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.
Every week, PMA compiles all the latest news from the public media and media freedom industry. Have a story to feature? Get in touch!
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What we're watching...
World Indigenous Broadcasters Network brings together Indigenous media leaders
NITV: The 2026 World Indigenous Broadcasters Network (WIBN) Conference brings together Indigenous media leaders and content creators from across the globe. This year’s gathering was held in the heart of Sápmi, Norway and stakeholders hope that WIBN will eventually grow into a voice for all Indigenous broadcasters 🌍
What we're listening to...
It’s about ethics in journalism, with Ben Smith
Decoder with Nilay Patel | The Verge: Semafor’s editor-in-chief on billionaire owners, news influencers, and the anti-scale era of media.
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GHANA: GBC outlines public service mandate as new board is inaugurated (Press release) (28 August)
GBC: The Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Professor Amin Alhassan, has outlined three key principles guiding the state broadcaster’s operations as the institution inaugurated its new governing board.
KENYA: Concerns mount over media freedom in Kenya (Watch)
Daily Nation
MALI: Mali’s shrinking civic space: imprisonments, bans, and the silencing of independent media
MFWA: In this piece, our Senior Manager for Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights, Vivian Afoah, unpacks Mali’s shrinking civic space, examining the jailing of journalists and activists, the bans on independent media, and why urgent action is needed to reverse the trend.
MOZAMBIQUE: Modernization of media crucial for public communication
AIM News: The Director of the Mozambican government’s press office (GABINFO), Luís Cahemba, believes that modernization of media outlets is crucial for making public communication more efficient and inclusive.
MOZAMBIQUE: Mozambique’s press and media law caps foreign ownership at 35%
Club of Mozambique: Mozambique intends to strengthen the protection of journalists, establish the right to conscientious objection and professional confidentiality, limit media ownership concentration and set a 35% ceiling on foreign ownership in media organisation.
NIGER: Journalist Moussa Kaka missing as arrests follow coup attempt
The Africa Report: Arrests are mounting in Niger after the mutiny that shook the junta led by Abdourahamane Tiani. Soldiers and political figures have been detained, including former defence minister Kalla Moutari, while a former RFI journalist is missing.
Jurist: Human Rights Watch reported Monday that the Foreign Aids (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill (FA Bill) proposed by Nigerian Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo would allow the government to unduly regulate and influence the goals and activities of independent organizations, threatening freedom of expression rights in the country.
SOMALIA: Somalia Media Forum Opens Amid Press Freedom Concerns
Garowe Online: A conference dubbed the National Strategic Communication Forum 2026 in Mogadishu on Monday, with Somalia’s term-expired Federal Government saying the gathering will discuss the future of the country’s media, government-media relations, social media, artificial intelligence, journalistic ethics and what authorities describe as misinformation and disinformation.
SOUTH AFRICA: MultiChoice Unveils Major DStv Package Revamp After 15 Years
Broadcast Media Africa: The new package structure is designed around changing viewing habits, offering customers clearer package choices, broader access to content, and greater value across the DStv line-up.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC apologised — the digital platforms never have to (Opinion)
The Daily Maverick: A ruling last week shows what voluntary media accountability looks like. No such thing exists for large digital platforms.
SOUTH AFRICA: SANEF hails BCCSA ruling on SAfm editorial breach
The Media Online: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has welcomed a landmark ruling by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) against the SABC, saying it reinforces the editorial responsibilities of broadcasters ahead of November’s local government elections.
SUDAN: CPJ, partners call on Sudan’s RSF to release 3 female journalists detained in Darfur
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists was joined Monday by 16 civil society organizations in calling on the Sudanese paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to immediately release Nyala Radio journalists Ishraqah Abdulrahman, Zahraa Muhammad Al-Hassan, and Mawahib Ibrahim, who have been detained in South Darfur since February 28.
TUNISIA: Neither free nor imprisoned: Tunisia’s journalists in legal limbo
CPJ: In Tunisia, at least four journalists and commentators sentenced to prison over the last year remain free, trying to work and carry on with their daily lives while knowing they could be arrested and taken into custody. Two others are in exile, unable to return home without risking imprisonment.
ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe Appoints New Broadcasting Authority Board
BMA: President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a new seven-member Board of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), which will oversee the regulation, development and growth of the country’s broadcasting sector.
REGIONAL: Investigating Inside Conflict Zones and Areas Controlled by Armed Groups: Lessons from Africa
GIJN: For investigative journalists in Africa, getting into an area controlled by armed groups may not be the most dangerous part of an assignment. The real challenge is figuring out how to report safely when armed groups control territory, access is restricted, information is unreliable, and the people who speak to you may face reprisals.
REGIONAL: Is China Decolonizing African Media or Expanding Its Influence?
China Global South Project: China’s influence in Africa’s media landscape increasingly operates through content-sharing agreements, journalist training, paid placements, and support for local broadcasters.
AFGHANISTAN: Watchdog Condemns Taliban Closure of Rah-e-Farda TV and Seday-e-Eslah Radio in Kabul
Kabul Now: The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has condemned the Taliban’s closure of two Kabul-based media outlets, Rah-e-Farda TV and Seday-e-Eslah Radio, describing it as the latest assault on press freedom and calling for their immediate reopening.
BANGLADESH: Will BTV’s iconic red-green logo get a new look, or stay the same?
The Financial Express: Kha Ma Harun, a former deputy director general of BTV, criticised the move, telling Glitz that BTV is not a privately owned institution but an important public asset of the state.
CAMBODIA: Press Group Records 12 Violations Against Journalists as Media Freedom Remains Under Pressure
CamboJA News: The Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA) documented 12 violations against journalists in the country in the second quarter of 2026, urging authorities to create an enabling environment for journalists.
INDIA: Censorship row heats up between India and X
Nikkei Asia: New Delhi warns that social media giant must ‘follow the law of the land’.
INDIA: Two Muslim women journalists allege police assault in India (Watch)
Al Jazeera: Two Muslim female journalists allege they were detained and brutally assaulted by police in India’s capital, Delhi. Police have denied the allegations, claiming the journalists were brought to the station over an illegal parking dispute.
JAPAN & THE PHILIPPINES: How Japan switched off analog TV; what Central Visayas can expect
Philippine Information Agency: When Japan switched off its analog television signals, it did not simply set a deadline. It subsidized relay stations in mountainous areas, opened 51 walk-in help centers, sent technicians into low-income homes, and shut off the signal in two small cities as a test run before doing it nationwide.
KYRGYZSTAN: Life as an investigative journalist in Kyrgyzstan (Watch)
DW: What does it mean to practice investigative journalism in Kyrgyzstan? What are the consequences of holding politicians accountable for corruption? Here, practicing journalism can be life-threatening.
NEPAL: Journalists and family members go missing in flash flood
IFEX: Freedom Forum urged authorities to intensify search and rescue efforts in the affected areas and locate those who are missing.
NEPAL: Media must prioritise public interest and citizens’ rights: Communication Minister Dr Timilsina (Press release – 25 August)
Radio Nepal: Minister for Information and Communication Dr Bikram Timilsina has said the media sector should keep citizens’ right to information, freedom of the press, freedom of expression and public interest at the centre of the communication system.
NEPAL & TIBET: Floods in Nepal and Tibet: restrictions and disinformation are impeding vital news
RSF: In Nepal, partial cuts to telephone and electricity networks, the lack of accessibility to certain disaster zones and misinformation on social media are hindering journalists’ reporting. In Tibet, these obstacles are compounded by restrictions imposed by the Chinese authorities, who are preventing the press from freely accessing affected areas.
SOUTH KOREA: Hanteo Global, KBS Media sign MOU to launch global K-culture festival (27 August)
Korea JoongAng Daily: Hanteo Global and KBS Media are joining forces to expand the Hanteo Music Awards (HMA) into a broader global Korean culture festival, the two companies said Thursday.
TAIWAN: Silencing TaiwanPlus would weaken the island democracy (25 August)
The Japan Times: In an era when authoritarian states pour vast resources into global media empires to shape perceptions, Taiwan’s sole international English-language news channel, TaiwanPlus, faces an existential threat from within.
THAILAND: The Community Radio Station, in collaboration with the Cyber Police and DPU, is moving forward with efforts to protect students from online threats (Thai)
Thai PBS: The Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS), through its “People’s Station” program, in collaboration with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and Dhurakij Pundit University (DPU), is implementing the “Cyber Threat Awareness Network” project to enhance online safety awareness.
AUSTRALIA: ABC International and National Indian Film Festival of Australia announce multi-year partnership (Press release – 27 August)
ABC: ABC International and the National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a new partnership ahead of the 2027 and future editions of the festival.
AUSTRALIA: Australians will be able to switch off social media algorithms under planned legislation
BBC News: Australians would be able to switch off social media algorithms under draft legislation to be proposed this week. Communications Minister Anika Wells, who last year helmed the government’s world-first social media ban for under-16s, said the digital duty of care laws would ensure “some basic safety protections on an industry that hasn’t had to observe it”.
AUSTRALIA: Guardian Australia and ABC denied access to One Nation press conference
The Guardian: Guardian Australia and the ABC have again been refused entry to a One Nation press conference in Victoria.
AUSTRALIA: Optus commits 3% of consumer brand spend to First Nations media in new landmark partnership with NITV (Press release – 31 August)
SBS: Optus and National Indigenous Television (NITV), part of the SBS network, have today announced a new two-year landmark deal which sees Optus commit 3% of its consumer brand spend to First Nations media over the next two years.
AUSTRALIA: SBS and oOh!media launch exclusive SBS News content partnership across office, airports and universities (Press release)
SBS: The deal will see SBS News delivered to audiences across oOh!media’s network of more than 6300 lift and lobby screens, with the content also extending to airport terminals and universities across the country.
AUSTRALIA: SBS and The Guardian join forces to supersize sustainability challenge for 2027 (Press release)
SBS: SBS Media and Guardian Australia have joined forces to elevate the importance of sustainability in the marketing world through its annual Sustainability Challenge, with the 2027 joint initiative to offer an expanded pool of $700,000 advertising inventory.
AUSTRALIA: SBS announces the launch of outcomes-based measurement across its network (Press release)
SBS: New offer sees national broadcaster put outcomes-based measurement front and centre with innovative partnerships with CommBank iQ and HYP. Clients will achieve new insights into campaign effectiveness by combining media engagement with real-world aggregated consumer spending behaviour.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ audiences rise as New Zealanders continue to turn to trusted public media (Press release – 25 August)
RNZ: RNZ has set a new digital audience record, with radio listenership also climbing, as New Zealanders increasingly turn to RNZ’s trusted public media.
NEW ZEALAND: WHAKAATA MĀORI TO TAKE LIVE ELECTION DEBATES ACROSS THE MOTU (Press release – 31 August)
Whakaata Māori: Whakaata Māori will take its General Election coverage into hapori across the motu, with live debates across seven Māori electorates, independent polling and electorate-specific research, dedicated rangatahi content and comprehensive election-night coverage.
REGIONAL: Anne Fitisemanu welcomed as new Chair of National Pacific Media Trust (Press release – 27 August)
PMN: Respected Pacific leader says PMN is at a crossroads as it builds on strong foundations and prepares for a rapidly changing digital future.
BELARUS: Belarusian journalism stubbornly refuses to attend its own funeral
Belsat: Belarusian independent journalism is being buried with astonishing regularity. But it lives on.
BELGIUM: Is the far right infiltrating the Belgian political and media landscape? (French)
RTBF: Despite the media’s attempts to shield Belgium, have far-right ideas also infiltrated it?
BELGIUM: New Director General of RTBF: the CSA jointly recommends the appointment of Christophe Dujardin or Caroline Franckx (French)
RTBF: The Superior Audiovisual Council (CSA) on Friday jointly recommended the appointment of either Christophe Dujardin or Caroline Franckx as future general administrator of RTBF, at the expense of Emmanuel Tourpe.
BELGIUM: Thomas Gadisseux, the new head of news at RTBF: “I want even more pluralism of ideas.” (Paywall – French – 28 August)
Le Soir: After a heated period, Thomas Gadisseux was finally chosen and is now presenting his project during his first media appearance. This interview took place in the public broadcaster’s brand-new offices at Mediasquare.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: The OSCE Mission calls for the Protection of the Independence and Functioning of the BHRT
Sarajevo Times: The OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) calls on all competent authorities to respect and implement binding court decisions, protect the independence of the judiciary and ensure the functioning and independence of the BHRT ahead of the elections.
BULGARIA: EBU: BNR Traffic+ is an example of successful digital transformation (Press release – 28 August)
BNR: “BNR Traffic+ is a great example of putting audiences first – an approach that can help secure the future of public-service media.”
CZECH REPUBLIC: Losing your voice (Opinion)
Based in Bohemia: Radio Prague marks its 90th birthday. Its future has never looked more precarious.
DENMARK: New working method will strengthen DR’s work with complaints and criticism (Press release – Danish)
DR: As a listener and viewer editor, it is a core task to respond to complaints thoroughly and quickly. But at the same time, time is needed for dialogue with DR’s editors and journalists, so that criticism is used actively and has an effect. Therefore, the working method is being changed.
FINLAND: Lotta Jalava & Leena Nissilä: Yle’s responsibility for the use of Finnish languages is increasing in the digital age (Press release – Finnish – 27 August)
Yle: Yle does its work in language but also for the benefit of languages. During its hundred-year existence, it has played a huge role as a builder, maintainer and innovator of the Finnish language environment and as a trend-setter in language usage.
Reuters: Conservative pundit Philippe Bilger was a mainstay of the French news channel CNews, known for its hard line on immigration and crime…
GERMANY: AfD against MDR: Among vultures (German)
nd.aktuell: If the AfD governs in Saxony-Anhalt, it wants to withdraw from MDR and abolish the broadcasting fee. It won’t be that simple.
GERMANY: “Democracy needs many voices”: Journalistic media launch joint nationwide campaign on the importance of professional reporting (Press release – German)
ARD: For the first time, journalistic media outlets of different genres in Germany are joining forces in a common initiative. Under the guiding principle “Democracy needs many voices,” they are inviting society and politics to a dialogue on the importance of credible information and professional journalism from September 14th to 19th, 2026.
Brussels Signal: Nuklearia e.V. said NDR presented the project as if Warsaw were spending about €45 billion on something a wind park could do for €5 billion.
GERMANY: Media in the election campaign: Between basic broadcasting and the ten-euro broadcasting fee (German – 31 August)
Ostdeutsche Allgemeine: The political parties in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have very different ideas about the media. Regarding public broadcasting, the spectrum ranges from abolition to reform.
HUNGARY & SERBIA: Hungary’s Orbán-style media takeover playbook lands in Serbia before elections (Opinion)
EUObserver: The end of Viktor Orbán’s system of patronage is nigh. Hungarian prime minister Péter Magyar spent the summer overhauling the presidency, the prosecution service and the heads of state broadcasting, while prying open the network of shell companies and captive funds built up over 16 years.
ICELAND: Nordic Journalists Voice Concern Over Icelandic Media After Sýn News Closure
Iceland Review: The Nordic Journalists’ Association has expressed serious concern about the state of Icelandic media following Sýn’s decision to end television news broadcasts. The intervention adds a regional dimension to a closure that has already raised questions about jobs, media plurality and the economics of Icelandic journalism.
IRELAND: RTÉ redundancy window too tight to achieve target for staff cuts (26 August)
The Irish Times: Just over 40 of 134 applicants were successful in being offered exits and only 60% of those took up offer
IRELAND: TG4 says progress in gaining editorial control of Nuacht service from RTÉ ‘extremely slow’ (29 August)
The Irish Times: Irish language broadcaster asks for €11m more funding in Budget 2027
ITALY: EU warns Italy over RAI: “The Commission may launch infringement proceedings”
EU News: The reorganisation of public service broadcasting is being put to the test under the new common rules on the media. Executive Vice-President Virkkunen: “Exchanges are ongoing between the Commission and all Member States, including Italy”
ITALY: Investigative journalist targeted in an attack ousted from his program by RAI (French – 30 August)
RFI: Victim of a bomb attack outside his home near Rome in October 2025, journalist Sigfrido Ranucci, director and presenter of “Report,” the investigative program most disturbing to the Meloni government, was brutally ousted by the management of RAI.
LATVIA: Latvian Public Media Suspends Weekend Broadcasts of Simplified News Program
Streamline: Latvian Radio 1 suspends weekend broadcasts of its ‘News in Simple Language’ program due to administrative constraints, impacting language learners.
LATVIA: LSM invites young people to free media training in Latvia
UA.NEWS: In Latvia, Latvian Public Media LSM has announced recruitment of young people for its new LSM Starts educational project. It combines the Latvijas Radio 5 radio DJ school and the Media Academy.
MALTA: Maltese tycoon acquitted of masterminding reporter’s murder
Euractiv: A Maltese court on Wednesday acquitted tycoon Yorgen Fenech of orchestrating the brutal murder in 2017 of investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia, which brought down a government and drew global condemnation.
MONTENEGRO: RTCG did not publish research on media freedoms, Ombudsman partially accepts SMCG’s complaint
Vijesti: The Ombudsman of the Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG), Ivan Ivanović, partially accepted the complaint of the Media Union of Montenegro (SMCG), filed after the media outlet ignored the presentation of the “Indicator of Media Freedoms and Safety of Journalists and the Journalist Safety Index”, the only research of its kind in Montenegro.
THE NETHERLANDS: Margo Smit: Criticism of Ongehoord Nederland also applies to other broadcasters to some extent (Dutch)
Spreekbuis: According to her, the criticism that Public Broadcaster Ombudsman Margo Smit has leveled against Ongehoord Nederland in recent years certainly does not apply exclusively to that broadcaster. In an interview with De Telegraaf, Smit states that problems such as insufficient follow-up questioning and the failure to clearly separate facts and opinions have been present within public broadcasting for much longer.
THE NETHERLANDS: MPs accuse ON! of normalizing Hitler ideology in controversial clip
NL Times: MPs from PRO, CDA and D66 are calling for broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland (ON!) to be expelled from the Dutch public broadcasting system following comments made during one of its discussion programs suggesting Adolf Hitler had been right on some issues.
THE NETHERLANDS: NPO requests Minister to withdraw provisional recognition ON! (Press release – Dutch)
NPO: On August 24, 2026, the NPO shared a letter with the Minister. In it, we indicated that, at that time, it was not certain to us whether there was a sufficient legal basis to submit a request to the Minister. […] The NPO is now able to reach a conclusion.
SERBIA: Serbia wants to join the EU. Can it do so while journalists are forced into exile?
EU Perspectives: Serbia wants to move forward with its EU accession, even as journalists are being threatened, surveilled and forced into exile. This exposes the growing gap between Belgrade’s European ambitions and its record on media freedom.
SLOVENIA: International media organizations call for strong safeguards to protect the independence and financial sustainability of RTV Slovenija (Statement)
EBU: The EBU has joined other media and journalist organizations in calling for any reform of the legal framework for RTV Slovenija to protect its institutional and editorial independence and guarantee adequate, sustainable and predictable funding for its public service remit.
SLOVENIA: Politics opens its doors to the media: “The government perceives critical media with professional journalists as enemies of the authorities” (Slovenian – 27 August)
Vecer: Less than a hundred days after the change of power, is a new battle for control over Slovenian media starting? The Ministry of Culture has prepared amendments to two key laws regulating the media space and RTV Slovenia in an extremely short period of time.
SPAIN: RTVE is preparing a second UHD channel and three networks are vying for the opportunity: La 2, Teledeporte and Cultura (Spanish)
El Confidencial Digital: RTVE will have capacity for another UHD signal from November and is studying La 2, Teledeporte and its new Culture Channel.
SPAIN: RTVE presents its innovation in artificial intelligence for public broadcasting in London (Spanish)
RTVE: RTVE’s participation played a prominent role during the second day, conceived as a working session restricted to industry representatives to deepen cooperation and exchange among international public broadcasters.
SPAIN: RTVE responds to the harassment of its reporters at the Ceuta protests: “An intolerable attack on the whole of society” (Spanish)
El País: Workers from the news programs Telediario, ‘Malas Lenguas’, and ‘Mañaneros 360’ were attacked on Wednesday while covering the protests. The UGT union denounces “new levels of aggression and hatred.”
SWEDEN: New RSF report “Closed Doors” scrutinises state of press freedom ahead of elections
RSF: Based on the responses of Swedish journalists questioned on the conditions for press freedom, the report reveals how news professionals are being threatened, authorities are making it harder to obtain public documents and concerns about disinformation are growing.
SWEDEN: SVT – 70 years of knowledge and community (Swedish)
SVT Blog: 8 p.m. on September 4, 1956 is seen as the start date of Swedish television. After two years of test broadcasts, television broadcasts officially began.
UK: BBC chief proposes ‘public service algorithm’ with YouTube-style user-generated content (27 August)
The Guardian: Speaking at Edinburgh TV festival, Matt Brittin says BBC platform would be free from interests of US tech giants.
UK: MG Alba boss says Gaelic media services lack funding
BBC News: The chairman of MG Alba has told MPs that Gaelic media services have missed out on “serious” public funding.
UK: Reform UK bans three journalists from its conference after critical reporting
The Guardian: Reform UK has banned at least three journalists from its annual conference who have reported critically on the party and Nigel Farage.
UK: Tiny cash buffers leave small UK TV firms at risk of going bust, analysis finds
The Guardian: Hundreds of small UK TV companies have so little cash in reserve that a filming overrun or a delay to a series could send them bust, an industry body has warned, as programme budget cuts by broadcasters threaten their future.
UK & US: US issues ‘censorship’ warning over UK plan to boost ‘public service’ news on social media
Press Gazette: The US Government has intervened in the UK’s proposals to force tech platforms to put “trustworthy” news providers at the top of social and video feeds.
UKRAINE: Council of Europe supports independent and public service media in Ukraine
COE: The advocacy conference “The Right to Truth: New European Regulations and Multidimensional Threats During Wartime” in Kyiv, on 2 September, began in a shelter during the sixth air-raid alert of the day.
Suspilne: In an interview for the September issue of Tech-i, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) magazine dedicated to media technology and innovation, Dmytro Khilchenko, member of the managing board of Suspilne Ukraine, responsible for production and technology, spoke about the transformation of Suspilne’s production and technology operations, the history behind the NewsHouse multimedia complex, the challenges facing public service media, and the future of media technologies.
REGIONAL: MFRR Monitoring Briefing: 736 press freedom violations in the first six months of 2026
EFJ: The first half of 2026 saw a wide variety of attacks on journalists, media outlets and associated individuals across Europe. These included verbal attacks as well as physical assaults, deliberate obstruction of journalistic work, and legal actions all of which challenged or restricted independent reporting.
REGIONAL: Public broadcasters from Estonia, Lithuania and Finland learn from Suspilne Ukraine’s experience during visit to Kyiv and Lviv (28 August)
Suspilne: Suspilne Ukraine continues to exchange experience with European public service media on working in wartime conditions, crisis preparedness and technological transformation.
REGIONAL & US: Trump administration plans $5 million for right-wing media in Europe, sources say
The Straits Times: US President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to spend US$4 million (S$5.09 million) to bolster right-wing media in Europe, part of a package of at least US$25 million for civil society groups working on conservative causes in the region, according to four people familiar with the funding.
ARGENTINA: 700 days without a salary increase (Spanish)
Periodismo de Izquierda: The national government has a policy of dismantling public media outlets, seeking their sale or eventual closure through a slow and gradual drain on resources. In this context, workers are suffering a constant loss of purchasing power.
ARGENTINA: Public media workers are mobilizing again against “the illegal privatization of the city’s radio stations” (Spanish)
Tiempo: The Buenos Aires city government’s offensive formally materialized this Tuesday, September 1st, with the opening of the bidding process to transfer the radio stations to the private sector.
BRAZIL: In Brazilian elections, small newsrooms opt for a local perspective.
LatAm Journalism Review: With smaller teams and budgets, local media outlets are leveraging their community ties to find stories that national newsrooms cannot easily cover.
BRAZIL: Lula sends Congress the largest budget for Empresa Brasil de Comunicação since 2017. (Portuguese)
Forum: Record funding signifies a positive signal from the government regarding public communication; resources can finance services, infrastructure, technology investments, and operational support.
BRAZIL: Silence as a strategy: why the EBC blackout is a threat to the right to information. (Opinion – Portuguese)
Observatório da Imprensa: The recent decision by Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC) to remove approximately 146,000 journalistic pieces from the air, under the justification of complying with electoral legislation, is not an isolated act of caution.
CHILE: Public Television in the 21st Century (Spanish)
El Mostrador: It’s not about clinging to outdated formats or replicating past practices, but about understanding that the public television Chile demands today requires absolute rigor in management, institutional independence, and a clear vision for the future.
COLOMBIA: Andrea Holguín arrives to direct Señal Colombia
Proclama del Pacifico: Andrea Carolina Holguín will assume the directorship of Señal Colombia , as announced on September 2, 2026, by RTVC Public Media System. Her arrival marks a new stage for the public channel, with an emphasis on digital development, multiplatform content, and educational, cultural, and sports programming.
COLOMBIA: Inravisión, the Public Media System, orders the cessation of broadcasting by four peace radio stations that were operating clandestinely. (Spanish)
Inravision: The radio stations in Buenaventura, Agustín Codazzi, Riosucio and Tierralta were put into operation without the corresponding concessions.
GUATEMALA: Rights organisations call for guarantees that journalists in exile can safely return
IFEX: Over the past decade, Guatemalan journalists investigating corruption, abuses of power and other matters of public interest have come under attack. Many were forced to leave the country, and legal and security risks prevent them from returning safely.
PERU: Federation of Journalists of Peru Supports IRTP Workers and Denounces “Disguised Dismissals” (Spanish)
Altavoz: The Federation of Journalists of Peru questioned the departure of journalists, camera operators, producers, and technicians from TV Perú and Radio Nacional, announcing it will coordinate with those affected to form a defense front for their labor rights.
VENEZUELA: In Venezuela, the earthquake revealed a still very much present censorship. (French – 29 August)
RFI: The population is facing this catastrophe with still limited access to free and independent information. Despite the disappearance of President Nicolás Maduro, abducted by the United States on January 3rd, censorship has not disappeared.
VENEZUELA: More than 100 media outlets and organizations call for guarantees of freedom of expression in Venezuela (Spanish)
SwissInfo: A total of 101 media outlets, organizations and associations called on Tuesday for guarantees of freedom of expression in Venezuela, after more than 27 years in which, they claim, there has been censorship, persecution and restrictions on civic space.
IRAN & CANADA: Canada condemns Iran military threats against journalists abroad
Iran International: Canada has strongly condemned threats by the Islamic Republic against journalists following recent remarks by a senior Iranian military spokesman targeting Persian-language media outside the country.
ISRAEL: Israel takes its war on Palestine into the AI age (Opinion)
Al Jazeera: The Hanover affair shows how Israel’s propaganda efforts are adapting to the artificial intelligence systems increasingly shaping public understanding.
JNA: Minister of Government Communication and Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani on Wednesday described Arab and national media outlets as an integral part of the national security and stability system in Arab countries, stressing their role in shaping public awareness, defending just Arab causes, and countering misinformation amid the rapid flow of information.
LEBANON: Journalists in Lebanon and Gaza injured amid fragile ceasefires
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the recent escalation in Israeli strikes on Gaza and Lebanon, which have injured at least four journalists, including three on Sunday, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefires in both locations.
SYRIA: Syria’s new media law: Press freedom faces the test of text, application, and regulatory authority. (Arabic)
MCD: Syria is preparing to issue a new media law drafted by the Ministry of Information to replace the legal system that governed the press during the era of Bashar al-Assad, amid promises to abolish imprisonment for media violations, protect journalists’ sources, enshrine the right to access information, and regulate digital media and content creators.
TURKEY: Turkish journalist detained over social media posts, YouTube broadcasts
Stockholm Center for Freedom: Turkish journalist Oya Lale Arslan was detained Friday as part of an investigation into her social media posts and YouTube broadcasts on suspicion of publicly disseminating misleading information and spreading terrorist propaganda, the TR724 news website reported.
CANADA: How and why CBC News will adjust its 9/11 language guidance (Blog – 28 August)
CBC Editor’s Blog: Attribution no longer required for describing Sept. 11 attacks as terrorism.
CANADA: TVO Welcomes New Board Leadership (Press release)
TVO: TVO Media Education Group (TVO) today announced new leadership for its Board of Directors following appointments by the Government of Ontario.
CANADA & US: Republican Party revokes CBC/Radio-Canada media accreditation for upcoming midterm convention
CBC News: CBC official says public broadcaster hopes ‘disappointing’ decision will be reconsidered.
US: A year after federal funding slash, public media leaders hope mergers protect stations (Paywall)
Boston Business Journal: The Federal Communications Commission approved the GBH and New England Public Radio merger in July. The stations lost more than $20 million combined in federal funding.
US: Congress Didn’t Just Defund Public Media, It Defunded Emergency Alert (Opinion)
Hollywood Reporter: The stations going dark this year aren’t NPR tote-bag liberalism. In much of rural America they’re the last local signal — and part of the system that tells you a tornado is coming.
US: Even high school reporters are facing censorship now
The Guardian: As teenage journalists deal with threats to their school newspapers, they’re calling in attorneys for back up.
US: Judge refuses to block Pentagon from firing Stars and Stripes journalists
The Guardian: A federal judge has declined to stop the Pentagon from firing journalists who say they were illegally punished for speaking out about the need for the Stars and Stripes publication to maintain its editorial independence.
US: Major Commercial and Public Radio Players Endorse EAS Software
Radio World: iHeartMedia and NYPR back software-based model while NPR cautions against scope creep.
US: NPR creates event for HBCU students to learn about public media
Current: Public Radio Immersion Day will showcase what it’s like to work at NPR while inviting students’ feedback on stories they want to hear.
US: RSF and Media 20 urge G20 to guarantee press access following exclusions of reporters
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and members of the Media 20 — an initiative to advance a sustainable, independent media ecosystem within G20 — are calling on G20 leaders to guarantee that the press accreditation process for all meetings, particularly the December 2026 summit in Miami, will be transparent and impartial.
US: Stars and Stripes shows how government‑funded journalism can work – if it’s free to report the truth (Opinion)
The Conversation: As local and national news outlets continue to disappear across the U.S., I’d always thought that the military newspaper Stars and Stripes offered one model for a partial solution: government financial support.
US: US prosecutors refuse to say if they secretly obtained Don Lemon’s phone records
The Guardian: Experts have expressed deep concerns that the practice runs afoul of the fourth amendment’s right to privacy.
Amazon and Meta AI bots account for most website visits
Press Gazette: New data reveals 63% rise in AI bot traffic hitting website publishers.
Beyond news: The next challenge for impartiality
EBU: For a long time, debates about impartiality in public service media (PSM) have centred on news and current affairs. That is where our editorial frameworks were developed and where our audiences have traditionally expected the highest standards of balance and fairness.That is no longer the whole picture.
How Language and Local Context Can Make or Break an Investigation
Al Jazeera Media Institute: Reporting across linguistic and cultural boundaries showed that effective journalism requires far more than literal translation, as fixing and local collaboration must function as vital verification processes that capture deep emotional, social, and political contexts without stripping away nuance, dignity, or underlying truths.
How people want public service media to help build a better future
BBC: The Responsible Innovation Centre’s public deliberation on the impact of technology on public service media offers key insights into how people want PSM to contribute to a better future for everyone.
Indigenous media ‘essential’ to democracy, says former Sámi Parliament president
NITV: The former President of the Sámi Parliament in Norway has issued a “challenge” to Indigenous journalists and media organisations around the world, to deliver more for their audiences and strengthen democratic institutions.
Meta’s new teen restrictions could become a blueprint for social media
Poynter: Meta’s $17 billion settlement with states puts new limits on how teens use Instagram and Facebook — and could pressure other platforms to follow
Radio: Trust Leader, Lifelong Companion (31 August)
Radio World: In a media landscape defined by fragmentation, acceleration and uncertainty, radio continues to offer something remarkably human: trust and companionship.
Will Gen Z Ever Pay for News It’s Getting for Free Now?
A media operator: Emily Schario, the 31-year-old head of content and co-founder of The Boston Globe’s B-Side newsletter for Generation Z and young Millennials, is the target audience for her own product. As such, she has a flair for the breezy, influencer-like tone and type of news that tends to connect with young New England professionals.
Why the debate about the future of TV is bigger than TV (LinkedIn Newsletter)
LinkedIn: Last Friday, the BBC published its response to DCMS’s Watch This Space green paper consultation on the future of UK media. Shortly before that, the Connection Project published Connected, its second report exploring how the UK can build a digital society that works for everyone.
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Header image: News conference. Filming an event with a video camera. Credit: wellphoto / Shutterstock.com
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