: The journalists of Repubblica and Espresso at Di Maio: “We will continue to tell the truth” (Italian)
Repubblica: The CDR of Repubblica and Espresso respond to the vice premier Luigi Di Maio who today, in a direct Facebook, attacked the Gedi Group, publisher of the Republic, evoking the death of newspapers and the dismissal of journalists.
LITHUANIA: Lithuanian journalists criticise new restriction to access public information
EFJ: On 14 September, the Lithuanian Centre of Registers ended its long-time practice of providing the media with registry data free of charge. This happened without any prior notice to the media. Since the new policy implemented, registry data are provided to the media for the same fees as those paid by other commercial users.
MOLDOVA: Moldova Ruling Party Bans Opposition Media From Briefings
Balkan Insight: Press freedom suffers a new setback in Moldova, where the ruling Democratic Party has banned opposition TV station on the grounds of their ‘biased’ reports.
NETHERLANDS: Dutch Christmas character Black Pete to shed blackface for TV
The Guardian: The Dutch public broadcaster has announced that it will change the appearance of the traditional Christmas character Black Pete, whose blackface outfit sparks annual controversy.
ROMANIA: Romania’s public television to pay EUR 75 mln for digital terrestrial broadcasting
Romania Insider: Romanian state-owned radio communications company RADIOCOM, coordinated by the Communications Ministry, has signed a four-year deal with the public television broadcaster SRTv for the transmission of its channels in a digital terrestrial format.
SPAIN: A difficult but vital mission (Spanish)
El Pais: The success of the RTVE expert committee would open a path of independence for all public service activities.
SPAIN: The Assembly of Madrid denies the word to Carmen Caffarel to defend herself from her expulsion from Telemadrid (Spanish)
InfoLibre: The parliamentary commission does not consider her as a counselor of the public broadcasting after the decision of the House Board, while PSOE and Podemos ask for legal reports that justify the dismissal.
SWITZERLAND: Swiss public broadcaster to shed fewer jobs than expected
Swissinfo.ch: The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) will shed fewer jobs than initially stated as it embarks on a four-year CHF100 million ($100 million) cost-cutting programme.
UK: BBC chief: ‘fake news’ label erodes confidence in journalism
The Guardian: The director general of the BBC has warned that the misuse of the term fake news by “repressive regimes” threatens to damage confidence in journalism, as he unveiled the corporation’s plans to tackle misinformation.
GENERAL: The journalists killed in EU member states in the past year
Financial Times: Viktoria Marinova’s death follows that of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jan Kuciak
REGIONAL: Nordic kids choose Netflix over PSBs
Broadband TV News: Netflix has emerged as the most popular streaming service for children’s and family content in the Swedish TV market, knocking public broadcaster SVT Play into second place.
REGIONAL: Tomasz Piątek: “what happens to press freedom in Eastern Europe influences the West”
ECPMF: This year’s winner of the Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig’s Prize for the Freedom and Future of the Media is Polish journalist Tomasz Piątek.
GENERAL: New subsidiary for EBU business services
Broadband TV News: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is establishing a new subsidiary to handle its business services.
ARGENTINA: Due to the adjustments, the TV Pública news programme was not broadcast (Spanish)
InfoNews: This monday the news broadcast did not go on air following a trade union measure. It happened within the context of the dismissals carried out by the management of Lombardi in the public media organisations.
ARGENTINA: For the first time in 13 years, the international TV news program did not go on air (Spanish)
Infonews: A few hours before the crucial election in Brazil, the adjustments and redeployments carried out by Hernán Lombardi and Néstor Sclauzero affected the well-known program and also caused the lack of coverage of the elections in the neighboring country.
BRAZIL: Aggression against Brazilian journalists intensifies in the final stretch ahead of general elections
Knight Center: On Oct. 7, the Brazilian electorate goes to the polls for general elections marked by the intense dissemination of rumors and fraudulent news on social networks, also fomented by the public’s distrust of the press. In this charged political and media environment, journalists have been consistently targeted for doing their investigative and reporting work.
BRAZIL: Ahead of Brazil’s election, Twitter bot Fátima spreads fact-checked information
IJNet: But as soon as journalists uncover the truth about a bogus story, they face the next challenge: making sure that the readers spreading the story actually find out it’s a fake.
BRAZIL: How Brazil’s ‘ethno-communicators’ are helping indigenous people find their voice
CPJ: The people who run Radio Yandê, a Brazilian digital portal dedicated to indigenous issues, have many words to define what they do, but even though the site has stories, video and audio, none of those definitions include the word journalist.
Knight Center: The Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji) and the National Federation of Journalists (Fenaj) have classified as censorship and a restriction on journalism the decisions of Federal Supreme Court Ministers Luiz Fux and Dias Toffoli, which prohibit former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from granting a press interview from prison.
PERU: Peruvian journalists ask the IACHR to request the government adopt urgent protection measures for investigative journalists
Knight Center: The Peruvian journalistic site IDL-Reporteros asked the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) to demand that the government provide urgent protection measures for journalists and officials investigating the alleged acts of corruption.
ISRAEL: European Soccer Body to Israel: Don’t Air Games in West Bank Settlements
Haaretz: Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation won the bidding process to broadcast World Cup preliminary games. But under pressure from a Qatari broadcasting company, UEFA is barring the airing of the games beyond the Green Line
TURKEY: Jamal Khashoggi: Mystery over missing Saudi journalist deepens
BBC News: Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul insists a prominent journalist critical of the Saudi government had already left its building before he vanished.
TURKEY: Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of September 27, 2018
CPJ
TURKEY: Turkish court upholds life sentences without parole for four journalists
SEENPM: An Istanbul court of appeals yesterday upheld the sentences of life in prison without parole handed to four prominent Turkish journalists in February, media reported
CANADA: Canadian regulator rejects media industry plan to block pirate websites (Subscription)
Telecompaper: Canada’s CRTC has denied an application from the industry group FairPlay Canada to implement a website-blocking regime to address copyright piracy, saying it does not have the jurisdiction under the Telecommunications Act.
CANADA: CBC’s Finding Cleo wins best serialized story at Third Coast International Audio Festival
CBC: The Chicago festival bills its award ceremony as ‘the Oscars of Radio’
CANADA: Radio is the most trustworthy news source: study
Media in Canada: Also, while most Canadians are concerned about “fake news,” few agree on what “fake news” actually is.
US: Money and history: Why some states lack public radio networks (Paywall)
Current: There’s no simple explanation of why some states have statewide public radio networks while others don’t. But a look at where networks have taken root does suggest a few key factors.
US: Public Television Delivers First-Ever Earthquake Early Warning In Under Three Seconds
Cision: Successful Field Trial Shows Why More than 96 Percent of Californians Support Public Broadcasting’s Role in Earthquake Alerts
US: When reporting on Indian Country, remember these tips
IJNet: Although more communities are acknowledging Indian Country’s impact, the changes are not necessarily showing up in mainstream reporting.
Building Trust: How Can Media Demonstrate Their Commitment to Free and Independent Journalism?
EJN: In the first working meeting from 4-5 October, the EJN is leading the discussions on defining the framework that will identify news media that meet basic standards of professionalism.
How news organizations can guide through the “information jungle”
NiemanLab: “Participants said they had too much information and news on their screens and that they had to opt out, sort through and hunt for information that they were actually interested in.”
How to engage audiences for longer with multimedia storytelling
Journalism.co.uk: Kara Fox, digital news producer at CNN International, explains how using a range of mediums can enhance your projects and keep readers on the page
More research suggests that Twitter’s fake news “strategy” is either ineffective or nonexistent
NiemanLab: “The persistence of so many easily identified abusive accounts is difficult to square with any effective crackdown.”
Netflix viewing eats up world’s data
BBC News: Video streaming service Netflix is the world’s most data-hungry application, consuming 15% of global net traffic, according to research from bandwidth management company Sandvine.
Trolls and threats: Online harassment of female journalists
Aljazeera: The advent of social media has meant that the dissemination of hate has become as easy as a simple click.
The Atlantic: “It took energy and institutional imagination to fix TV for kids. Where will that come from today? Who will pay for the research and, later, the production? How would or could YouTube implement any kind of blanket recommendation?”
Report: News organisations still favour Facebook despite feeling the pinch of algorithms
Journalism.co.uk: Research by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism finds that Facebook remains newsrooms’ favourite ahead of Instagram and Twitter
When power wages war against journalists (Italian – Subscription)
La Repubblica: From the USA to Turkey, from the Philippines to Hungary, to the attacks of Di Maio and Salvini in Italy. Many are the traits in common for democracies where freedom of the press is put daily under attack by governments.
Why Journalists Need To Understand Artificial Intelligence
EJO: “Journalists need to develop a fluency in AI before it disrupts both our newsrooms and our society. We have to get better at explaining this technology that impacts nearly all aspects of our lives.”
Journalism.co.uk: Short film ‘Hard Border’ starred Belfast-born actor Stephen Rea in a plea to Westminster
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