AFGHANISTAN: Economic Hardship Impacts Afghan Media

VOA News: Afghanistan lost two more local radio stations in April, as economic hardship hits the country’s media community.

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CAMBODIA: Journalists continue to urge authorities to strengthen independent media freedom in Cambodia (Khmer)

VOA News: As World Press Freedom Day approaches on May 3, civil society circles on the protection of human rights Freedom of the press continues to raise concerns and urge the government to strengthen the protection of security rights and the legal system for the media and Independent journalists in Cambodia. 

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CHINA: RSF urges UN to address dire state of press freedom during upcoming mission to China

RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to address the country’s dire state of press freedom during her upcoming mission to China in May.

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CHINA & INDIA: China, India dissidents fear censorship after Musk’s Twitter deal

Al Jazeera: Tesla CEO’s $44bn bid to buy Twitter puts billionaire in the crosshairs of censorship-prone Beijing and New Delhi.

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HONG KONG: West Urged to Fight Against ‘Dire’ State of Press Freedom in Hong Kong

VOA News: Heavy-handed government action, self-censorship and physical threats against journalists have left Hong Kong’s media freedoms in a “dire” state, a UK-based campaign group said Tuesday.

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INDIA: Decoding the role of mainstream and social media in the recent anti-Muslim violence in India

Global Voices: Anti-Muslim violence followed the hate spewed on digital forums.

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MYANMAR: The ‘extraordinary evolution of Myanmar media’

Frontier Myanmar: Despite being targeted by the junta, Myanmar independent media continues to deliver to an information-hungry people, as publishing and consumption habits fracture into pro-and-anti-junta camps. 

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PAKISTAN: 86 attacks on press recorded in 2021-22

Dawn: At least 86 cases of attacks and violations against media and its practitioners, including journalists, took place in Pakistan over the course of one year — between May 2021 and April 2022.

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PHILIPPINES: Press “predator” Duterte declares Philippine Press Freedom Day

Kyodo News: The government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday he has approved a law designating Aug. 30 as National Press Freedom Day, a move seen as ironic as his crackdowns on the free press have drawn much criticism.

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TAIWAN & UKRAINE: RSF receives Taiwan’s support to its actions for journalism in Ukraine

RSF: The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs today announced a contribution of half-a-million US dollars (450,000 euros) in support of Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) actions for journalism in Ukraine.

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REGIONAL: Central Asia’s Authorities Get Wise To New Media (Listen)

RFE/RL: Central Asian governments have never respected press freedom. But in today’s new era of media, in which YouTube channels, blogs, and social networks are among the most popular means of obtaining information, Central Asia’s authorities have been playing catch-up. 

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REGIONAL: Four ways Southeast Asian journalists are under digital attack

DevDiscourse: Journalists across the region face digital threats as governments resort to authoritarian measures and tactics to stifle independent media and free speech.

AUSTRALIA: ABC and eSafety Commissioner release online safety guidelines for journalists (Resource)

ABC: A ground-breaking collaboration between the ABC and Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has seen the release of best practice guidelines designed to help protect journalists and newsrooms from online abuse.

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AUSTRALIA: ABC searches for Australia’s brightest emerging minds in 2022 (Opportunity)

ABC: The ABC has started the search for Australia’s next generation of research talent across Science, the Humanities, and the Arts. Applications for the 2022 intake for the ABC TOP 5 media residencies are now open.

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AUSTRALIA: Biased against the left or right? The social media onslaught targeting the ABC

Sydney Morning Herald: The national broadcaster is caught in a pincer movement of ideological attacks from conservatives and criticism from progressives. Is it warranted?

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AUSTRALIA: No-one is talking about ABC funding in this election campaign. Here’s why they should be

The Conversation: ABC funding is not registering as an election issue even though it will drop in real terms over the next three years.

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AUSTRALIA: ‘Public service journalism has to deliver for the audience’: Sarah Ferguson to replace Leigh Sales as host of 7.30

ABC News: ABC News has appointed multi-award-winning investigative journalist Sarah Ferguson as the new host of its evening current affairs program, 7.30, replacing Leigh Sales, who is leaving the program at the end of June.

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FIJI: When mainstream media fails to hold truth to power, social media is the saviour (Analysis)

Asia Pacific Report: Social media is a mixed bag, with both democratic and undemocratic tendencies. But then few things in life are perfect. And in that regard social media poses a major dilemma. Not just in Fiji, but many countries are grappling with how best to tackle social media.

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NEW ZEALAND: RNZ awarded three medals at New York Festivals Radio Awards (Press release)

RNZ: RNZ has been awarded three medals at the prestigious international New York Festivals Radio Awards announced at a virtual gala presentation today.

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SOLOMON ISLANDS: In 35 years’ reporting from Solomon Islands, I have never seen such secrecy as the last few months

The Guardian: Journalists have been chased from parliament by police and attacked by the prime minister. Now more than ever we need a free press.

BELARUS: Human rights: Belarus journalists win World Press Freedom Prize

UN News: The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) was named on Tuesday as the winner of this year‘s UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, following the international jury‘s recommendation.

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BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: Closure of broadcaster would severely weaken media pluralism in Bosnia

RSF: Bosnia-Herzegovina’s national broadcaster BHRT is in serious financial trouble and its closure could be imminent, which would make it the only country in Europe without a public television network.

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CROATIA: Media freedom in Croatia: the problem is not the laws, but their application

OBC Transeuropa: 951 trials against journalists, claims for damages for 10.3 million Euros. Numbers that show how the media world in Croatia is under pressure. We talked about it with Vanja Juric, a lawyer specialising in freedom of expression

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CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech Television news website targeted with cyber attack

Mapping Media Freedom: On 28 April 2022, the website of the Czech Television news channel ČT24 was targeted in a cyber-attack which left the platform inaccessible for several hours.

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GERMANY: CSU politicians: pause in broadcasting fee due to inflation (German)

Süddeutsche Zeitung: Because of rising inflation, the parliamentary manager of the CSU in the Bundestag, Stefan Müller, has called for a temporary exemption from the broadcasting fee.

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POLAND: Delay to broadcasting licence for US-owned TVN24 was unlawful, finds Polish court

Notes From Poland: A court in Warsaw has ruled that Poland’s national broadcasting council (KRRiT) acted inappropriately regarding the extension of the licence for TVN24, a popular private US-owned news channel that has been strongly critical of the current government.

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ROMANIA: Fighting Corruption Proves Costly for Romania’s Embattled Journalists

Balkan Insight: The threats, intimidation and insults directed at Emilia Sercan, who specialises in uncovering plagiarism by Romanian public officials, illustrates not only the chilling effect such attacks have on investigative journalism, but also the toll they take on the targets.

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RUSSIA: Chilling Calls, Legal Action as Russia Seeks to Silence Dissent

VOA News: With independent media blocked, Russia turns sights on citizen journalists, anti-war activists.

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SPAIN: Pérez Tornero takes stock of his first year of management at RTVE: “I would have liked to do more, more powerful and faster” (Spanish)

El Confidencial Digital: The president of the RTVE Corporation, José Manuel Pérez Tornero, has taken stock of his first year in office at the head of the public Corporation. “I would have liked to do more, more powerful and faster,” he said.

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SPAIN: The CCMA asks for more resources to transform and refound public media (Spanish)

La Vanguardia: The new director of the Catalan Corporació de Mitjans Audiovisuals (CCMA), Rosa Romà, has demanded this Friday from the political groups greater funding for the public entity, in order to face what she has defined as “unpostponable challenges”. 

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SWEDEN: Minorities in focus (Swedish)

SVT: This spring’s minority offer is full of exciting stories, people and life stories that give a bigger picture of the whole of Sweden. For me, it is an important part of the core of public services.

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SWEDEN: Swedish Radio starts broadcasting news in Ukrainian (Swedish – Press release)

Swedish Radio: From next week, Swedish Radio will start broadcasting news in Ukrainian. A decision given by the many new arrivals who are now expected to come to Sweden and who have a great need for news and social information in their mother tongue.

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UK: Broadcasters join forces to tackle production management skills challenge (Press release)

BBC: The broadcasters participating in the scheme are each creating a specific Production Management Skills Fund which will be used to boost the volume of production management skills and capacity in the sector.

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UK: Tory MPs attack plans to privatise Channel 4

The Guardian: Conservative lawmakers question whether government has Commons votes to sell broadcaster.

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UKRAINE: A free press cannot stay silent

DW: Bombs and targeted disinformation: The war in Ukraine threatens everyone. Reliable information and media resilience are essential to survival.

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UKRAINE: Mediawatch: Ukraine’s war and the media (Listen)

RNZ: Some are already calling the invasion of Ukraine a turning point in world history. How we react is shaped by the media coverage – and most of what we get comes from outlets in countries that have taken sides. Does this matter? 

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UKRAINE: Ukraine war: Russian strike on Kyiv kills reporter Vira Hyrych

BBC News: A journalist working for Radio Liberty in Ukraine was killed in Russian rocket strikes on Kyiv on Thursday evening, the station has confirmed.

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UKRAINE & RUSSIA: IPI documents 356 media freedom attacks amidst Russia-Ukraine war

IPI: The International Press Institute (IPI) has documented 356 attacks on journalists, acts of censorship and serious violations of media freedom since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the latest figures.

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REGIONAL: Council of Europe Report: Red lights flashing for media freedom

IPI: The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins the partner organisations of the Council of Europe’s Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists in publishing the 2022 annual report, which identifies growing challenges for media freedom across the region.

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REGIONAL: EU announces plans to protect journalists from vexatious lawsuits

The Guardian: Anti-Slapp directive would also enable EU states to refuse to recognise judgments passed in UK.

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REGIONAL: Media freedom is ‘in danger’, survey in four Eastern European countries finds

The Guardian: More than half of people in four former communist central European counties fear media freedom is in danger, with significant majorities wanting government or EU measures to protect it, according to a survey.

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REGIONAL: Public service media see increased journalist safety violations

EBU: Newsrooms across Europe are reporting increased violations of journalist safety, with incidents including physical, verbal, online and legal attacks, that are undermining the ability of public service media to cover major news events – with implications for European democracy. 

ARGENTINA: The debate on the meaning of public media | Rosario Lufrano and Jose Manuel Perez Tornero (Spanish – Listen)

Silvia Bacher: Voices have always been heard questioning the meaning of the existence of public media. In this episode we talk with Rosario Lufrano, president of Radio y Televisión Pública Argentina (RTA) and José Manuel Pérez Tornero, president of Radio y Televisión Española RTVE, to think about why closing them is denying rights and, at the same time, why it is essential strengthen them as spaces of creativity.

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BRAZIL: Bolsonaro family vents more anger than ever on Brazil’s media

RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is continuing to analyse the attacks on the Brazilian media by President Bolsonaro, his family and other members of his inner circle. Supported by key statistics, this latest analysis covers the first six months of 2021, in which the attacks have intensified.

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BRAZIL: Disinformation and online attacks against women journalists pose serious challenges to the exercise of press freedom in the country

RSF: Gênero e Número (GN) and Reporters without Borders (RSF) launch unprecedented research that reveals the perception of women journalists and LGBT+ journalists about the effects of disinformation and online violence in their professional practice and personal life.

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GUYANA: Communication and development (Editorial)

Stabroek News 

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PARAGUAY: SPP calls for security for journalism (Spanish)

Última Hora: On Journalist’s Day, the General Secretary of the Paraguayan Journalists Union, Santiago Ortiz, stressed that the union demands security and guarantees for professional practice, particularly for colleagues from the interior of the country. He drew attention to the rapid deterioration of the working conditions of journalists.

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PERU: Violent Protesters Go to the Home of a Journalist to Harass Her (Spanish)

IPYS: On April 21, 2022, a group of around 50 demonstrators arrived outside the home of journalist Ketty Vela to violently protest her way of reporting on a strike organized by patrol members and members of the Defense Front.

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SINT MAARTEN: ACM calls for the withdrawal of controversial media accreditation policy

Caribbean National Weekly: The Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) on Thursday called on authorities in Sint Maarten, specifically the Department of Communication of the Ministry of General Affairs, to promptly withdraw a Media Accreditation Policy proposed to take effect on May 1.

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VENEZUELA: ‘A country where everything you say can be used against you.’ Venezuelan journalists fight against the new survival mechanism: self-censorship

LatAm Journalism Review: A surveillance environment in Venezuela has led to the beginning of doubt against free expression – the beginning of self-censorship. 

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REGIONAL: Authoritarianism Assaults Latin America’s Press Freedom

Havana Times: The exercise of free press and free expression have become ever more difficult in Latin America. Authoritarian regimes and organized crime are attempting to silence the independent media in order to keep citizens misinformed. 

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REGIONAL: CBU LAUNCHES NEW UNESCO-SUPPORTED PROJECT ON MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY

CBU: As global celebrations take place for World Press Freedom Day 2022, the President of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Mrs. Kayleaser Deveaux-Isaacs is pleased to announce a new partnership with UNESCO to address misinformation and disinformation affecting the Caribbean.

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REGIONAL: Knight Center expands initiatives to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in Latin American newsrooms

LatAm Journalism Review: Nearly 500 students from all Latin American countries recently finished a special online course in Spanish and joined efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in newsrooms and in the content they produce.

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REGIONAL: MIC ACM Caribbean Media Summit (Event)

MIC: Media Institute of the Caribbean launches Virtual Caribbean Media Summit on 5th May 2022. These sessions will reveal the issues of media viability in the Caribbean and how independent journalism is a significant fact of viability with Jamaica as a key case study.

IRAQ: Iraqi Kurdish journalist Omed Baroshky: Press freedom ‘an illusion’ in the region

CPJ: Freelance journalist Omed Baroshky spent 18 months in jail over social media posts that were critical of the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan. One of four Iraqi Kurdish reporters listed in CPJ’s 2021 prison census, his incarceration marked yet another low point for a region that has seen a sharp deterioration in the environment for the press in recent years.

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JORDAN: Jordan’s Community Media Network awarded JTI Certification: first among Arabic-language media outlets

RSF: The Journalism Trust Initiative is making inroads into the Middle East region with Amman-based Community Media Network as the first media outlet to be awarded the JTI Certification, and which Reporters Without Borders is pleased to announce.

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JORDAN: Press freedom at stake as parliament seeks jail terms for violating gag orders

Middle East Eye: Reporters covering secret and libel trials could be jailed for three months according to amendments to the Penal Code.

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LEBANON: ‘When you stop writing, they win’: Exiled after attacks, Lebanese journalist Mariam Seif Eddine is still reporting

CPJ

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PALESTINE: ICC case filed over systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists

IFJ: Legal submissions alleging that Israel’s systematic targeting of journalists working in Palestine and its failure to properly investigate killings of media workers amount to war crimes, have been submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

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QATAR: As World Cup nears, Qatar and FIFA face fresh scrutiny on press freedom commitments

CPJ: The NRK journalists were held for more than 30 hours before being released without charge. 

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TURKEY: New IPI report: Growing digital censorship in Turkey

IPI: IPI issues new report on media freedom in Turkey as government announces draft law on disinformation

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REGIONAL: Diversity, New Perspectives Are Applied to Middle East Coverage

VOA News: Female journalists covering the Middle East describe how their approach has led to more inclusive reporting

CANADA: Between Us: For a greener and more sustainable future (Blog)

CBC/Radio-Canada: Every spring, nature takes centre stage. For Earth Day, the environment took centre stage at CBC/Radio-Canada, too.

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CANADA: CBC NEWS TO EXPAND LOCAL SERVICES WITH THE ADDITION OF 14 JOURNALISM POSITIONS ACROSS CANADA

CBC/Radio-Canada: CBC News today announced it will expand its commitment to local news by creating 14 new journalism positions across the country, focused on deepening community connections.

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CANADA: Misinformation did not influence federal election outcome, study finds (French)

Le Devoir: Although misinformation was present in the last federal election, it did not affect the outcome of the election, a study by the Canadian Election Misinformation Project concluded.

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CANADA: Science on multiple platforms in both official languages (French)

Radio-Canada: Magazines, podcasts, videos and games to interest young people in scientific news.

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CANADA: The survival of the Quebec Press Council is in danger, according to its outgoing president (French)

Le Devoir: On the verge of bowing out, the president of the Quebec Press Council, Paule Beaugrand-Champagne, is sounding the alarm about the financial difficulties of the media court of honor, whose survival is in danger, according to her.

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US: How to reach audiences who think public media isn’t for them (Paywall)

Current: A segmentation study identified three groups that Vermont’s public media organizations can attract and engage with a different approach.

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US: Indigenous journalists make way for sunshine

The Center for Public Integrity: Despite limited access to information and tribally controlled media, Indigenous journalists persevere in their reporting — and gradually promote transparency and accountability.

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US: Models of Youth-Adult Collaboration for Public Media

Joan Ganz Cooney Center: The Joan Ganz Cooney Center is proud to share the first of our series of applied research briefs that focus on specific challenges and opportunities public media faces in its approaches to youth content and engagement. 

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US: Public Media Amplifies Stories of Resilience in May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

CPB: From students at San Francisco’s top public high school vying for spots at elite colleges to Chinatown residents quarantined during a 1900 bubonic plague outbreak, stories of Asian American resilience premiere on public media this May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

CEU Celebrates World Press Freedom Day (Watch)

Central European University: Today we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals surrounding issues of press freedom and professional ethics. World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media that are targeted in attempts to restrain or abolish press freedom. 

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Finding the funds for journalism to thrive: policy options to support media viability (Report)

UNESCO

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IJ4EU Podcast: World Press Freedom Day Special Episode (Listen)

IJ4EU: In this special edition of the IJ4EU Podcast to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2022, host Timothy Large speaks with journalists from Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Romania, all of whom have fostered resilience through cross-border collaboration. These are tales of adaptation, ingenuity and survival.

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RSF’s 2022 World Press Freedom Index : a new era of polarisation

RSF: The 20th World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reveals a two-fold increase in polarisation amplified by information chaos – that is, media polarisation fuelling divisions within countries, as well as polarisation between countries at the international level.

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Social media regulation: why we must ensure it is democratic and inclusive

The Conversation: The digital public sphere is constantly evolving, so we need a regulatory framework that helps to structure public discussion, and in turn guide our own public contributions as citizens.

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Special Report: Press freedom under digital siege

DevDiscourse: Journalists the world over face increasing digital surveillance used to hamper press freedom, promote misinformation, or discredit their work. Press freedom, already in decline for 85 percent of the world’s population, is under digital siege.

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Strengthening press freedom at home and abroad: 10 recommendations for the world’s democracies

IPI: With authoritarianism and illiberalism on the rise, democratic governments must lead by example.

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Will Elon Musk follow the old adage that media freedom is only for those who own the media? (Analysis)

CBC News: Musk promises freedom but as Canadians know freedom can be complicated

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World Press Freedom Day: IFJ calls for global solutions to combat journalists surveillance

IFJ: Cases of spying on journalists and media workers using sophisticated spyware programs have multiplied in recent years all over the world. 

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World Press Freedom Day from Chile to Kenya: why institutions and innovation matter (Listen)

Reuters Institute: On 3 May each year, the world marks Press Freedom Day to show support for journalists whose ability to report freely is curtailed through harassment and intimidation, physical and online threats, financial and legal pressures. For this episode of our podcast, we speak to two Journalist Fellows, Paula Molina from Chile and Maurice Oniang’o from Kenya on the importance of press freedom for a democratic society and how strong institutions and innovation are crucial to underpin it.