Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
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What is...
Our weekly explainers for key public media terms, phrases and values.
Week 44: What does RELEVANCE look like?
More than their commercial counterparts, public service media (PSM) have a greater responsibility to remain relevant due to their public funding. A relevant public broadcaster is one that remains a continued choice for audiences, even in the face of increasingly fragmented and saturated media landscapes, where they face competition from commercial broadcasters and on-demand services. Maintaining relevance therefore can look like innovative projects from European public broadcasters Sveriges Radio, VRT, and DR, who have undertaken digitalisation, podcasting, and personalised audio to redefine their audio content and stay accessible to their respective audiences. But relevance is also about establishing a trusted relationship with the public, where audiences consistently turn to the broadcaster for information or entertainment. This can include diverse programming and PSM staff that reflect multicultural societies. Or, as seen during the 2021 federal election in Germany when ZDF and ARD were the top choices for information news for viewers, relevance can look like the public trust placed in public media during important national events such as elections. Ultimately for public broadcasters, the processes of becoming relevant and maintaining that draw upon commitments to innovation, distinctiveness, diversity, pluralism, accessibility, credibility, public trust, and editorial independence – all terms we’ve explored in our weekly explainers.
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As the coronavirus pandemic worsens, public media are rapidly adapting to best cover the crisis on a local level while also providing for educational needs and vulnerable groups as isolation policies are introduced.
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Coronavirus: Resources & best practices
Essential resources for sourcing and reporting news about the coronavirus pandemic
What we're watching...
Vision 2022: An Imperative for Public Media’s Future
Public Media For All: Vision 2022: An Imperative for Public Media’s Future is a call to conscience, action and education to intensify the work of strategically addressing diversity, equity and inclusion in our industry. One year since Public Media For All’s inaugural day of Action and Education, we’ll reflect back on what we’ve accomplished with our first cohort of stations and set an agenda of reform for the coming year.
Watch again: ERR and Tallinn University press freedoms conference
ERR: A media freedoms conference took place in Tallinn on Thursday, organized by Tallinn University (TLÜ), public broadcaster ERR and the Baltic Centre for Media Excellence, and featuring leading experts speaking on a range of topics and challenges, facing private sector media and public broadcasters alike.
What we're listening to...
All journalists are climate reporters now
RNZ Mediawatch: The climate talks in Glasgow are the big global story right now – but it doesn’t always feel like it in our news here. A climate change reporter tells Mediawatch every journalist should now be one too – and the lack of focus on this is a worry.
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Global Headlines
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CAMEROON: Journalists pledge to factor gender, human rights in conflict reporting
Journal du Cameroun: Members of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists … have taken the commitment to shed light on more issues related to gender and human rights while reporting situations of conflict.
ERITREA: What a Journalist Jailed For 20 Years Reveals About the Global Assault on Independent Media
Time Magazine: In 2001, the Eritrean government shut down the entire independent press. The Swedish-Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak, a prolific writer and courageous journalist with Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper, was arbitrarily detained, held incommunicado, and denied access to family, consular assistance, and the right to counsel—effectively, an enforced disappearance.
ETHIOPIA: Hate speech and misinformation in Ethiopia’s war (Listen)
Al Jazeera: As Ethiopia stares down the barrel of all-out civil war, a government-imposed communications blackout is allowing hatred and disinformation to thrive.
ETHIOPIA: Media Authority Cautions Private Media to Operate in Manner Suited to Country’s Situation
Addis Standard: The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) urged private media outlets to operate by taking into consideration the current situation in Ethiopia.
GHANA: Judiciary has no power to interfere with media freedom — Kwasi Anin Yeboah
Modern Ghana: He said because, without the media, the work of securing and sustaining democracy would be one hundred times more arduous and that the media’s work was critical for the survival of any democracy, adding, the two must work together.
KENYA: National Broadcaster Partners With Spacecom On DTT Services
BMA: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) and Spacecom, an Israeli satellite services operator, have announced a partnership.
MALAWI: MBC gets injunction over broadcasts row
Nyasa Times: Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) obtained a court order restraining Football Association of Malawi and their television broadcasting content producer, Mibawa Television from producing football matches for Zuku TV and FAM’s Mpira Channel.
NAMIBIA: Broadcasters should be sustained despite reduced revenues due to COVID-19 – CRAN
NBC: The Communication Regulatory Authority (CRAN) wants to see broadcasters sustained, despite reduced revenues due to COVID-19. Various stakeholders in the broadcasting industry held a one-day consultative meeting to ponder on ways to survive amid the challenges and evolving information industry.
NAMIBIA: Plans to commercialise NBC may not be possible given current economic outlook – Jooste (Watch)
NBC: The Minister of Public Enterprises Leon Jooste says plans to commercialise the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) may not be possible in view of the country’s current economic outlook.
NIGERIA: Journalists Covering the Protest Movement in Nigeria were Beaten, Harassed & Fined by Law Enforcement (Opinion)
IPS
SOUTH AFRICA: Deputy Minister of Communications concerned about SABC’s financial performance
SABC: Deputy Minister for Communications Philly Mapulane has expressed concern about the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) poor financial performance as identified by the Auditor-General.
SOUTH AFRICA: Regulator Announces Reassignment Of Temporary Spectrum
BMA: The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) announced that it would reassign temporary radio frequency spectrum to cellular network operators given to them during the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
SUDAN: Sudan arrests Al Jazeera bureau chief
IPI: The Sudan bureau chief for Al Jazeera, El Musalmi El Kabbashi, was arrested on November 14 in the nation’s capital Khartoum after security forces raided his home.
SUDAN: Sudan steps into media darkness
Free Press Unlimited: Sudan has dealt with many unrest in its history, but the past two years hope shimmered after the ‘people’s revolution’ brought about the end to the repressive 30-year al-Bashir led regime.
TUNISIA: Media freedom in Tunisia stirs wide debate
Al Monitor: The closure by the Independent High Authority for Audiovisual Communication of four media institutions … has stirred wide controversy and growing concern about the fate of media institutions in Tunisia.
ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwean Cabinet clears broadcasting licence fee rise to enable ZBC to replace old kit (Paywall)
Telecompaper: The Zimbabwean Cabinet has approved a proposal for fee adjustments for television and radio licences.
REGIONAL: COVID-19 Worsened Environment for Media in Southern Africa, Especially Print Journalism
VOA: New research finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt the financial viability of media outlets in southern Africa, with print media being the worst hit.
MFWA: The second quarter of 2021 (April-June) registered a 42% drop in freedom of expression violations but it also recorded violations of alarming severity compared to the [first] quarter (January-March).
AFGHANISTAN: Afghan Press Freedom under Pressure (Watch)
NHK World: Afghan journalists have been facing growing pressure and persecution since the Taliban seized control 3 months ago.
CHINA: Beijing Winter Olympics committee denies blocking foreign media
The Guardian: Correspondents’ club said organisers were harassing journalists but Beijing says it ‘guarantees freedom of reporters’.
CHINA: Chinese Newspaper Removes Editorial Calling for More Media Freedom
VOA: A Chinese newspaper editorial that lamented government interference in media and “increasing restrictions” on Chinese journalists has apparently been removed from the paper’s website.
HONG KONG: As Beijing cracks down, Hong Kong’s media hub status in balance
Al Jazeera: These days, many within Hong Kong’s sizable foreign media community are asking themselves how long the city’s position as Asia’s international media hub can survive as authorities broaden a crackdown on dissent to cover journalists from overseas.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong Broadcaster’s Swift Turn From Maverick Voice to Official Mouthpiece
The New York Times: RTHK has often set the news agenda with its aggressive coverage of the city. But a Beijing clampdown has changed that, with pro-China coverage filling the void.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong Database Changes Discourage Investigating Reporting, Journalists Say
VOA News: Journalists and press freedom advocates in Hong Kong say new legal requirements for accessing two public databases in the Chinese territory could stifle investigative reporting and chill press freedoms.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong denies visa to Economist journalist in latest media blow
The Guardian: Sue-lin Wong becomes latest foreign journalist to be forced out of the city as concerns about press access and freedoms grow.
INDIA: Indian police open terror investigation into 5 journalists
CPJ: Police in the Indian state of Tripura must immediately drop a terror investigation into journalists for their social media posts about anti-Muslim violence during the last week of October, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
KASHMIR: Arbitrary Arrests Tear Apart Journalists’ Families in Kashmir
VOA: When Gulzar Ahmad Dar reads the local newspaper, he isn’t interested in the news and latest events in Kashmir. He wants to know what is happening to his son, Manan Gulzar Dar.
KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyzstan drafts law to bring state-funded broadcaster under closer presidential control
CPJ: Kyrgyz authorities should retract a recently devised bill increasing state control over the country’s public broadcaster and instead enact changes to safeguard the corporation’s editorial independence, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
MALAYSIA: Media advocacy groups slam PAS duo for hostile behaviour towards reporter
Free Malaysia Today: Several media advocacy groups and politicians have rebuked two PAS leaders, including a Cabinet minister, for being hostile towards an FMT reporter who was just doing her job.
MYANMAR: Danny Fenster: US journalist freed from Myanmar jail
BBC News: US journalist Danny Fenster has been released from prison in Myanmar after he was sentenced to 11 years in jail by a military court three days ago.
MYANMAR: Junta further constricts media with amendment to broadcasting law
IFJ: On November 1, Myanmar’s military junta introduced a series of amendments to broaden the remit of the nation’s Broadcasting Law to potentially include social and digital media, increasing the severity of penalties for offenders.
NEPAL: Project launched to promote gender-responsive media in Nepal
Media Action Nepal: Although the media sector is flourishing in Nepal, media houses have been reluctant to embrace key dimensions of gender sensitivity, including professional safety of women journalists at workplaces.
PAKISTAN: Islamabad High Court issues contempt notices to Jang Group owner, three others
Via Pakistan Press Foundation: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued contempt of court notices to Jang Group owner Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, Resident Editor of The News Amir Ghauri, and Ansar Abbasi, the paper’s editor investigations.
PAKISTAN: Pakistan’s crackdown on free press leaves journalists vulnerable to attacks
DW: Journalists in the South Asian nation are facing draconian media laws and a culture of impunity, which has opened the door to intimidation and threats on social media.
Pakistan Press Foundation: Pakistan Press Foundation has welcomed the passage of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professional Bill 2021 by the National Assembly.
SOUTH KOREA: S. Korean broadcasters to resume shows with studio audience (5 November)
The Korea Herald: With South Korea on its way to returning to normal from COVID-19, local broadcasters are set to resume the recording of their programs with a studio audience for the first time in nearly two years.
TAIWAN: Taiwan ramps up efforts to raise public’s media literacy to fight fake news
The Straits Times: A video of Taiwan’s Health Minister Chen Shih-chung singing into a microphone at a dinner party drew criticism from netizens and an opposition leader when it started circulating online last Wednesday (Nov 10) night.
REGIONAL: Cure for infodemic: More power to netizens, not states or corporations (Opinion)
Rappler: Since 2017, highly problematic ‘fake news’ legislation has been either enacted or proposed all over the region.
AUSTRALIA: Is the latest ABC inquiry really just ‘business as usual’?
The Conversation: A fresh fight has broken out between the national broadcaster and the Coalition government. This time, it is over a Senate inquiry, instigated by a Liberal senator, into the way the ABC handles complaints.
AUSTRALIA: SBS announces winners of the SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition 2021 (Press release)
SBS: SBS today named the five talented writers who have been selected as the winners of the SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition for 2021.
AUSTRALIA: Scott Morrison backs Senate ABC inquiry, saying national broadcaster ‘not above scrutiny’
The Guardian: ABC chair Ita Buttrose says the national broadcaster ‘is not the enemy’ of the federal government.
AUSTRALIA: Statement from Ita Buttrose, ABC Chair, on ABC complaints handling process (Press release)
ABC: The inquiry into the ABC’s complaints handling process announced by Senate Communications Committee Chair, Senator Andrew Bragg, appears to be a blatant attempt to usurp the role of the ABC Board and undermine the operational independence of the ABC.
AUSTRALIA: The essential role of the ABC’s Audience and Consumer Affairs unit in investigating complaints (Editorial)
ABC: The Audience and Consumer Affairs Unit is responsible for investigating complaints about ABC program teams and content.
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND: NZ On Air, Screen Australia and TikTok announce recipients of Every Voice initiative
NZ On Air: NZ On Air, Screen Australia and TikTok have announced the recipients of Every Voice, an initiative to support diverse and distinct creators in the creation of innovative content exclusively for audiences on TikTok.
NEW ZEALAND: All journalists are climate reporters now (Listen)
RNZ Mediawatch: The climate talks in Glasgow are the big global story right now – but it doesn’t always feel like it in our news here. A climate change reporter tells Mediawatch every journalist should now be one too – and the lack of focus on this is a worry.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ wins major international and local awards (Press release)
RNZ: RNZ has had a strong showing at multiple media award presentations in the past week, including three wins and a highly commended at the pre-eminent international broadcasting awards the AIBs.
NEW ZEALAND: The risks of reporting displays of discontent – and amplifying aggro (Listen)
RNZ Mediawatch: Tuesday’s Covid protest at Parliament was a spectacle that had to be covered, but reporters who did so were targeted by protesters – and not for the first time. Does coverage risk ramping up the impression that resistance is more significant than it really is?
REGIONAL: Lips syncs and facts: Pacific doctors fight misinformation on TikTok
Pacific Media Network
REGIONAL: The Pacific Newsroom – the virtual ‘kava bar’ news success story
Asia Pacific Report: October 2021 was a horror month for Facebook as the headlines screamed “Facebook under fire” which started with the social media behemoth suffering an outage for several hours.
ALBANIA: Candidates to Lead Albanian National Broadcaster Revealed
Exit: The Steering Council of the Albanian national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), has announced four candidates to lead the institution.
ARMENIA: The challenges of Armenia’s media landscape
New Eastern Europe: Journalists in Armenia continue to face a number of challenges. Ranging from high-profile court cases to international tensions, these issues have continued to shape a media landscape that remains fraught with problems.
AUSTRIA: Election of new ORF head shines spotlight on selection process
IPI: Appointment raises recurring question over politicization of oversight bodies.
BELARUS: Meet one of the last independent journalists forced out of Belarus
Euronews: This summer, 29-year-old Olga Alkhimenka was one of the last independent journalists to leave Belarus. It came as the authorities launched a hunt for the remaining unaccredited reporters still in the country.
CROATIA: Robert Šveb appointed DG of HRT
EBU: Robert Šveb has been appointed Director General of our Croatian Member HRT.
CROATIA: Two more lawsuits against elected officials of Croatian Journalists Association
EFJ: The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its affiliate in Croatia, the Croatian Journalists Association (HND) in condemning two more lawsuits by the public media company HRT against its two vice-presidents.
DENMARK: Danish Radio Girls’ Choir report unearths sexual misconduct (Paywall)
The Washington Post: An investigation has concluded that between 1970 and 2010 a culture of sexual misconduct, occasions of heavy drinking and incidents of bullying were common at the Danish Radio Girls’ Choir, made up of teenagers and young women.
DENMARK: Election day from all over Denmark on P4, DR1 and dr.dk (Press release – Danish)
DR: DR covers election night from seven polling stations throughout Denmark and follows the crucial hours from early morning on election day to late evening the next day. As early as Sunday 14 November, DR will begin the countdown to election day with ‘Democracy Day’ for those voters who are still in doubt.
ESTONIA: Watch again: ERR and Tallinn University press freedoms conference (Watch)
ERR: A media freedoms conference took place in Tallinn on Thursday, organized by Tallinn University (TLÜ), public broadcaster ERR and the Baltic Centre for Media Excellence, and featuring leading experts speaking on a range of topics and challenges, facing private sector media and public broadcasters alike.
FINLAND: KSF Media’s journalists are offered further training via Yle (Press release – Finnish)
Yle: As part of Svenska Yle’s investments in collaboration with commercial media, a pilot in continuing education for Finnish-Swedish journalists is now being launched. In November, KSF Media’s writers are welcomed, together with Yle editors, to participate in joint training on the topic of investigative journalism.
FRANCE: France Télévisions and Radio France will launch, in 2022, a new local digital media (French)
Le Monde: While the discussions between the two public audiovisual companies dragged on, the Minister of Culture, Roselyne Bachelot, announced the realization of this project for March.
FRANCE: Public broadcasting, a democratic issue at the heart of the presidential election (French)
Le Monde: Right-wing and extreme candidates, declared or not, are competing for proposals to privatize Radio France and France Télévisions. Yet the strength of public service is closely correlated with the trust citizens place in their institutions.
GERMANY: Future dialogue: ARD involves citizens once again on the home stretch (Press release – German)
ARD: Citizens from all over Germany will come together on Saturday to talk again about the future of ARD.
GREECE: Greek media landscape raises eyebrows in Brussels
Euractiv: Member states’ legislation that aims to fight fake news during the pandemic, should not hinder the practice of journalism, nor should it act as a deterrent for “sources” to speak to journalists, a Commission source has told EURACTIV Greece.
IRELAND: Funding RTÉ looks likely to remain a big challenge
Independent (Ireland): Over the coming weeks, and possibly even months, the seemingly never-ending debate about how public service media in Ireland should be funded will acquire a new intensity.
ISLE OF MAN: Free TV licences for over 75s continue for another year
BBC: The Manx government has committed to continuing to provide free TV licences for people over the age of 75 on the island until the end of next year.
MALTA: Media Freedom Rapid Response reports violation against The Shift journalist by court official
The Shift: An international media freedom violation tracker has sounded the alarm after a journalist from The Shift was harassed by a court security officer in August of this year.
MONTENEGRO: Montenegro Plans Tougher Penalties for Attacks on Journalists
Balkan Insight: Under new law amendments seemingly backed by the government, those found guilty of killing journalists would go to jail for at least ten years – and journalism would be redefined as a ‘profession of public importance’.
NORWAY: NRK’s drama director: Production will be greener (Swedish)
Nordvision: Drama production has the opportunity to become more climate-friendly, after being singled out as the worst in the television industry. Among other things, we have highlighted this in the news during the week.
POLAND: Access to public information must not be constrained
Article 19: The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) are highly concerned about new possible restrictions on the right to information in Poland that could further erode press freedom in the country.
POLAND: Rights groups decry Poland’s ban on media at Belarus border
Al Jazeera: Poland denies journalists access to border with Belarus as thousands of people remain stranded amid a geopolitical row.
ROMANIA: Dan Turturică, supported by PNL for the TVR leadership. The leadership of Radio Romania would return to PSD (Romanian)
Adevărul: The Liberals will support the journalist Dan Turturică for the leadership of the Romanian Television, the next week being the hearings and the vote in the Parliament, political sources support for “Adevărul”. On the other hand, the leadership of Radio Romania would be provided by a candidate supported by PSD.
RUSSIA: Can Russia’s Press Ever Be Free?
The New Yorker: The journalists of Novaya Gazeta report on dangerous conflicts—and endure threats of their own.
SLOVENIA: Slovenia: MFRR welcomes end to STA funding crisis
ECPMF: The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today welcomes the signing of a contract which ends the immediate financial crisis at the Slovenian Press Agency (STA).
SPAIN: RTVE and the Madrid Press Association join forces for training (Press release – Spanish)
RTVE: Radiotelevisión Española, through the RTVE Institute, and the Madrid Press Association (APM) have signed an agreement to cooperate in training in journalism and audiovisual communication.
SWEDEN: Book release and lecture on journalism on social media (Watch – Swedish)
Sveriges Radio: How to handle storms of criticism, set up digital strategies and increase interactions and followers. These are some of the topics in the new handbook for social media that Sveriges Radio will release this autumn.
SWITZERLAND: Implementation of downsizing and results of the personnel survey (Press release – German)
SRF: As already announced, SRF will have to cut another 145 jobs by the end of 2023. Of these, 75 jobs will be cut across the departments.
UK: A regional BBC is a more impartial one, says Ofcom (Paywall)
The Times: The BBC must become less “London-centric” if it wants to achieve impartiality, the head of Ofcom has said.
UK: BBC statement on Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme
BBC Media Centre
UK: What does impartiality mean? BBC no-bias policy being pushed to limits
The Guardian: Analysis: from anti-racism protests to trans rights, who gets to choose topics where impartiality matters is a live issue.
REGIONAL: European Parliament wants to stop law suits intended to intimidate and silence journalists
The Brussels Times: The parliament has adopted a report on measures to counteract the increasing threat that Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) pose to journalists, NGOs and civil society in Europe.
REGIONAL: Freedom of the press in Central Europe (w/Jamie Wiseman – IPI) (Watch)
Metina lista: Jamie Wiseman is the Advocacy Officer focusing on Europe at the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists based in Vienna.
EBU: Acknowledging that each and every minority in society contributes to the wealth of Europe, a European Commission (EC)-funded project in the Western Balkans has adopted Recommendations for serving ethnic minorities through public service media (PSM).
LatAm Journalism Review
BRAZIL: Work stoppage of journalists due to salary recomposition generates support from organizations and politicians (Portuguese)
SJSP: Mobilization’s hashtag was among the most talked about topics on Twitter.
CHILE: Alianza TVN and Factchecking.cl: How is the candidate’s phrase checking carried out? (Spanish)
24Horas: Within the framework of the alliance between TVN and Factchecking.cl, we detail how the statements of the presidential candidates will be verified in the ANATEL debate, and how this exercise was carried out in the run-up to Monday’s meeting.
COLOMBIA: RTVC is present at the Villa de Leyva Film Festival (Press release – Spanish)
Señal Colombia: The Villa de Leyva International Independent Film Festival turns 15 and RTVC – Sistema de Medios Públicos and its brands, among which is Signo Colombia , joined the celebration, as they will participate in the special kaleidoscopic edition of the festival that will tour squares, parks, museums and walls.
CUBA: Cuba revokes Spain’s EFE news agency credentials
DW: Cuban authorities on Saturday revoked the credentials of journalists working for the Spanish news agency EFE, its local editor-in-chief said.
CUBA: Cubans protest for greater freedom of expression while government clamps down (Listen)
KPBS
MEXICO: Who finances journalism in Mexico? (Spanish)
SinEmbargo: The issue of transparency in financing the media in our country and in the world in general is key. It is necessary to find different ways to be able to have a fair debate about it, since the information itself and the future of journalism at a general level are at stake.
NICARAGUA: Independent press denounces attacks during electoral process in Nicaragua (Spanish)
France 24: The organization Periodistas y Comunicadores Independientes de Nicaragua (PCIN) denounced this Wednesday that they registered 52 attacks against the press during the electoral process that culminated on Sunday.
VENEZUELA: State media favor the Chavista campaign in their web spaces, says NGO (Spanish)
SwissInfo via EFE: The Venezuelan association Súmate denounced this Friday that 60.56% of the information and propaganda of the regional and local elections of November 21, disseminated on the digital platforms of three of the main media outlets of the State, favor the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
LatAm Journalism Review: Betting on collaborative journalism, re-establishing a connection with the public, and incorporating the use of technology are among the effective measures presented by the panelists of “How journalism has reacted to waves of disinformation”…
LatAm Journalism Review: Journalists who become targets in polarized societies must support each other, persevere in doing investigative journalism, and always check the information in their stories…
IRAN: Iranian photojournalist Rahil Mousavi arrested on unspecified charges
CPJ: Iranian authorities should immediately release Arab Iranian photojournalist Rahil Mousavi, drop any charges against her, and let her work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
JORDAN: Journalists calling out corruption muzzled by cybercrime laws (3 November)
Middle East Eye: Much of the media, and many ordinary citizens, forced to self censure as thousands find themselves in court for stating views on social media.
LEBANON: Challenging the establishment: How alternative media is promoting a democratic dynamic in Lebanon (4 November)
The New Arab: New and emerging Lebanese media outlets are encouraging more political participation and citizen empowerment and as these alternatives obtain more means to integrate into the media landscape, they are bringing a counter-power to traditional voices.
TURKEY: In Turkey, 30 people face investigation over social media posts that ‘insulted the president’
Global Voices: According to Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code, it is illegal to insult the president. The accused can face up to four years behind bars.
TURKEY: Report condemns ‘increasing violence, threats of security forces against journalists’
Bianet: In its monthly report on press freedom in Turkey, the ÇGD criticizes the security forces’ treatment of journalists, underlining that “intimidation practices are implemented especially against members of certain media outlets.”
YEMEN: Car bombing kills pregnant Yemeni journalist in Aden – reports
The Guardian: Gulf-based TV journalist Rasha Abdullah Al Harazi was killed and her husband injured, according to witnesses and medical sources.
YEMEN: #EndImpunity IFJ demands Yemeni authorities investigate killings of journalists
IFJ: In letters addressed to Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed and Ansar Allah Leader Mr. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi on November 11, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has urged the authorities to dispel the impression of indifference in the face of deadly assaults against journalists.
CANADA: Canadian journalists increasingly under attack online, says Ipsos survey (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: The first-ever Canadian survey of online harassment against journalists and media professionals shows that attacks are on the rise and having serious repercussions on both individuals and the industry as a whole.
CANADA: Media Should Cover Climate as a Crisis, say Scientists and Journalists
Newswire: …A first-of-its-kind Canadian study that surveyed climate scientists, journalists and the public for their opinions on climate change coverage has found large majorities of each group somewhat or strongly agree there is a climate crisis (scientists 96%, journalists 95%, public 81%) and the news media should report on it that way (scientists 91%, journalists 95%, public 73%).
CANADA: Online hatred, a formal attack on our democracy (Opinion – French)
La Presse: Death threats. Racist or misogynistic insults. Every day in Canada, media professionals face the constant onslaught of harassment and threats online.
CANADA: VIU Indigenous Speaker Talks About Journalism’s Role in Reconciliation
Vancouver Island University: “We need to, as journalists, help amplify people’s voices and use the power that we have to pass the microphone so that people can share their own stories.”
US: Help tell great Florida stories as part of NPR’s Next Generation Radio
WUSF: NPR’s Next Generation Radio Project is coming back to Florida, offering college students and recent graduates an immersive experience in pitching, producing and publishing a multimedia story.
US: Local Stations Across the Country Celebrate Second Annual Public Radio Music Day (Press release)
NPR: Today, the noncomMUSIC Alliance hosts the second annual Public Radio Music Day, an all-day celebration uniting public radio music stations, artists, and fans to honor the unique role public radio represents in the local and national music community.
US: NAHJ Investigative and Data Journalism Task Force Launches Strategic Plan to Hold Newsroom Leaders Accountable for Hiring (Press release)
NAHJ: The National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ (NAHJ) Investigative and Data Journalism Task Force is working in solidarity with a group of affinity journalism organizations on ways to increase the diversity of newsroom investigative reporting teams and among investigative editors.
US: NPR Foundation Welcomes Four New Trustees (Press release)
NPR: NPR welcomes the election of four new Trustees to the NPR Foundation Board this fall with three-year terms beginning in October 2021.
US: Public access television channels are an untapped resource for building local journalism
Nieman Lab: Instead of letting public access channels wither due to commercial market fluctuations, we should publicly fund and expand the precious communication infrastructure that access media offers.
US: Twitter launches Blue subscription service in U.S., offers ad-free access to 300 news sites
CNBC: The subscription product includes special features reserved for Twitter power users, such as the ability to undo a tweet or customize the Twitter app icon.
US: Vision 2022: An Imperative for Public Media’s Future (Watch)
Public Media For All: Vision 2022: An Imperative for Public Media’s Future is a call to conscience, action and education to intensify the work of strategically addressing diversity, equity and inclusion in our industry.
US: White House Intends to Nominate Former VOA Director USAGM CEO
VOA News: The White House announced it intends to nominate Pulitzer-winning journalist and former Voice of America director Amanda Bennett, to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
Address of the Holy Father Francis
Vatican: I encourage you to preserve and cultivate that sense of mission which is at the origin of your choice. And I do it with three verbs that I think can characterize good journalism: listen, deepen, tell.
After COP26, localizing the climate crisis
CJR: As much research has suggested, local media has significantly higher rates of trust with news consumers than national media. Local news coverage of events like the COP summit—and the agreements they produce—provides opportunities to bring the urgency home.
Reuters Institute: The return to the office is underway but with COVID-19 lingering in a number of countries, progress remains uneven and uncertain.
Challenges in Climate Change Coverage Remain: Report from COP26 (Watch)
GIJN: As the world’s climate change conference comes to a close in Glasgow, Scotland, five renowned journalists sized up the state of environmental reporting.
COVID-19 and the global media sector: Developments and ways forward
DW: COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom. But functioning media are a precondition for an inclusive recovery. How can development actors address the challenges?
Do you speak . . . podcast? (Opinion)
Financial Times: A peculiar pattern has taken over public broadcasting. And it’s. Extremely. Annoying.
DW launches NFT auction in support of press freedom
DW: Can you report on new financial technology and secure money for a worthy cause at the same time? DW is trying to do exactly that by auctioning off a nonfungible token. A what?
Fact checks actually work, even on Facebook. But not enough people see them. (Paywall)
The Washington Post: Our research shows how Facebook can further limit the harms of misinformation.
Feign ignorance, demystify the mic and other audio interview tips
NPR Training: An in-person audio interview can be nerve-wracking, both for the source and the reporter. Here are a few easy tips to ensure your sources are comfortable and you’re prepared to be your best interviewing self, from NPR reporter Nate Rott.
How has the pandemic changed media recruitment?
Journalism.co.uk: While hybrid working allows employers to recruit from a wider pool of talent, some struggle to retain staff lured by the vast sea of opportunities
How Three Reporting Teams Crowdsourced Groundbreaking Investigations
GIJN: From investigating the US Capitol rioters to creating a database of the deaths of the homeless in the UK, to uncovering mistreatment in nursing homes in Australia, crowdsourcing and community-based reporting are changing how investigative journalists across the globe do their work.
RECOMMENDING A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR UHDTV DEVELOPMENT
EBU: The EBU UHDTV Strategy Support group recently delivered two recommendations that provide valuable ready-to-use guidance. The recommendations, EBU R 153 and EBU R 154, are a response to the lack of a common baseline for a UHDTV exchange format.
The dream of customized audio news isn’t working out (at least not yet)
Nieman Lab: Google “streamlined” its audio news offerings by ending its algorithm-customized briefing. Who’ll figure out the best way for listeners to discover short audio news?
These researchers are trying to stop misinformation from derailing climate progress
NPR: A global team of activists and researchers has been tracking false and misleading claims about climate change as world leaders meet at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow.
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Header image: Media interview stock photo. Credit: microgen/istock
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