Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, the need for community solidarity and mutual support has never been greater. But this support requires quality, fact-checked and evidence based news and information.
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6️⃣ What does LIMITED ACCESS look like?
Access goes beyond mere presence —accessible public media services and content must be adaptive to the interests and needs of everyone in society. Limited access can marginalise groups, as with ZBC’s overlooking of people with disabilities in its covid-19 reporting. Or, in the recent example of RTHK’s suspension of the live relay of the BBC World Service, limited access can mean the removal of trusted sources of information and independent journalism. The latter example is one of particular concern, as noted in statements by both the PMA and the Global Task Force for Public Media.
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What we're listening to...
IPI Podcast: Anti-press sentiment in The Netherlands fosters online attacks against journalists
IPI: Second episode of ‘The Press Freedom Files’ looks into case of Dutch journalist Clarice Gagard and motives behind the growing attacks against the media.
What we're listening to...
Public purse to bankroll more of our news
RNZ: The government has pledged $55 million for a new fund for public interest news and journalism – the biggest single boost in media funding for many years. Media companies countrywide will compete for the cash from NZ on Air over the next three years. Mediawatch looks at what it’s for and what it means for our media.
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ETHIOPIA: Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict and the battle to control information
Al Jazeera: Warnings about deterioration of press freedom as independent journalists endure harassment, denied access to embattled northern region.
GHANA: GBC appeals for support to cover 2023 African Olympics
GBC Ghana: The Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Prof. Amin Alhassan, has appealed to government to assist the Corporation with logistics to enable it to successfully cover the Africa Games which will be hosted by Ghana in 2023.
GHANA: GBC, UNFPA lead campaign against Gender-Based violence and maternal-child mortality
GBC Ghana: The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in partnership with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is engaging the public on the need to help curb social issues such as Gender-based violence, maternal-child mortality, among others especially, in this Covid-19 era.
GHANA: Ghana’s media need to up their game in covering the presidential election court case (Analysis)
The Conversation:
KENYA: KBC Radio celebrates 93 years of broadcasting
KBC: For nine decades, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation’s radio service has been on air conveying general public-interest information.
NAMIBIA: NBC reinstates fired managers
The Namibian: TWO Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) managers who were fired due to allegations of corruption last year were reinstated in their positions this month after they successfully appealed their cases.
NIGERIA: WHO and partners charge journalists on credible COVID-19 reportage
WHO Nigeria: As part of the nationwide response to contain the spread of COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, the Government with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a sensitization meeting with journalists; charging them with the responsibility of producing impactful stories to ensure information sharing that can drive home the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic.
SOUTH AFRICA: Over 110 000 sign petitions against controversial SABC TV licence plan
News 24: Over 110,000 South Africans and counting have so far complained and objected to the government’s “SABC stealth-tax” plan. With the plan, it wants to force consumers with laptops, tablets, DStv and StarSat decoders, and Netflix and Showmax subscribers, to pay for a SABC TV licence even if they’re not watching any SABC content.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC journalists take a stand against alarming rise of violence against women (Watch)
SABC News: A group of Women journalists and editors in the SABC newsroom have expressed their deep concern that violence against women – including female journalists – is on the rise.
SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa: Govt. Takes Smartphones Off The TV Licence Liability List
Broadcast Media Africa: In South Africa, The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) is to confirm that while its plan to further and expand changes to TV Licensing regime for the country, it has reached the determination that it will now not be including smartphones in the list of devices that would be liable for TV Licence.
UGANDA: Ugandan Government Restores Social Media Sites, Except Facebook
VOA: Ugandan authorities restored access to the internet Wednesday, a month after blocking it ahead of the January 14 elections. The government said the disruption was needed for security, while critics say it was intended to cut off communication among opponents of President Yoweri Museveni.
ZAMBIA: Zambia: Govt Introduces Bill To Tackle Social Media Abuses
Broadcast Media Africa: The Zambian president, Mr Edgar Lungu, has said his government will no longer tolerate social media abuses and has warned that he will approve of a crackdown on anyone suspected of abusing the country’s social media platforms.
ZIMBABWE: Include Journalists In The Covid-19 Priority Vaccination Rollout
MISA: MISA Zimbabwe calls upon the government to prioritise and also include journalists among the first priority groups listed for the COVID-19 vaccination rollout programme.
AFGHANISTAN: Women in Journalism Thrive in Afghan Province (Watch)
VOA: A weekly newspaper run by a team of female journalists is thriving in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province, despite threats against journalists in parts of the country. Gulrahim Niazman from VOA’s Afghan service has more in the report narrated by Bezhan Hamdard.
BANGLADESH: Bangladesh: Three journalists charged under Digital Security Act
IFJ: Bangladesh police this week formally charged three journalists under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for publishing material alleged to have the potential to ‘destroy communal harmony and create unrest’. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemns the charges under the draconian act and the flagrant and ongoing intimidation by police against Bangladesh media workers.
RSF: Seven Chinese journalists and commentators arrested last year for reporting on the Covid-19 outbreak that struck the city of Wuhan are still detained to this day. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges the Chinese regime to release them immediately and calls on the international community to increase pressure on the Beijing regime.
CHINA: In China, journalists are targets and collateral (Opinion)
CJR:
CHINA & UK: China bans BBC World News from broadcasting
BBC: China has banned BBC World News from broadcasting in the country, its television and radio regulator announced on Thursday.
HONG KONG: Covid infection at RTHK sends over 20 to quarantine
RTHK: Health officials say at least 26 people whom an infected RTHK hair stylist had worked with, will be sent to quarantine.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK’s ban on BBC programming sparks questions over press freedom and ‘one country, two systems’ (Watch)
SCMP: A move by Hong Kong’s public broadcaster to pull the plug on programming from Britain’s BBC following a ban by Chinese regulators has sparked alarm in the city as analysts warned of a shrinking space for press freedom.
HONG KONG: RTHK pulls plug on BBC after mainland ban
RTHK: Beijing’s broadcasting regulator said in the early hours of Friday that it’s banned BBC World News from Chinese territory for what state media described as “serious content violations” and RTHK has also decided to drop its live relay of the broadcaster.
HONG KONG: RTHK’s BBC ban is very worrying, says academic – RTHK
RTHK: The head of the University of Hong Kong’s journalism and media studies centre, Keith Richburg, says it’s “surprising” that RTHK has pulled the plug on its live relay of BBC World Service.
INDIA: India has launched a sharp assault on press freedom – but independent media is determined to resist
Scroll: The government is filing draconian cases against publications that question its decisions, even as its supporters threaten outlets and individual reporters.
INDIA: India: Journalists targeted for reporting farmer protest
IFJ: At least nine journalists have been targeted by police by arrests, intimidation and criminal charges over reporting and online posts about the ongoing farmers’ protest in India since protests began in November 2020. The protests reached a climax on January 26, with death of protestor Navreet Singh. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Indian affiliate Indian Journalists Union (IJU) condemn the tactics used to suppress media.
JAPAN: Japan: Unions demand gender equality in media
IFJ: Four media workers’ unions in Japan have demanded gender equality in Japan’s media and call for stronger female representation in the industry, which they consider to be currently critically gender-biased against women. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joined forces to express support for their calls.
JAPAN: Japan: NHK to consider dropping a radio channel
Asia Radio Today: Japan’s national broadcaster, Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK), is planning structural reforms to transform into a more efficient and sustainable organisation in the backdrop of a changing media landscape.
MYANMAR: Media Covering Myanmar Coup Face Harassment, Restrictions
VOA: Censorship, threats and internet blocks have created a climate of uncertainty in Myanmar since the military coup and could set press freedom back 10 years, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said.
MYANMAR: “Press freedom set back ten years in ten days” after coup in Myanmar
RSF: Ten days after the coup by the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s armed forces, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has taken stock of the difficulties encountered by journalists on the ground, which include threats, intimidation and censorship. Myanmar is back where it was ten years ago, before the disbanding of the junta in February 2011 allowed a free press to emerge.
NEPAL: Tuning into the radio in Nepal (Comment)
Nepali Times: The importance of keeping local broadcasters going during disasters was felt more than ever during the pandemic.
PAKISTAN: Journalists Protest Outside PEMRA Head Office
Via Pakistan Press Foundation: Journalists have staged a protest outside the PEMRA headquarters due to repeatedly banning BOL News transmission in different areas of the country and changing its number on the cable.
PAKISTAN: Plan afoot to revive state-run TV, Senate told
The News International: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz on Thursday informed the Senate that the government has prepared a comprehensive plan to revive the state-run television past glory to make it a financially viable institution.
SOUTH KOREA: Ruling party’s proposal to fine media for ‘fake news’ raises controversy
The Korea Times: The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is planning to revise a law within the National Assembly’s February session aimed at requiring media to pay punitive damages for spreading “fake news”. While the DPK said that punishment is needed to prevent the distortion of information and the spread of fake news by not only conventional media, but also portal sites and YouTube, conservative critics raised concerns that the law could be used to tame the media in the name of cracking down on fake news.
SOUTH KOREA: VR journalism seeks new ways of storytelling
The Korean Herald: MBC’s TV documentary special, ‘Meeting you,’ sheds light on the tragic death of a contract worker by using virtual reality technology.
AUSTRALIA: ABC launches diversity and inclusion commissioning guidelines for screen content (Press release)
ABC Australia: The ABC has released new commissioning guidelines to ensure more diverse faces, voices, cultures and stories are reflected and represented on Australian screens.
AUSTRALIA: ABC, Northern Pictures and AIDC support Indigenous creatives (Press release – Opportunity)
ABC Australia: The ABC with Northern Pictures and the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) have launched an initiative to support the career development of Indigenous creatives.
AUSTRALIA: ABC staff warned they could be sacked over rogue tweets
The Guardian: Warning follows tweet by Four Corners executive producer on Thursday, which was subsequently deleted because it breached ABC social media guidelines.
AUSTRALIA: ABC’s record-breaking run at Kidscreen Awards (Press release)
ABC Australia: The ABC has won seven trophies at the international Kidscreen Awards, including four prizes for Australia’s most popular children’s television show Bluey.
AUSTRALIA: From refugee to media boss: David Hua takes charge at SBS Radio (Paywall)
The Sydney Morning Herald: More than three decades before David Hua joined SBS’s leadership team, taking over as director of audio and language content last December, he found the multicultural broadcaster to be a daily source of annoyance.
AUSTRALIA: Google closing in on news content deals with ABC, Nine, Guardian
The Sydney Morning Herald: Google has stepped back from a threat to shut down its search engine locally and is on the brink of striking commercial deals with some of Australia’s largest news organisations after months of hard fought negotiations over planned media bargaining laws.
AUSTRALIA: “Nothing about us without us”: diversity and inclusion on and off screen (Speech)
ABC Australia: The ABC has today launched Diversity & Inclusion Commissioning Guidelines for screen content, to better reflect and represent more diverse faces, voices, cultures and stories. Michael Carrington, ABC Director Entertainment & Specialist, explains why.
FIJI: FBC’s radio stations continues to evolve: Lochan
FBC News: In an age where information sharing is critical, the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation’s six radio stations are seeking various ways to engage its listeners.
NEW ZEALAND: Taxpayers to pay $55m for better journalism
Newsroom: New Zealand journalism will get a $55 million injection, but likely not without criticism the Government might try to ‘buy’ favour with private outlets. Tim Murphy reports from the funding announcement in Dunedin.
ALBANIA: Head of Presence’s interview with Albania’s public broadcaster RTSH, 9 February 2021 (PDF)
OSCE:
BELARUS: Open letter to the European Institutions to end the crackdown on the media in Belarus (Letter)
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and other members of a human rights NGO coalition are calling on the European Commission, the European Council, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to adopt new sanctions and recommendations for Belarus.
FINLAND: More than half of Finnish radio listening from Yle’s channels – listening to audio in Yle Areena on the rise (Press release – Finnish)
Yle: 51.2 per cent of Finnish radio listening comes from Yle’s channels. In 2020, Yle Arena’s audio content was consumed 32 percent more than in the previous year.
FRANCE: Franceinfo 1st news platform on all media in January 2021
France TV Pro: In January 2021, Franceinfo achieved a historic performance and became the 1st news platform in the ACPM ranking with 227 million visits to all of its media (website, application).
FRANCE: To be 20 years old in 21: Radio France unveils its exceptional system to support and give voice to young people at the heart of the crisis (Press release – French)
Radio France: Radio France and its 7 branches are mobilized from February 11 through a special day and through a series of new meetings and initiatives that are intended to be long-lasting.
GERMANY: NDR introduces new fee model (German)
Süddeutsche Zeitung: The station wants to pay differently for cross-media work in the future. Against this, freelancers protest who feel that they are in a worse position.
GERMANY: ZDF adjusts financial planning (Press release – German)
ZDF: ZDF director Dr. Thomas Bellut has informed the Board of Directors about how the broadcaster intends to deal with the reduced revenue from the broadcasting fee until the Federal Constitutional Court ruled. Due to the lack of an increase of 86 cents on January 1, 2021, the result is temporarily lower income of around 150 million euros in the current year. By using reserves, savings and postponing investments, the program is initially to be largely spared.
GERMANY & CHINA: China’s CGTN may no longer broadcast in Germany after UK row
DW: The Chinese state-owned cable channel is losing its access to the German market after British regulators pulled its license.
HUNGARY: Dragomir on Hungary’s Clampdown on Independent Media
Via CMDS: “We only have a few outlets that operate independently now,” CMDS Director Marius Dragomir said to Vice following the regulator’s decision not to renew Klubradio’s license.
HUNGARY: Hungary’s opposition Klubradio to be taken off the air
DW: Regulators have moved against Hungary’s top independent radio broadcaster, eliminating a key platform for Viktor Orban’s critics.
MALTA: 30 million for PBS to avoid bankruptcy
The Shift News: Government signs deal with PBS increasing direct annual State contribution to €6 million a year for the next five years.
POLAND: Media blackout in Poland to protest new ad tax
France 24: Poland’s commercial TV and radio networks went off air on Wednesday and newspapers blacked out their front pages in protest against a proposed tax that critics say will crush independent media.
POLAND: MFRR Report: Erosion of Media Freedom Gathers Pace in Poland (Report & Watch)
IPI: Media freedom in Poland now faces its greatest set of challenges since 2015 as the government continues to wage a multi-pronged attack on independent media to muzzle critical reporting and undermine watchdog journalism, according to a new report published today by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR).
POLAND: TVP confirms women’s channel launch
Broadband TV News: The Polish public broadcaster TVP has confirmed it will add a women’s channel to its thematic portfolio in March.
RUSSIA: RFE/RL Accuses Kremlin of Violating Treaty Through ‘Foreign Agent’ Law
VOA: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty says Russia is violating a bilateral investment treaty by targeting the organization’s news operations within Russia under its controversial “foreign agent” law.
SLOVENIA: Inside Slovenia’s war on the media
POLITICO Europe: Prime Minister Janez Janša’s attacks create climate of fear, journalists and watchdogs say.
SPAIN: The future of public media (Opinion – Spanish)
Huelva Información:
SPAIN: Vox rejects the 87 candidates who opt for the new RTVE council (Spanish)
El País: Congress declares all the professionals who participated in the process suitable, from whom it will finally elect six.
SWEDEN: Historically great interest in SVT’s news (Press release – Swedish)
SVT: 85% of Sweden’s population took part in something from SVT every week during 2020. This is an increase of 3% compared to last year. Never in modern times has SVT reached so many people with news.
UK: Murdoch journalist given key voice over new chair of Ofcom
The Guardian: Paul Potts, a director of Times newspapers, appointed to panel to choose new head of broadcasting regulator.
UK: Restructure of BBC News Board (Press release)
BBC Media Centre: Director of BBC News Fran Unsworth has announced a restructure of the BBC News Board to deliver more value for audiences and better reflect the way BBC News will work in future. These changes are part of an ongoing restructure.
UK: Safety of journalists remains active concern in Northern Ireland as BBC Panorama team is threatened
RSF: A threat against a BBC Panorama documentary team is the latest incident evidencing a worrying climate for the safety of journalists in Northern Ireland, where journalists reporting on paramilitary groups and organised crime are among the most at-risk journalists in the UK.
UK & CHINA: BBC boss hits back at China over ban on World News service
The Guardian: Director general Tim Davie warns of ‘growing global threat to free media’.
UK & CHINA: Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, on the importance of media freedom globally (Statement)
BBC: Statement from Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, on media freedom in China and the banning of BBC World Service in Hong Kong.
UKRAINE: Ukraine, not (yet) a country for journalists (Opinion)
Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa: Ukraine has gained some positions in the global ranking of media freedom – sadly, only because of demerits of others, as the situation in the country shows no improvements.
REGIONAL: Assault on media freedom poses another test of EU’s resolve (Opinion – Paywall)
The Financial Times: Brussels urged to act as Poland and Hungary tighten curbs on independent journalism.
REGIONAL: DEMOCRACY DIGEST: FURTHER PRESSURE PILED ON REGION’S INDEPENDENT MEDIA
Balkan Insight: A draft law in Poland prompts a media blackout protest, while Hungary’s last independent radio broadcaster fails in court to overturn the removal of its license.
ARGENTINA: Easier said than done: the regulation of media concentration in Argentina (Blog)
LSE: Argentina’s media policy landscape has gone through various changes in recent years. Ariel Riera, Research & Impact Manager at Chequeado, writes here about the steps to take to tackle media concentration in the country.
ARGENTINA & BRAZIL: Radio and Television Argentina strengthens ties with the educational TV of São Paulo (Spanish)
Grupo La Provincia: The president of Radio and Television Argentina (RTA), Rosario Lufrano, and the president of the educational TV of São Paulo, José Roberto Maluf, signed an agreement to exchange content and lay the foundations to make joint productions.
BRAZIL: EBC journalists speak out against Bolsonaro’s alleged censorship (Portuguese)
Poder360: Journalists from EBC (Empresa Brasil de Comunicação) released this Friday (Feb. 12, 2021) a letter of rejection in which they define as “ censorship ” the possible interference of the government of Jair Bolsonaro in the content published on the company’s journalism channels. The document was approved by an employee meeting.
COLOMBIA: Duque reverting freedom of the press to Colombia’s ‘darkest days’
Colombia Reports: The government of far-right President Ivan Duque regressed the situation for journalist to “Colombia’s darkest days” while protecting his bubble, according to press freedom FLIP.
COLOMBIA: Positive balance of RTVC on educational TV in pandemic (Spanish)
TV y Video: The General Manager of the Public Media System, RTVC, Álvaro García, affirmed that the educational grid organized during the covid-19 pandemic has had an acceptance of 94%.
COLOMBIA: Radio as a bridge to build peace in Colombia (Spanish)
El Espectador: In the midst of the pandemic and post-conflict, Colombian public broadcasters are preparing to face a new challenge: to open new Peace Stations in six regions of the country by 2021, established by the Agreement signed in Havana.
HAITI: Haiti: amid strong repression of social protest, journalists are victims of police brutality during news coverage (Spanish)
IFJ: On Monday, February 8, journalists Jean Ril Meus and Destiné Alvarez were shot by military forces while they were covering a popular demonstration in Port-au-Prince. The event adds to the aggressions that the press present at the demonstrations demanding the departure of Jovenel Moïse from power has suffered for weeks.
PERU: More than a hundred dead journalists reveal another covid drama in Peru (Spanish)
Swiss Info: The pandemic has also devastated the newsrooms in Peru, where 108 journalists have died from covid-19 in ten months, the highest number in the world, which reveals the drama of the frontline workers in the face of disease and informality that seriously affects the Peruvian media.
REGIONAL: CBU Celebrates World Radio Day – Hails Members For Excellent Public Service During COVID-19 Pandemic
CBU: February 13 marks the tenth global recognition of World Radio Day (WRD); an acknowledgement inaugurated in 2011 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
REGIONAL: Latin America: Unions request the inclusion of journalists in priority vaccination groups
IFJ: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) supports the petition of its affiliates in Brazil, Peru and Uruguay for media workers to be considered as essential workers and their inclusion in the priority groups in the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.
IRAN: Iran: Press freedom violations recounted in real time January 2020 | Reporters without borders
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) regrets that journalists continue to be systematically subjected to summonses, arrests and sentences in Iran.
IRAQ: Three jailed reporters charged with “undermining national security”
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for the immediate release of five journalists arrested during the past six months in northern Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, three of whom appeared in court for the first time today and were accused of “undermining national security,” a charge carrying a possible life sentence.
PALESTINE: MADA: 408 violations of media freedom in Palestine during the year 2020
MENAFN: The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms “MADA” issued its annual report on the violations against media freedoms in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the year 2020, which witnessed a substantial decline compared to the previous year, 2019. This is especially true to violations committed by Palestinian sides.
TURKEY: Global body criticizes Turkey over pressure against critical media
Arab News: The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of media executives, journalists and editors who advocate press freedom, condemned the latest set of fines issued by Turkey’s media regulator, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) on Thursday, against several dissident TV stations over their critical broadcasting.
TURKEY: Media Monitoring Report 2020: In Turkey, one in six journalists has an ongoing trial
EFJ: The Turkish Association of Journalists (GCD) published today its Annual Media Monitoring Report documenting the state of press freedom in Turkey for the year 2020. The report addresses a number of topics such as the impact of the COVID-19, disinformation, the new internet regulation, the situation of imprisoned journalists and journalists currently on trial.
CANADA: CBC names two new Media Solutions leaders (Paywall)
Media in Canada: Emilie Laguerre and Patricia Chateauneuf have been tasked with leading development of creative media solutions in Montreal.
CANADA: Final days to apply: Canadian Journalism Foundation awards and fellowships (Opportunity)
Newswire: Only a few days remain to apply for The Canadian Journalism Foundation’s (CJF) 2021 awards and fellowships program, which celebrates the exceptional work of journalists and news organizations across the country and provides professional growth opportunities for emerging journalistic talent. The deadline for the following awards is February 19.
CANADA: Supporters of Radio Canada International want its mandate to remain intact (French)
Radio-Canada: A few dozen Canadian personalities are calling on the Government of Canada to intervene so that Radio Canada International (RCI) renounces the severance of twenty people from its staff, including 13 full-time employees, and that the public broadcaster retains its international mandate. addressing listeners around the world.
US: CPB data shows growing racial diversity across pubmedia stations (Paywall)
Current: Men and women held equal shares of jobs at public media stations last year, according to newly released data by CPB, and minorities reached a 10-year high in the proportion of jobs held in the system.
US: Florida Public Media Presents: ‘Class Of COVID-19,’ A Look At The Pandemic’s Impact On Education
WMFE: The pandemic has been hard on nearly everyone, but it’s worse for those who were already at a disadvantage. Without urgent solutions, COVID-19’s toll could be catastrophic for Florida’s most vulnerable students.
US: PRX, PBS KIDS and CPB Announce Ready To Learn Podcast Accelerator (Press release – Opportunity)
CPB: 16-week Podcast Training and Development Program for Kids’ Content Creators will include funding and training for five production teams to develop on-demand audio programming for children ages 4-8.
PR Newswire: Vision Maker Media (VMM) — founded in 1976 as the Native American Public Broadcasting Consortium — is celebrating its 45th anniversary.
US: Watch our webinar about ATSC 3.0 and HD Radio (Paywall – Watch)
Current: How are public TV stations preparing for ATSC 3.0, the NextGen TV transmission standard, and how are public radio stations doing with HD Radio? Both technologies pose challenges to public broadcasters as they decide how best to serve and grow audiences and generate revenues. If you missed it, watch our Friday webinar featuring Oregon Public Broadcasting CEO Steve Bass and Scott Fybush, industry consultant and a frequent contributor to Current.
Censorious governments are abusing “fake news” laws (Paywall)
The Economist: The pandemic is giving them an excuse to gag reporters.
Covid-19 Triggers Wave of Free Speech Abuse
HRW: Scores of Countries Target Media, Activists, Medics, Political Opponents.
DRM for Education e-book and Initiative on #WorldRadioDay
Asia Radio Today: The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium is celebrating the 10th World Radio Day (WRD), adopted by the UN General Assembly as an international day in 2012, by supporting the three main themes of the WRD 2021: evolution, innovation, and connection in a very practical way.
How media freedom came under attack during pandemic
Press Gazette:
Is it possible to decolonize the media? (Commentary)
Poynter: Power dynamics filter into the journalistic method and ultimately alter — however subtly — what news is consumed and by whom.
Reporters, Activists Targeted by COVID-19 Restrictions, Report Says
VOA: Governments in more than 80 countries have used the coronavirus pandemic to justify restrictions on media freedom and peaceful protest, a report released Thursday said.
The Media System Within and Beyond the West: Australian, Russian and Chinese Media (Research)
Modern Diplomacy:
Two new TV channels stoke fears of more partisan broadcast journalism in the UK
Nieman Lab: According to one poll, more people oppose than support allowing a Fox-style channel to broadcast in the U.K.
We need to develop a vaccine against media scare tactics (Opinion)
The Guardian: Last week the terrorism threat level was downgraded, but purveyors of news have myriad ways to keep us fretting about the future.
The Conversation:
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