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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Annual public service media symposium: Uyanda Siyotula comments
SABC News: SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition will be hosting it’s Annual public service media symposium tomorrow in Sandton.
What we're listening to...
Canaries in the Coal Mines: The Battles of the Central American Press (Spanish)
Radio Ambulante: In recent months, more than 40 journalists have fled El Salvador due to persecution by the Nayib Bukele government. The Salvadoran exodus is the latest chapter in the general siege of the press in Central America, the most extreme of which is Nicaragua.
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BOTSWANA: Botswana at 59: Time for the media to reclaim its voice (Opinion)
Mmegi Online: For nearly six decades, the press has been an indispensable part of our national story, chronicling our progress while exposing our shortcomings. But today, questions loom large about whether the media still carries the same democratic weight it once did.
BOTSWANA: Why Botswana journalists cannot ignore their country’s digital future
Mmegi Online: When Parliament passed the Access to Information Act in 2024, it was hailed as a milestone for democracy. At long last, people said, there was a legal framework to demand information that for years had been locked away in dusty government files.
CHAD: Chad opposition threatens boycott over media censorship
APA News: Chad’s opposition parliamentary group, “Les Démocrates Élus,” has formally denounced public media outlets for the systematic censorship of its activities and statements, threatening to boycott Senate proceedings in protest.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: In eastern DRC, journalist faces knife attack, threats, another detained 3 times
Committee to Protect Journalists: The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to protect journalists, following a knife attack, robbery, and death threats against Patient Chimusa and the repeated detention of Aimé Paluku in government-controlled eastern regions.
EGYPT: Egypt forms media development committee with veteran media figures, top UMS officials
Egypt Today: Egypt has formed a high-level committee to draw up a comprehensive roadmap for the development of the country’s media sector as per President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives.
KENYA: KBC can reinvent itself to become profitable (Watch)
KBC: KBC stands the potential of being a super rich public institution in Kenya. It is true many public broadcasting corporations, including BBC, get support from government but that does not mean in this day and age, state corporations cannot reinvent themselves to become profitable.
KENYA & CHINA: Chinese Media in Africa: The Case of StarTimes in Kenya (Report)
Observer Research Foundation: The entry of StarTimes into the Kenyan market in 2012 expanded digital TV access through affordable packages, improved media infrastructure, and a focus on local content.
LIBERIA: ECOWAS Envoy Urges Liberian Media To Challenge Government, Warns Against Partisan Reporting
GNN Liberia: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a direct challenge to Liberia’s media, calling on journalists to play a more proactive role in holding the government accountable and warning against the dangers of partisan reporting.
MOROCCO: Morocco World News Restores Official Instagram Page After 287 Days of Suspension
Morocco World News: After 287 days of suspension, Morocco World News (MWN) restores access to its official Instagram page, marking a significant milestone for the media outlet and its global digital community.
NIGER: Authorities continue crackdown on press; four journalists remain behind bars
IPI: IPI calls on authorities to stop targeting journalists for coverage of authorities and security situation.
NIGERIA: How Imo became Nigeria’s most dangerous state for journalists (Report)
Premium Times Nigeria: Journalists in Imo State have been battling increased harassment, arrests, assaults and lawsuits from state actors.
NIGERIA: Journalism under siege, civic activism shrinking in Nigeria, says CSO
The Cable: The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) has accused the government of criminalising civic freedoms.
NIGERIA: Press Council commends DSS for releasing 2 journalists in Jos, hails renewed cooperation
Western Post: The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Dr Dili Ezughah, has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for the recent release of two journalists wrongfully detained in Jos, Plateau State.
SENEGAL: Senegal Issues Warrant For ‘Fugitive’ Journalist
Channels Television: Madiambal Diagne, editor of Le Quotidien and head of the media group Avenir Communication, is a journalist known for criticising the government.
SOMALIA: UK and Somalia Host Human Rights Event at UN Human Rights Council , with Media Freedom in Spotlight
Garowe Online: The United Kingdom (UK) and Somalia yesterday co-hosted an official side event at the ongoing 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva under the theme “Somalia’s Human Rights Transition: From Country-Specific Mandate to Strengthened National Institutions and International Human Rights Mechanism”.
SOUTH AFRICA: G20 takes up media-related concerns
The Media Online: The Johannesburg Declaration has been signed so far by 63 media and support organisations across scores of countries.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC dismisses retrenchment reports as inaccurate
SABC News: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has denied reports that the public broadcaster is planning retrenchments.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC reports R253m loss as 85% of South Africans dodge TV licences
The South African: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has reported a net loss of R253.3 million for the 2024/25 financial year.
SUDAN: Violations against Sudanese journalists: killing, kidnapping, and interrogation (Arabic)
Al-Quds: Al-Quds Al-Arabi: The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate condemned, on Thursday, what it described as ongoing serious violations against journalists in the country. This follows the kidnapping of journalist Mustafa Fadl al-Mawla, known as “Abu Quwa,” the director general of the Central Darfur State Radio and Television Corporation, and the disappearance of journalist Ashraf al-Haber, who disappeared about a year ago.
TANZANIA: Journalist safety highlighted ahead of 2025 General Election
Daily News: WITH the General Election edging ever closer, the focus is turning toward the safety of journalists and the media’s vital role in fostering informed, peaceful and cohesive public discourse during the campaign period.
TANZANIA & GHANA: Tanzania Delegation Examines Ghana’s State Broadcasting Approach
News Ghana: Three-member team visits NCA seeking insights on public broadcaster sustainability
UGANDA: Journalists warned to report sensibly on GBV matters
Daily Monitor: The Executive Director of the Uganda Media Women Association (UMWA), Ms Margaret Sentamu, has implored journalists to report sensitively on issues of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to help eliminate the vice in Uganda.
UGANDA: On the Side of Ugandans: Media’s Duty in a Polarised Political Season
Nile Post: Uganda has officially entered yet another political season, and with it comes heightened scrutiny of every institution that serves the public. In moments like these, the media is often put under the sharpest spotlight.
ZAMBIA: ZCLU condemns torture of PF member, assault on journalist
Zambia News Diggers: THE Zambian Civil Liberties Union (ZCLU) has condemned the alleged abduction and torture of PF member Joel Nyondo by suspected UPND cadres, urging police to pursue harsher charges and broader accountability.
ZIMBABWE: Journalism under siege (Opinion)
Zimbabwe Independent: IT is getting harder every day to do the fundamental journalistic task of collecting facts and verifying information. It is also getting much more dangerous.
REGIONAL: LAUNCH OF ZOA: A PAN-AFRICAN MEDIA, BY YOUNG AFRICANS, FOR YOUNG AFRICANS, 100% DIGITAL (Press release – French)
France Médias Monde: ZOA (“the lucky star” in Central Africa) is Africa written and told every day by those who live there. Based within the France Médias Monde hub in Dakar (which already houses RFI’s Mandenkan and Fulfulde editorial team), the ZOA editorial team is anchored on the continent and shares the professional expertise of the RFI and France 24 teams.
AFGHANISTAN: Taliban blocks internet access for over two weeks
IFJ: The Taliban shut down fibre optic internet and mobile across all Afghan provinces for over two weeks between September 16 and October 1.
BANGLADESH: Television channel licences granted in same old procedure
Prothom Alo: The interim government has approved licences for two new private satellite television channels, ‘Next TV’ and ‘Live TV’, following the same procedure previously used by the Awami League government, which was ousted in the July public uprising.
CAMBODIA: Political Repression, Media Harassment, and Microfinance-Linked Dispossession
Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Watch urges the authorities to immediately release those detained simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, opinion, and assembly.
CHINA: Xi Jinping wants a spot in your inbox (Paywall)
The Economist: Even as Western news outlets struggle to gain access to China, a crop of worldly Chinese writers offers what many crave: original insight into the country from bright journalists in the know. The Economist has identified over a dozen writers on Substack who are employed by China’s state media.
CHINA & THE PHILIPPINES: How China waged an infowar against U.S. interests in the Philippines
Reuters: As Chinese ships fired water cannons at Philippine vessels in the South China Sea in November 2021, Beijing’s then-ambassador to Manila asked Filipinos on Facebook to share their favorite things about China.
INDIA: Manufactured fame, manufactured consent
Frontline Magazine: India’s media, film, and digital ecosystem are a culture industry manufacturing consent for authoritarian power. Democracy must resist.
INDIA: Jammu and Kashmir, an entire region turned into an black hole for information
RSF: Six years after its autonomy was revoked, the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has become an “information black hole” as reliable news on the area is scarce. The journalists who strive to keep the public informed do so under constant pressure, danger and severe obstacles to their work.
INDONESIA: National Journalist Association vital for RI, minister says
Antara: Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid stressed the vital role of the National Journalist Association (PWI) for Indonesia’s press at PWI’s management board inauguration.
INDONESIA: Palace restores CNN journalist’s access after Press ID revocation sparks backlash
Indonesia Business Post: The Presidential Secretariat has returned the special press identification card of CNN Indonesia TV journalist Diana Valencia after a weekend controversy over its sudden revocation triggered concerns about press freedom.
JAPAN: Getting news from social media videos spurs stronger conspiracy thinking: Japan study
The Mainichi: Individuals who use video-based social media sites as their primary news sources tend to have stronger conspiracy-theory-oriented thinking, a Japanese research company survey on media exposure and related issues has found.
JAPAN: NHK targets Gen Z audiences with Lost and Found
Advanced Television: Singapore-based content creators Empire of Arkadia (EOA) and Mocha Chai Laboratories (MCL) have partnered with Japan’s public media organisation NHK and production house TV Man Union (TVU) in creating Lost and Found – an adventure drama series inspired by real events, targeting Gen Z audiences around the world.
MALAYSIA: Budget 2026: Creative Industry Calls For Holistic Development Focus
Beranma: … Malaysian Television Producers Association president Datuk Jurey Latiff Rosli called for a new Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) procurement policy that is development-driven, and supported with adequate funding to boost high-quality content production for public broadcasters.
MALAYSIA: Malaysiakini’s Facebook suspension raises press freedom concerns in Malaysia
SCMP: The move came hours after the news portal published a report on a network of suspicious social media accounts boosting the PM’s page.
Unesco: Mongolia marked the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) 2025 with a series of activities aligned with this year’s global theme, “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age.”
PAKISTAN: Multiple journalists and a dozen YouTube channels targeted under PECA in less than a year
RSF: At least nine journalists have been abusively targeted under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) since it was amended in January, yet a new amendment to strengthen this legislation was introduced in Pakistani Parliament in September 2025.
SINGAPORE: Raj Parekh leads Mediacorp’s new Growth & Partnership unit, Ivan Wong departs
Marketing-Interactive: Mediacorp has established a new growth and partnerships unit to consolidate all partnership-related functions under one roof, signalling a strategic push to drive revenue growth and enhance collaboration with partners.
SOUTH KOREA: Arrest of media regulator signals dangerous turn in South Korea
Newsbreak: On Thursday afternoon, South Korean police arrested Lee Jin-sook, the former chair of the Korea Communications Commission. Officials insist she ignored multiple summonses and may have breached the neutrality obligations required of senior civil servants.
SOUTH KOREA: Korea scraps KCC, launches new media regulator
Nate: The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) will be abolished 17 years after its launch and replaced by the Broadcasting, Media and Telecommunications Commission (BMTC).
SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka to host major climate and disaster media summit
The Morning: Sri Lanka is set to host the 9th Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Media Summit on Climate Action & Disaster Prevention (CADP-2025) from 25–27 November 2025 in Colombo.
TAIWAN: Rti official website attacked by unknown hackers (German)
Rti: On the evening of September 11, RTI discovered that its official website had been hacked by unknown individuals, and the homepage banner had been replaced. Since then, the broadcaster has submitted relevant evidence to the Taipei Police Department and the Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, requesting technical assistance and an investigation.
TAIWAN: Taipei exhibition brings 60 years of broadcasting to life
Taiwan News: Four areas showcase milestones, fandom, winners, and the production teams behind Taiwanese television and radio.
TAIWAN: Taiwan’s main threat isn’t military – it’s media speculation
The Interpreter: Every headline becomes a crisis, every policy shift becomes abandonment. Taiwan deserves reporting that resists speculation.
THAILAND: Thai PBS opens a Policy Forum to explore disaster response policies amid the global warming crisis (Press release)
Thai PBS: The Active Thai PBS held a forum, “Policy Forum: ‘Risk Areas’ Stay or Move? Coping with Disasters in an Era of Global Warming,” under the “Green Active: The World Screams, We React,” exploring the challenges of disaster management policy amid the global warming crisis that directly impacts communities.
VIETNAM & LAOS: Vietnamese, Lao media forge stronger cooperation in digital era
Vietnam Plus: VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang affirmed that cooperation between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Pasaxon newspaper stands as a symbol of enduring friendship and loyalty. The two sides have carried out practical joint activities, including information exchange, delegation visits, support for reporting, technical assistance and journalism training.
REGIONAL: ‘Like ice melting’: Journalists warn press freedom is in decline across Asia
NPR: Detentions of journalists and media workers across the Asia-Pacific region climbed steadily from a total of 69 in 2010 to 229 in 2020 , spiking to an all-time high of 334 in 2022 before tapering slightly to 300 last year. It’s happening as the U.S. cancels funding for independent media across the region, and China exports surveillance techniques beyond its borders.
AUSTRALIA: ABC supporting local media during major events (Press release)
ABC: The ABC has announced a proposal to share its digital news content with local news outlets in regional, rural and remote Australia during major events affecting their communities.
AUSTRALIA: Australia media groups announce $274 million merger as they battle streaming giants
Reuters: Australia’s Seven West Media, opens new tab said it would merge with Southern Cross Media, opens new tab to create a A$417 million ($273.97 million) metropolitan and regional media group to better compete with global streaming platforms.
The Guardian: The ABC was racked by a culture of fear after “relentless years” of external pressure when Hugh Marks took over as managing director six months ago, he has told an ABC Friends event.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ appoints Pip Keane to the role of Chief Audio Officer (Press release)
RNZ: Veteran broadcast media leader Pip Keane has been appointed to the role of Chief Audio Officer – a new role at RNZ designed to oversee the performance and excellence of RNZ’s audio content, bringing a truly unified approach.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ closes down TAHI youth platform
RNZ: RNZ has announced it will close its TAHI youth platform as part of a number of changes to how the broadcaster covers music, arts and culture.
NEW ZEALAND: Successful Projects announced for 2025 Moana Reo Media Fund
PMN: Pacific Media Network and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples are proud to announce the successful applicants of the 2025 round of the Moana Reo Media Fund, to support media projects in Pacific languages in Aotearoa.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Media leaders address misinformation and reporting challenges faced by PNG journalists (Paywall)
Post Courier: Senior members of the Papua New Guinea mainstream media were enquired into by the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Communications during the Port Moresby inquiry into the standards of journalism.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Papua New Guinea considers age restrictions on social media amid fears voices will be ‘silenced’
The Guardian: Proposed changes to address the spread of harmful content in PNG also include new rules for social media companies and more monitoring.
REGIONAL: Pacific Media Network and ABC International Announce New Pacific Broadcast Journalism Placement Initiative (Press release)
PMN: ABC International and Pacific Media Network (PMN) have announced a new partnership designed to foster career development opportunities and empower Pacific voices in media.
AUSTRIA: ORF launches media literacy initiative in schools (Press release – German)
ORF: New website bildung.ORF.at, workshops with “Lie Detectors” and “Digital Compass” as well as “ORF Fact Friday” and “Media Literacy Day” in cooperation with DER STANDARD
BELGIUM: “Diversity is not a sprint: it is a journey in which we move forward together” (Press release – Dutch)
VRT: Diversity and inclusion are high on the agenda at VRT. Not as optional topics, but as the core task of a public broadcaster that wants to be there for everyone.
BELGIUM & ISRAEL: Media Minister Cieltje Van Achter wants a clear framework for Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest (Dutch)
VRT: For Belgium, the VRT and the French-language public broadcaster RTBF must reach a joint decision before they can cast a vote at the European level. It is not yet clear how the two broadcasters will position themselves.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: Prijedor’s Press Freedom Woes Mirror Wider Crisis in Bosnia’s Republika Srpska
Balkan Insight: The city of Prijedor is a microcosm of how the media is treated by ruling parties across Republika Srpska, with the authorities exerting direct control over some outlets, punishing others they can’t control, and taking action over content they don’t like.
BULGARIA: The first Bulgarian National Radio Academy for journalism students has begun (Press release – Bulgarian)
BRT: The first Bulgarian National Radio Academy for Journalism Students launched at the beginning of the academic year. Students from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the University of National and World Economy are participating in the project.
CATALONIA: 3Cat leads the debate on the future of educational audiovisual content in Catalan (Catalan)
3Cat: The SuperCampus platform has united the teaching, audiovisual and publishing worlds to create innovative proposals for the educational curriculum.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Point N: ANO benefits from weakness of Czech Television at the end of the campaign, SPD and communists limit the work of journalists (Paywall – Czech)
N Denik: The ANO movement is not even in power – and it has already smeared Czech Television. In the debates, Czech Television went out of its way to accommodate Andrej Babiš as much as possible, and the candidate for prime minister did not even have to bother to show up.
CZECH REPUBLIC: There is no reason to panic, but there is reason to be concerned. We can write off public media (Paywall – Czech)
N Denik: Hard times await Czech Television and Czech Radio in particular. “We can basically write off public media as we knew it. It will be one of the victims of these elections,” the journalist thinks.
DENMARK: DR changes the composition of the executive board (Press release – Danish)
DR: As part of the work on a new strategy, DR is taking the first step in assembling DR’s future management. A new position as Director of Technology is being created. At the same time, Sandy French is stepping down as Director of News.
FINLAND: Yle’s new CEO: “Yle is the last entity to close radio and TV channels” (Finnish)
Yle: Yle’s new CEO, Marit af Björkesten, hopes that media representatives will discuss the international challenges of the industry together.
FRANCE: CNews vs. Public Media: A Killing of Journalism? (French)
The Conversation: The conflict between the Bolloré group’s media outlets and the public broadcasting service calls into question the very foundations of journalism and “impartial information.”
FRANCE: France Télévisions is expanding its activities and initiatives with teachers and schoolchildren (Press release – French)
France Télévisions: A major partner in education, France Télévisions continues its commitment to teachers and schoolchildren by renewing and expanding its initiatives.
FRANCE: Who killed public broadcasting? (Paywall – French)
Le Monde Diplomatique: Two public broadcaster journalists were caught in a restaurant advising two socialist leaders. Major private media outlets, both right-wing and far-right, themselves fiercely militant, took the opportunity to demand the total privatization of information. The obvious bias of some fuels the destructive plans of others.
GEORGIA: Georgian authorities probe press organizations under foreign funding laws
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Georgian authorities to repeal restrictive new laws covering foreign donor grants as Georgian authorities open investigations into the funding of at least five independent news outlets and a leading press association.
IFJ: Since the beginning of September 2025, Mapping Media Freedom (MapMF) has registered two cases of unlawful police conduct against journalists at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
GERMANY: Minister of State for Culture Weimer accuses ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio of being “politically left-leaning” – sharp criticism from the DJV (German)
Deutschlandfunk: Minister of State for Culture Weimer alleges that public broadcasting in Germany has a problem with acceptance because the stations appear politically left-leaning. The German Journalists’ Association counters, claiming that Weimer’s statement is fueling fact-free prejudices.
GERMANY: Public broadcasting under fire: “All socially relevant forces must have their say” (Interview – German)
Beck-Aktuell: A woman is suing the Federal Administrative Court because she no longer wants to pay the broadcasting fee – she claims public broadcasters aren’t providing balanced enough reporting. This isn’t just populism, says Hubertus Gersdorf in an interview. It’s about strengthening public broadcasting, but something needs to be done to achieve this.
ICELAND: RÚV’s position on Israel’s participation settled at board meeting at the end of the month (Icelandic)
RÚV: The board meeting of the Icelandic National Broadcasting Corporation (RÚV) at the end of the month will decide whether or not to vote to expel Israel from Eurovision.
THE NETHERLANDS: Jet de Ranitz new chair of the NPO Board of Directors (Press release – Dutch)
NPO: Jet de Ranitz has been appointed Chair of the Board by the Supervisory Board of the Dutch Public Broadcasting Corporation (NPO), effective January 1st.
THE NETHERLANDS: Public broadcasters still not even talking about new broadcasting houses (Dutch)
NOS: Public broadcasters are still struggling to establish joint broadcasting houses, writes outgoing media minister Moes to the House of Representatives. A solution that all broadcasters can agree on and that meets the caretaker government’s requirements has not yet been found.
THE NETHERLANDS: Savings of 15 million euros mean wave of mergers at Dutch public broadcasters (Dutch)
Nieuwsblad: The well-known Dutch broadcasters, several of which merged a few years ago, are merging into so-called broadcasting houses. This is a necessity, as the Dutch Public Broadcasting system is facing millions of euros in budget cuts. This affects programming, as well as staffing.
POLAND: Statement by Polish Television (Press release – Polish)
TVP: Due to the media reports suggesting an intention to close TVP HD, the management of Telewizja Polska (TVP) would like to emphatically assure you that it has no plans to close or suspend the channel’s operations.
POLAND: TVP3 Opole launches local band stream on YouTube and video podcast “Time for sport” (Press release – Polish)
TVP: On October 4, 2025, TVP3 Opole will become the first regional branch of Telewizja Polska to begin streaming local programming on its YouTube channel .
SLOVAKIA: The STVR board criticizes the public media outlet’s reporting (Slovak)
Dennik N: The STVR board criticizes the public media outlet’s reporting and questions how the editorial team decides which political party press conferences to broadcast live. Board member Igor Gallo criticized the editorial team for not broadcasting the Hlas party’s press conferences.
SPAIN: Workers rally in defense of the TV3 and Catalunya Ràdio brands (Spanish)
El Triangle: Workers from the Generalitat’s public media gathered this Wednesday in front of the TV3 offices in Sant Joan Despí and Catalunya Ràdio in Barcelona to demand the continuity of the TV3 , Catalunya Ràdio and Catalunya Informació brands .
SWITZERLAND: Petition launched to save Swissinfo from government cuts
Swissinfo.ch: The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, other representatives of the Swiss Abroad and cultural and media associations have launched a petition against the planned cancellation of the federal contribution to the foreign mandate of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).
SWITZERLAND: Swissinfo under pressure: a question of political will
Swissinfo.ch: The Swiss Abroad often experience polarising debates about their political co-determination. Swissinfo builds important bridges to their homeland, but the service is threatened by planned federal cuts.
SWITZERLAND: The Federal Council confirms its intention to withdraw funding from TV5 Monde (17 September – French)
Le Temps: As part of its budget cuts, the Federal Council will cut its contribution to the international channel. A decision that has sparked a reaction in the context of an information war. Several organizations have launched a petition.
UK: BBC bosses want defence budget to help pay for the World Service
The Guardian: Executives at corporation say media monitoring and anti-disinformation are vital to national security
UK: Journalist safety officers hired in every police force in UK
BBC: Every UK police force now has a dedicated officer for journalists facing threats of abuse and violence, the government has said.
UK: S4C and TAC to host new conference for Welsh-language broadcasting (Press release)
S4C: S4C and TAC have announced a joint conference, ‘Dychmygu’r Dyfodol’ (Imagining the Future), to set a new direction for Welsh-language broadcasting and content creation.
UKRAINE: French journalist killed, Ukrainian journalist injured in Russian drone strike
IPI: The IPI global network today strongly condemns the Russian drone strike that killed French photojournalist Antoni Lallican, and injured Ukrainian photojournalist George Ivanchenko.
UKRAINE & HUNGARY: IPI condemns tit-for-tat blocking of Ukrainian and Hungarian news websites
IPI: The IPI global network today condemns the tit-for-tat blocking by authorities in Ukraine and Hungary of news websites and calls on both countries to review and reverse these decisions.
REGIONAL: EFJ president calls for action as European media freedom faces mounting threats
European Newsroom: The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) issued an urgent call for action to safeguard media freedom across Europe, citing persistent threats from political interference, legal harassment through SLAPP lawsuits, and direct attacks on journalists.
ECPMF
BOLIVIA: Bolivia TV and BRICS TV begin cooperation: Bolivian news will be broadcast on more than 100 media outlets in the international network. (Spanish)
ABI: The BRICS International Media Network (TV) has begun exchanging information with the state-run Bolivia TV channel through an inter-institutional agreement, which will make Bolivian news available to an audience of more than 100 media outlets around the world.
BRAZIL: FENAJ and Sindjor-PI issue a note of support for Efrém Ribeiro; police officers did not want the captain to be filmed after an accident. (Portuguese)
FENAJ: The Union of Professional Journalists of the State of Piauí (Sindjor-PI) and the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ) come to public to express solidarity with journalist Efrém Ribeiro, from the OitoMeia portal, and strongly condemn and strongly repudiate any and all forms of aggression and censorship or curtaiation of the legal exercise of press professionals with the Central de Flagrantes de Teresina.
BRAZIL: These digital outlets in small Brazilian cities are turning news deserts into oases
LatAm Journalism Review: Until recently, the town of Pedreiras, in northeastern Brazil, had no newspaper, radio station or local news site. Best known in the state of Maranhão as the birthplace of the late samba singer João do Vale, it was also a “news desert,” a place devoid of consistent local journalism.
CHILE: Santiago Court overturns reprimand imposed on TVN for not broadcasting census campaign on children’s channel (Spanish)
Diario Constitucional: The sanction was imposed on TVN for not broadcasting the public interest campaign “Open the Door to the Census” on its educational channel, NTV. The Court ruled that this channel is intended exclusively for cultural, educational, and children’s content, and therefore could not be required to broadcast campaigns aimed at adults.
CHILE: The shift for TVN: from production company to Chile’s territorial portal (Spanish)
Elmostrador: TVN can’t hold its own by competing in the traditional TV landscape with expensive morning shows, news, entertainment, talk shows, showbiz, dance, and soap operas.
CHILE: TVN has a new director: Marcia Scantlebury is confirmed by the Senate. (Spanish)
Emol.national: The Senate approved the appointment of journalist Marcia Scantlebury as director of Televisión Nacional de Chile , replacing Adriana Delpiano (PPD), who left the post in March of this year to take over as Minister of Defense.
COLOMBIA: CIPCA 2025: Public television unites for children and adolescents (Spanish)
Ministry of Information and Communications Technology: The meeting will bring together all Colombian public television channels in Bucaramanga on October 6 and 7 to share experiences, innovate in formats, and promote content that strengthens the development of children and adolescents.
COLOMBIA: William Parra, news director of RTVC, asks the police to investigate threats against the public media system. (Spanish)
RTVC: The X account “Brian Bodoque Castaño” spread a message in which he wanted to see the RTVC offices burned down, along with the manager of the Public Media System, Hollman Morris.
EL SALVADOR: Journalist Mario Guevara deported to El Salvador after 100 days in Ice custody.
The Guardian: Removal comes after Emmy-winning Salvadorian reporter was arrested while covering ‘No Kings Day’ protest.
MEXICO: RSF urges Sheinbaum to honour commitments as 10 journalists killed in her first year of presidency
RSF: It has been one year since Claudia Sheinbaum became President of Mexico, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns that violence against the press shows no signs of slowing down.
NICARAGUA: Nicaraguan state outlets are hotspots for Russian propaganda, RSF reports
LatAm Journalism Review: Since 2022, Nicaragua has become a hub for the expansion of Russian propaganda. The government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have bolstered the spread of the Kremlin’s narrative abroad by allowing Russian state media to insert their content and production methods into Nicaraguan state outlets.
PERU: JNE signs agreement with IRTP to promote responsible voting and strengthen democracy. (Spanish)
AP Noticias: In the context of the 2026 general elections, the National Institute of Radio and Television of Peru (IRTP) and the National Elections Jury (JNE) signed an inter-institutional cooperation agreement to ensure the production and broadcast of content on electoral culture.
VENEZUELA: Venezuela recorded 175 violations of freedom of expression between January and August. (Spanish)
Infobae: In Venezuela, 175 violations of freedom of expression were recorded between January and August of this year , the NGO Espacio Público reported on Monday . In September, it also documented eight violations of this right in the country, including the “detention” of British actor Michael Palin and his team.
REGIONAL: Media Institute of the Caribbean Highlights Critical Role of Media in Disaster Response
Antigua news: The Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC), with support from UNESCO, has released a landmark report examining disaster communication and media resilience across seven Caribbean islands.
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has joined forces with Radio Ambulante — the station behind Latin America’s leading narrative podcast of the same name — to release a special episode that lays bare the growing assault on press freedom in Central America – particularly the trend of exile as the only remaining way to continue reporting.
IRAN: Rights group raps Iran restrictions on media coverage of UN sanctions
Iran International: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned restrictions imposed by Iran’s judiciary on media coverage of European-triggered international sanctions imposed on Iran over the weekend.
ISRAEL & PALESTINE: Israel paying US influencers to reverse negative public opinion: Report
MEE: Israel is paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for social media posts after its image has taken a battering over the genocide in Gaza.
KUWAIT: The new law regulates advertising and publishing. (Arabic)
AlJarida: During a panel discussion organized by the Ministry of Information yesterday under the title “National Media as an Action Serving Kuwait’s Vision 2035,” Al-Subaie said that the new media regulation law will contribute to establishing a clear mechanism for regulating advertising.
PALESTIN & ISRAEL: Gaza Flotilla: RSF condemns the Israeli forces’ illegal arrest of more than 20 journalists
RSF: More than 20 foreign journalists were arrested by Israeli forces after a humanitarian convoy bound for the Gaza Strip was intercepted on 1 and 2 October.
PALESTINE & ISRAEL: Israel’s Influencer Insiders
CJR: International media outlets have been banned from Gaza, save for tightly controlled embeds. Local reporters have been threatened and killed. But as the world awaits peace, the Israeli government has invited some content creators to come in and spread its message.
SUDAN: East Darfur Radio announces the resumption of broadcasting after more than two years. (Arab)
a5r5br.net: The management of Al Daein Radio in East Darfur State announced the resumption of radio broadcasts on Wednesday, after a hiatus of more than two years due to the war.
Capitale Online: The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate – Hadramaut, Shabwa and Al Mahrah branches condemned on Monday the Hadramaut Security Forces’ summons of three correspondents in Seiyun over television reports covering the partial strike carried out by medical and health unions on September 14, 2025.
CANADA: APTN, Radio-Canada and BEA relaunch the Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators (Press release – French)
Radio-Canada: APTN and Radio-Canada, in collaboration with the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), announce the relaunch of the Pre-Development Program for Indigenous Creators , an initiative that supports emerging creators in the pre-development phase of their projects.
CANADA: Crystelle Crépeau appointed Director General of News at Radio-Canada (Press release – French)
Radio-Canada: Dany Meloul, Senior Vice-President of Radio-Canada, announces the appointment of Crystelle Crépeau as Director General of News at Radio-Canada. She will take up her position on December 1, 2025, and will succeed Luce Julien, who announced her retirement from Radio-Canada earlier this year.
CANADA: How Google’s funding for Canadian news publishers is split – and who benefits the most
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: A CAD 100m annual payout is reshaping the country’s news ecosystem. Four managers discuss who’s left behind and what it means for democracy
CANADA: Journalism program for Indigenous learners, taught by Indigenous faculty, welcomes 1st students
CBC News: Twenty students from across Canada have been selected for the inaugural cohort of a new journalism program offered by Kenjgewin Teg on Manitoulin Island, the First Nations Technical Institute and Ottawa’s Carleton University.
US: A public broadcaster’s path after losing U.S. funds: Youth sports and less local news
NPR: South Dakota Public Broadcasting had already sidestepped one financial catastrophe. In December, Kristi Noem — then the state’s Republican governor — proposed cutting most of the state funds that the network receives, shortly before she left to become Trump’s secretary of homeland security.
US: CPJ calls on FCC chair to respect First Amendment rights, press freedom
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr to refrain from politicizing the agency’s regulatory authority and to respect the First Amendment rights of media organizations to report the news without fear of retaliation.
US: Defending democracy starts at home: protecting local news and press freedom
Concord Monitor: When your town, city or county has a local news outlet, the benefit ripples through the entire community.
US: Judge pauses Trump administration’s plan to eliminate hundreds of Voice of America jobs
PBS: A federal judge agreed Monday to temporarily suspend the Trump administration’s plan to eliminate hundreds of jobs at the agency that oversees Voice of America, the government-funded broadcaster founded to counter Nazi propaganda during World War II.
US: Pentagon Relaxes Press Access Rules (Paywall)
The New York Times: Under new guidelines, journalists will not need approval from the Defense Department before publishing articles containing information not officially released.
US: Public TV Broadcasters Begin Eliminating Programming, Services
NPR: With CPB now shuttered, APTS asks Congress to restore funding.
US: New Mexico governor approves emergency funds for public media
Current: New Mexico’s governor signed bills Friday that included $5.6 million in emergency funding for the state’s 12 public media organizations and an additional $430,000 for three stations associated with Indigenous communities.
US: ‘There’s been a lot of tears’: Local public media stations grapple with federal cuts
NPR: Federal funding cuts to public media go into effect Wednesday. A South Dakota station explains what it’s had to do as local stations across the country adjust to the loss.
US: Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S.
Gallup: Americans’ confidence in the mass media has edged down to a new low, with just 28% expressing a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in newspapers, television and radio to report the news fully, accurately and fairly. This is down from 31% last year and 40% five years ago.
US: US ethnic and Indigenous media play critical role in countering disinformation, new ICFJ study finds (Research)
Editor & Publisher: While political disinformation is surging across the United States, one part of the news media is proving especially resilient in stopping the spread of false information — ethnic and Indigenous newsrooms, according to a new study by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).
US: Voice of America Stops All Broadcasting After Government Shuts Down (Paywall)
The New York Times: During past shutdowns, the federal news agency continued broadcasting to authoritarian countries, as it was considered essential to national security.
US & China: Why the ByteDance–US deal on TikTok is exactly how the information space should not be regulated
RSF: After signing an executive order providing for the creation of a US entity to oversee TikTok’s algorithm in the United States, President Donald Trump quipped: “If I could make it 100% MAGA, I would, but it’s not going to work out that way, unfortunately.” Yet behind the joke, the risks of political capture of the social network, this time to the benefit of the U.S. president, are very real.
Don’t dwell on “democracy,” and other new findings about how to market local news
Nieman Lab: “Here’s the paradox: 93% of people believe reliable local news is necessary for democracy, yet many of these same people react negatively to explicit ‘democracy’ messaging.”
Generative AI and news report 2025: How people think about AI’s role in journalism and society
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Our survey in six countries (Argentina, Denmark, France, Japan, the UK, and the US) explored how people use generative AI in their everyday lives, what they think its impact will be on different areas of society, and what they think about its use in news and journalism specifically.
“Impact editor” is a relatively new job, and it’s already changing
Nieman Lab: Newsrooms can try to define impact even at the beginning of the reporting process, impact editors say.
Local news is dwindling globally. Here’s how other countries are trying to fix it
The Conversation: Australians and people the world over rely on local journalism to keep them informed, but the sector is in a lot of trouble. More than 200 local newspapers in regional Australia significantly cut their services or closed during the COVID pandemic.
On the role of the media in a news-weary world (Listen – Swedish)
SR: At Sveriges Radio’s breakfast seminar on September 25 at the Gothenburg Book Fair, an exciting panel discussed whether more forward-looking journalism could counteract increasing news fatigue?
People trust podcasts more than social media. But is the trust warranted?
The Conversation: There’s been a striking decline in public confidence in social media platforms, according to the 2025 Ethics Index published by the Governance Institute of Australia. One in four Australians now rate social media as “very unethical”.
CJR: Since the site struck licensing deals with Google and OpenAI, its traffic—and its importance to legacy media outlets—has surged.
Spotting advocacy disguised as research: A field guide
journalism.co.uk: How to recognise when ‘report’ is really a media campaign and what to ask before you publish.
CJR: How the press can rise to the moment.
Nieman Reports: Pakistani journalist Taha Siddiqui runs a Paris bar for fellow reporters and whistleblowers in exile
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Header image: Aerial drone shot of symbol Almaty city high TV tower and park at Koktobe hill against snow mountains at sunrise in Kazakhstan. Credit: Pikoso.kz / Shutterstock.com
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