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!
Public media research
Our PSM Research and Resources page brings together all the latest academic studies looking into the world of public media.
What we're watching...
Our Man in Moscow: Inside Putin’s Russia
BBC: Russia has become one of the most challenging places in the world to be a journalist, where reporters face threats of intimidation, expulsion and imprisonment. BBC Panorama has followed a year in the life of the BBC’s Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, as he tries to walk the tightrope during a time of geopolitical upheaval.
What we're listening to...
The “200 Francs is Enough!” initiative: a threat to democracy? (French)
Mon oeil!: Fake news, polarisation of opinion, attacks on press freedom: public debate is under pressure across Europe. In this context, reliable information that is accessible in all national languages is more important than ever to ensure a strong democracy.
Subscribe toour newsletter
Keep updated with the latest public
media news from around the world
Global Headlines
Click on the tab menu below to reveal the latest regional stories.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Journalism forced to retreat in the DRC
IFEX: Armed groups’ expanding control in eastern DRC is collapsing independent reporting, forcing journalists into exile or silence while erasing public oversight of a deepening humanitarian emergency.
EGYPT: Diaa Rashwan: Media Minister or government spokesperson?
Egypt Independent: We initially welcomed the appointment of Diaa Rashwan to the new government with optimism.
KENYA: Communications Authority Activates Kenya’s First Digital Sound Broadcasting Trial in Nairobi
Capital FM: The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has facilitated the activation of Kenya’s first trial Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB) signal for radio services in Nairobi, marking a major milestone as the world celebrates World Radio Day 2026.
MALAWI: Malawi Regulator Pushes MultiChoice for More Affordable Pricing
Tech Africa News: The engagement reflects ongoing efforts between the regulator and service providers to balance industry sustainability with consumer affordability in Malawi’s broadcasting and communications sector.
MALI: Judge seeks to declassify documents in 2013 killing of RFI journalists in Mali
RFI: More than a decade after the killing of RFI journalists Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon in northern Mali, a French judge is requesting to declassify more documents that may shed new light on the case.
MALI: Mali tightens the noose on dissenting media
IFEX: Malian journalist Youssouf Sissoko remains behind bars awaiting trial after authorities criminalized a published opinion piece deemed insulting to neighbouring Niger’s military ruler.
MOZAMBIQUE: “I don’t know how I’m still alive”: the attempted assassination of a journalist covering illegal mining in Mozambique (6 February)
RSF: In the early evening of 4 February, two hooded and armed individuals attempted to kill Carlitos Cadangue, a journalist for the private television channel Soico Televisao (STV) in Chimoio, the capital of Manica province in central Mozambique.
NIGERIA: Bulama calls for action-driven broadcasting to strengthen national unity
FRCN: The Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr Mohammed Bulama, has charged broadcasters across the country to move beyond rhetoric and embrace “solution broadcasting” as a strategic tool for strengthening national integrity, unity and public trust.
SOUTH AFRICA: Another state-owned company in deep trouble in South Africa
MyBroadband: State signal distributor Sentech’s ongoing dispute with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has taken a disastrous toll on its finances.
SOUTH AFRICA: Godongwana to announce SABC support interventions: Ntshavheni
SABC: The Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says the Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will announce interventions to support the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) when he delivers his budget speech later this month.
SOUTH AFRICA: Netflix decimated the SABC
MyBroadband: Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies chair, Khusela Diko, says the “Netflixes” of this world have decimated the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
SUDAN: UNESCO is rebuilding radio and reconnecting communities in South Sudan
UNESCO: UNESCO and partners in South Sudan are enhancing access to information for communities across the country. With support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Government of Japan, five community and local radio stations are being renovated and rebuilt.
UGANDA: Museveni wants UBC revamped to match BBC, CNN standard (29 January)
Pulse: The Minister revealed this week that President Yoweri Museveni wants the state broadcaster elevated to the quality of global news giants like BBC and CNN.
ZIMBABWE: Muswere kicked out of information as Mnangagwa rejigs cabinet
ZimLive: … Muswere’s removal from the influential information portfolio is the most notable shift and follows a turbulent week in which he attempted to dismiss Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) board chairperson Helliate Rushwaya, only to reverse the decision after Mnangagwa reportedly intervened while on a trip to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
REGIONAL: Abidjan International Audiovisual Content Fair: Africa meets in Ivory Coast (French)
Presse Côte D’Ivoire: The Ministry of Communication organised, on Monday 30 October 2023, at the Postel 2001 building in Plateau, an information and exchange meeting with professionals and actors in the audiovisual sector regarding the organisation of the Abidjan International Audiovisual Content Fair (Sica).
AFGHANISTAN: Richard Lindsay emphasizes the vital role of Afghan media in promoting freedom of expression
Hasht e Subh: Richard Lindsay, the UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has highlighted the critical role of independent media, both inside and outside Afghanistan, in amplifying the voices of the Afghan people to the world.
BANGLADESH: Democracy in darkness: Attacks on journalists silence pre-election Bangladesh
The New Humanitarian: “In the past, there was fear of the government, now it is fear from the streets, fear from the mob, and fear from the political parties.”
CHINA & TIBET: China is expanding its state-run propaganda with 16 new Tibetan-language radio programmes
RSF: This World Radio Day, 13 February 2026, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns that China’s state-owned broadcaster China National Radio (CNR) has rapidly expanded its Tibetan-language programming, pushing government propaganda deeper into Tibetan communities.
INDIA: ‘Erosion of freedom of expression’: Press bodies condemn blocking of ‘The Wire’ animation of PM Modi
Scroll.in: Press bodies have criticised the Union government for blocking a parody animation featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted by news outlet The Wire on social media, describing the actions as a sign of “an alarming erosion of freedom of expression in India”.
INDIA: IndiaAI Partners with Prasar Bharati to Advance AI in Public Broadcasting
PSU Connect: IndiaAI and Prasar Bharati have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for enhancing India’s public broadcasting ecosystem.
HONG KONG: HK reporter discusses decline in press freedom
Taipei Times: Young people studying journalism and communication in Hong Kong no longer aspire to become reporters after graduation, according to Kwan Chun-hoi (關震海), the founder of independent news outlet Hong Kong Feature (誌).
HONG KONG: Media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years
DW: Jimmy Lai is one of the most prominent figures to be sentenced under a China-imposed National Security Law that has silenced dissent in Hong Kong.
MALAYSIA: Fahmi: RTM Ramadan tour 2026 launched to bring communities closer through radio
The Vibes: Communications Minister inaugurates 14th edition of Jelajah Ramadan, highlighting RTM’s role as a bridge between government and society while embracing digital transformation
MALAYSIA & INDONESIA: Malaysian delegation appreciates RRI reception, strengthens cooperation with allied broadcasting (Bahasa Malay)
RTM: Malaysia expresses its appreciation to Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) for the welcome given to the country’s delegation in conjunction with the National Press Day 2026 working visit.
MYANMAR & THAILAND: Independent Burmese media outlets in exile in Thailand face numerous challenges (French)
RFI: In Myanmar, nearly five years after the coup of February 1, 2021, human rights organizations continue to raise the alarm. Over the past five years, 64 of Myanmar’s 73 independent media outlets have been banned from the country and forced into exile, primarily in Thailand.
NEPAL: Training on producing election-focused inclusive programs begins at Radio Nepal
Radio Nepal Online: A two-day training on producing election-focused inclusive programs began today at Radio Nepal.
PAKISTAN: PM reaffirms commitment to integrate Radio Pakistan with modern technologies (Press release)
MOIB: As the international community observes the World Radio Day today, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to integrate Radio Pakistan with modern technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—to transform it into an even more effective instrument for public service, education, health, and national development.
THAILAND: Election is over, but fact-checking mission never ends as “malinformation” threatens democracy
Thai PBS: Don’t let malinformation and “half-truth” win over facts after the election. The real fight for democracy has just begun, while Thai PBS Verify is ready to provide fact-checking reports with integrity to protect the truth from any distortions.
AUSTRALIA: ‘No one to pass the microphone to’: Some Filipino community radio broadcasters struggle to find volunteers in Australia (Listen)
SBS: Despite decades of service, many veteran community radio broadcasters find themselves unable to step away from the microphone due to a critical shortage of new volunteers.
AUSTRALIA: World-first opt-out function now fully integrated on SBS On Demand (Press release)
SBS: SBS has announced a suite of audience-first enhancements to SBS On Demand, with its advertising opt-out function now fully integrated, alongside the addition of podcasts for greater discoverability of its award-winning audio slate.
FIJI: Radio continues to connect communities says Jahan
FBC: As the world marks World Radio Day today, a veteran broadcaster with nearly three decades in the media industry says radio remains as powerful and relevant as ever despite rapid technological change.
REGIONAL: Swapping competition for collaboration at Digital Dialogues, Cebu (Editorial)
ABC: When I was accepted into ABC International Development’s (ABCID) Digital Dialogues program in Cebu, Philippines, I was especially excited about the sessions on revenue models and artificial intelligence.
BULGARIA: Bulgarian National Radio and National Theatre of the Arts with a Memorandum of Long-Term Cooperation (Press release – Bulgarian)
BNR: Among the goals of the partnership is to support and promote Bulgarian education, culture and arts and to ensure their wider publicity.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: BHRT Board of Directors: The situation is worsening, there is no institutional reaction (Bosnian)
Patria: BHRT is facing the threat of a possible blockade by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) due to a debt of over 20 million KM. At the same time, reminders are arriving from suppliers and creditors – the Tax Administration, Elektroprivreda, BH-Gas and others.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Fears of an attack by the new right-wing Babiš government on public broadcasting: Employees warn (German)
Deutschlandfunk: In the Czech Republic, employees of public broadcasting are warning of a loss of independence for their broadcasting stations.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Nominations open for six positions on the Czech Television Council (Czech)
Media Guru: The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies has announced a call for nominations for six members of the Czech Television Council.
CZECH REPUBLIC: We will put CZK 400 million on the altar so that the fees are not abolished, offers the head of Czech Radio (Czech)
Médiář: Abolishing fees from January is unrealistic, according to CEO René Zavoral. In order to maintain the current system of financing public media, he is prepared to offer the government concessions that amount to as much money as Czech Radio has collected so far thanks to last year’s fee increase.
FRANCE: Cocorico, the new radio station for expat children (French)
RFI: With Cocorico, the voices of expatriate children now resonate around the world. Cocorico is the new radio station that gives a voice to children living abroad.
FRANCE: Commission of inquiry into public broadcasting: “The rapporteur should not turn a commission of inquiry into a tribunal.” (Opinion – French)
Le Monde: A group of intellectuals, journalists and cultural figures deplore, in an opinion piece in “Le Monde”, the methods used by UDR deputy Charles-Henri Alloncle, rapporteur of the parliamentary inquiry commission on public broadcasting at the National Assembly.
FRANCE: The curtain falls on the public broadcasting reform championed by Rachida Dati. (French)
FranceInter: As revealed yesterday by the France Inter newsroom, this bill will not be on the agenda before next summer; it is simply no longer a priority.
GERMANY: ARD plans to further develop its media libraries into independent platforms. (German)
MDR: In one of its last meetings, the broadcasting commission in the state parliament is meeting with the ARD Secretary General. Among other things, the discussion will focus on the future of the media libraries. These are to be further developed and expanded.
GERMANY: Germany logs rising rate of crimes against journalists
DW: A total of 818 crimes against journalists or media were reported to Germany’s investigative federal police force between April 2024 and November 2025. Just over 10% of them were violent in nature.
GERMANY: Sustainable strengthening is required (German)
DJV: The German Journalists’ Association calls on the Federal Government to implement its commitments from the coalition agreement and to structurally strengthen the German international broadcaster.
GERMANY: The Media Council for ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio has begun its work. (German)
Deutschlandfunk: The panel is tasked with evaluating how well ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio fulfill their public service mandate.
HUNGARY: The Repression of Independent Media in Hungary, 2010-2025 (Report)
Rule of Law Lab: Between 2010 and 2025, Hungary’s rank in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index fell from 23rd to 68th out of 180 countries measured, leaving it among the lowest-ranked member states in the EU.
IRELAND: New youth-focused Irish language radio service considered by Government (Paywall)
The Irish Times: The introduction of a new Irish language radio station focused on young people is being considered by the Government.
ITALY: EFJ in solidarity with RAI journalists on strike today
EFJ: Today, journalists at Italian public broadcaster RAI have called a one-day byline strike. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins them in denouncing the disastrous image given by Paolo Petrecca, the RAI sports director, throughout his commentary on the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
ITALY: Paolo Petrecca: The fiasco of the Italian Olympics, a symptom of a public television under political control (French)
RFI: Beyond the television flop, the Paolo Petrecca affair has reignited the recurring debate about the independence and governance of Italian public broadcasting.
KOSOVO: Qeli: Without real space in public media, communities remain uninformed (Albanian)
Telegrafi: According to him, the lack of sufficient space for non-majority communities in public media is directly affecting the information of citizens and the treatment of real problems they face every day.
LITHUANIA: Opposition criticizes working group as it considers reasons for firing LRT director (Lithuanian)
LRT: The ruling party is backing away from the proposal that more than half of the council’s votes would be enough to dismiss the head of the LRT.
LITHUANIA: The Seimas Board agreed to extend the deadline for preparing the draft amendments to the LRT Law (Lithuanian)
LRT: The Seimas Board, which met on Friday morning, took into account the request of the working group established to improve the legal regulation of the governance of the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) and extended the deadline for preparing the draft law by ten days.
RUSSIA: Military censorship is “a great humiliation” for journalists in Russia (Listen – French)
RFI: Independent Russian journalists Anna Artemeva and Ivan Zhilin are RFI’s featured guests on February 10, 2026. Visiting Paris, they discuss their work in Russia at the independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta.
EFJ: The bot attacks successfully resulted in the temporary suspension of several media’s Instagram accounts, limiting their ability to disseminate news.
SPAIN: The EBU Radio Committee meets at RTVE (Press release – Spanish)
RTVE: Among the issues discussed, and given the international context, the urgent need to ensure that all new vehicles placed on the market in the European Union incorporate terrestrial broadcast receivers has been highlighted.
SPAIN: The Valencian justice system accepts the first lawsuit for non-compliance with the EMFA in public media. (Paywall – Spanish)
InfoLibre: The European Media Freedom Regulation requires that public radio and television be shielded from the influence of politicians.
SWEDEN: Less bickering, better conversations: This is how Sveriges Radio wants to contribute to better election coverage (Press release – Swedish)
SR: We live in a time when democracies are in decline, when authoritarian leaders use lies as weapons and the world order we have long taken for granted is in turmoil. At the same time, we are entering an election year. Our times also place new demands on journalism.
SWEDEN: SVT Children and AI – why are we testing and where is the limit? (Press release – Swedish)
SVT: Recently, there has been a discussion about whether the oasis of children’s culture is about to be lost in a rapid technological shift.
SWITZERLAND: “200 francs is enough”: RSF commits to defending public service broadcasting in Switzerland ahead of vote
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) affirms its commitment to the NO vote on the public referendum “200 francs is enough.” RSF’s involvement with this campaign highlights the central role of public service broadcasting in Switzerland as citizens prepare to vote on 8 March on whether to reduce the broadcasting license fee from 335 CHF to 200 CHF .
SWITZERLAND: License fee: Is the SSR on a tight budget? (Debate – Watch – French)
RTS: Should the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) relinquish some services to private entities? Conversely, would lowering the fee dangerously weaken the offerings of a media outlet that broadcasts programs in all four national languages?
SWITZERLAND: Switzerland is struggling over the broadcasting fee (German)
Der Standard: In three weeks, the Swiss will vote on whether they want to pay only half as much for their public broadcasting as they currently do. The SRG (Swiss Broadcasting Corporation) is warning of drastic program cuts.
UK: AI at the BBC – an update (Press release)
BBC: Today, we’ve announced a fantastic week of programming to help our audiences get to grips with AI. The BBC’s AI Unpacked Week will run from the 2-8 March and will bring together content across TV, BBC iPlayer, Radio, BBC Sounds and our website.
UK: BBC to pursue cuts of up to £600m as bosses point to fall in licence fee income
The Guardian: Job losses and programming cancellations expected after Tim Davie tells staff broadcaster is not a ‘protected species’.
UK: Media Security and the BBC World Service (Speech – Press release)
BBC: Speech delivered by Director-General Tim Davie at the Global Media Security and Innovation event.
UK: The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling (Opinion)
The Guardian: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported.
UK & US: Trial date set for Trump’s legal case against BBC
BBC: US President Donald Trump’s multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the BBC has been scheduled to go to trial in February 2027, according to court documents.
UKRAINE & LATVIA : Latvian journalists come under Russian drone attack in Ukraine
Ukrinform: A team from Latvia’s public broadcaster LSM – journalist Odita Krenberga and cameraman Aigars Kovalevskis – came under a Russian drone attack while working in a combat zone in Ukraine near the front line.
EBU: For public service media, the reform must preserve the legal space needed to commission and produce content independently, while keeping procurement workable in today’s fast-moving digital media environment.
REGIONAL: SRG, ZDF, BBC and «Tele Meloni»: Where public broadcasting is under pressure (German)
Watson: Not only in Switzerland, but also in its neighboring countries and in England, public broadcasters are coming under political scrutiny. Observations from our correspondents.
ARGENTINA: Argentine government eliminates funds allocated to community, cooperative and indigenous media (Spanish)
IFEX: The FOMECA funds, which had remained unspent for two years, were eliminated and replaced by a new scheme that enables the participation of commercial companies and constitutes a new setback in the policies of diversity and pluralism by the government of Javier Milei.
ARGENTINA: Surprising change: the new name they would give to Public TV has been revealed (Spanish)
MDZ: In the last few hours, Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni gave an interview in which he made it very clear that Public Television will undergo changes, and one of the most significant will be its name . This surprised everyone, and new details have emerged.
COLOMBIA: Colombia launches Information Integrity Guide to combat disinformation during election season (Spanish)
Registraduria: The guide is aimed at key actors in opinion formation during elections: political parties, candidates and campaigns, journalists and media and content creators; as well as public servants and academics working on issues of freedom of expression, digital rights and political communication.
COLOMBIA: Leaked audio from RTVC sparks controversy: Political pressure on employees to support the Petro government? (Spanish)
Pulzo: In January of this year, an audio recording was released that sparked debate about possible political pressure within Colombia’s Public Media System (RTVC), directly implicating its current manager, Hollman Morris.
COLOMBIA: RTVC manager Hollman Morris denounced a disinformation campaign by Semana magazine against the Public Media System (Spanish)
Radio Nacional: The entity stated that the $23 billion contract corresponds to comprehensive audiovisual services and not to individual payments.
ECUADOR: More than 50 journalists, media outlets, and NGOs in Ecuador demanded the elimination of the Armed Forces’ accreditation rating system. (Spanish)
Infobae: National and international associations, along with the IAPA, warned that the guidelines evaluating editorial line and historical coverage constitute prior censorship and called for their immediate repeal.
GUYANA: Guyana – Among Corrupt Countries, Media and Civil Society Intimidation
NY Carib News: Guyana has recorded only a marginal improvement in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), moving up one position globally. However, the modest gain has been overshadowed by renewed concerns regarding the intimidation of independent media and civil society, developments that observers warn are steadily eroding oversight mechanisms and weakening democratic accountability.
GUYANA: Second Caribbean newspaper to close
Barbados Today: The Caribbean media landscape has suffered another blow with the announcement of the closure of a second newspaper in a matter of weeks.
MEXICO: Fernanda Tapia calls for dialogue amid protest by Radio Educación workers (Spanish)
Infobae: Employees of the public broadcaster gathered in front of the Ministry of Culture to demand improvements in their working conditions.
MEXICO: Radio Educación faces a serious crisis due to a lack of resources; public media are completely neglected. (Spanish)
EDUCA: The situation at Radio Educación reached a critical point this Wednesday . Through social media and internal communications, the station’s staff issued a plea for help, citing a lack of resources and what they describe as the “permanent absence” of its director.
PARAGUAY: Court rulings vindicate Paraguayan women journalists who spoke out against abuse
LatAm Journalism Review: The legal decisions are striking in Paraguay, a country where eight out of ten women journalists say they have suffered sexual harassment.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: TATT answers questions about its cybersecurity framework for telecoms, broadcasters (Interview)
tnt&t: At CANTO’s 42nd AGM held at the Hyatt Regency from February 01 – 03, the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT) presented its “Cybersecurity Framework for Public Telecommunications Networks and Broadcasting Facilities” on the second day of the event.
GAZA: In Gaza, the slow return of radio, which struggles to broadcast due to a lack of FM antennas. (French)
RFI: The Palestinian enclave had about twenty local radio stations before the Israeli intervention. Now, only a handful are attempting to return, broadcasting online due to a lack of equipment.
IRAN: How to cover a country cut out from the Internet? The battle to report on Iran from exile
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Four Iranian journalists in exile share the challenge of reporting on their homeland amidst the longest blackout their nation has ever experienced.
IRAN & US: Kari Lake is making Trump’s job harder in Iran (Opinion – Paywall)
The Washington Post: She has gutted America’s ability to get good information to the Iranian people in a conflict.
ISRAEL & UK: Israeli journalists fear for press freedom if UK billionaire sells TV channel stake
The Guardian: Union urges Leonard Blavatnik to scrap Channel 13 deal, saying it is part of Netanyahu plan ‘to capture the media’
SYRIA: Consultations begin on a new media legal framework
IFEX: Over four days in Damascus, the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression brought together journalists, lawyers, students, and officials to develop a legal framework that better protects independent media and freedom of expression
SYRIA: First year of transition marred by repression of minorities and expression
IFEX: PEN International says systematic persecution of minorities, rising hate speech, and attacks by government forces and affiliated militias have created a suffocating environment for writers, with entrenched impunity countrywide.
TURKEY: RSF denounces the pressure being put on journalists covering the Kurdish issue (French)
RSF: Arrests, attacks, censorship of social media accounts… In less than a month, six incidents have revealed the Turkish government’s hostility towards the right to information on the Kurdish question.
CANADA: What Sets Real Journalism Apart: Standards Canadian Reporters and Newsrooms Follow
Net News Ledger: In Canada, there’s no government “licence” to be a journalist. What separates a reporter and a credible media outlet from a rumor page or influencer account is the discipline of verification, fairness, transparency, and accountability—and a willingness to correct mistakes publicly.
US: Buffalo Toronto Public Media applies to make classical station commercial
Current: Buffalo Toronto Public Media has filed an application with the FCC to convert WNED-FM to commercial status, a move which would allow it to sell advertising on the classical station.
US: Democracy dies in broad daylight: the Trump administration’s frontal assault on the free press
The Conversation: The malaise in US journalism is a much broader story than just the travails of the Washington Post. There’s a sustained campaign of cultural and structural violence against a profession that is under economic and political strain, yet essential to democracy.
US: Detroit PBS receives $2M for initiative focused on faith in community
Current: The station will produce special programming representing the Detroit community’s diverse array of religions as part of the four-year initiative.
US: How PBS Kids Hopes to Save Children’s Programming
The Hollywood Reporter: A leading exec at the public broadcasting institution breaks down the impact of recent government cuts and what to do about them
US: New funding for USAGM signals sustained bipartisan support for its crucial international journalism
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomes the inclusion of funds for Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and the other public media outlets supported by the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) in the 2026 appropriations bill signed by President Trump on February 3.
US: NPR highlights local journalism with the American Storytelling Collection (Press release)
NPR: NPR is launching the American Storytelling Collection, a new destination for limited-run podcast series produced by the NPR Network.
US: Public Media Infrastructure Announces Inaugural Board Leadership (Press release)
PMI: Public Media Infrastructure (PMI) today announced the appointment of its inaugural Board of Trustees, including new board leadership and five new members who join rep
“Deepfake scams hurt everyone, but Big Tech platforms don’t care” says EBU in call for evidence
EBU: The EBU feedback to the European Commission highlights the dangers of deepfake scams that exploit trust in journalists and media, spreading fraud and misinformation.
Designing the future of media: where culture, content, and technology collide
BBC: The media industry is at a pivotal moment. Audience behaviours are shifting rapidly, with people now expecting media that is made with them, not just made for them, and the acceleration of tech innovation is changing the production and distribution of content.
EFJ: A new survey by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) reveals a mixed approach among its members toward so-called ‘news creators’, with journalists’ organisations split on whether to recognise these emerging actors as part of the information landscape.
No programmers? No problem: These newsrooms are building their own AI
LatAm Journalism Review: The team at ADNSUR, a digital-native media outlet in Argentina’s Patagonia, repeatedly faced the same problem: videos for social media produced by external contributors ended up violating the content guidelines of digital platforms.
Public service media help anchor reliable information
DevPolicy Blog: Across the Indo-Pacific, people are spending more time online but finding it harder to know what to trust. The 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025 shows nearly six in ten respondents struggle to distinguish between real and false information.
Shortwave radio has not had its last word. (Listen – French)
RFI: Twelve giant antennas located in central France broadcast RFI’s programs on shortwave. These waves, which travel thousands of kilometers, continue to inform millions of listeners, particularly in rural areas or in countries that are becoming increasingly isolated.
Speed, hoaxes and mistrust: How AI is transforming freelance journalism
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Reporters and commissioning editors from around the world share how the GenAI revolution is reshaping the way they work.
When local news disappears, people turn to social media feeds, influencers and gossip
Poynter: People without local news consume information at similar rates — and don’t believe they’re missing anything, a Medill survey found
Why Crisis Resilience Depends on Epistemic Security
Tech Policy Press: Imagine sitting down for your lunch break in London and opening your BBC news feed to the following announcement…
Why Ireland is at the Center of the Transatlantic Battle Over Digital Regulation
Tech Policy Press: Coimisiún na Meán’s (CnaM) neat three-storey office in a leafy corner of Dublin gives little hint that the 200 public servants inside are now at the center of a transatlantic political fight. The Irish media regulator, less than three years old, is battling 12 lawsuits from international tech companies…
Why the transistor radio still outlasts the internet in a crisis (Listen)
SBS: In this episode of Usap Tayo, we celebrate World Radio Day by highlighting how the airwaves keep the global Filipino community connected and safe.
RSF: Attacked in conflict zones, muzzled by authoritarian regimes, weakened by political decisions and plagued with financing problems, radio stations — often the last accessible source of trustworthy news when everything else collapses –– are now in danger.
PSM Weekly is available via email. You can subscribe by signing up to our mailing list at the bottom of the page or email editor@publicmediaalliance.org.
All PSM Weekly stories are provided for interest and their relevance to public service media issues, they do not necessarily reflect the views of the Public Media Alliance.
All headlines are sourced from their original story.
If you have any suggestions for our weekly round-ups, please email PMA at editor@publicmediaalliance.org.
Header image: Close – up button of vintage radio receiver. Credit: jakkapan / Shutterstock.com
Related Posts
PSM Weekly | 4 – 10 February 2026
PMA's weekly round-up of public service…
PSM Weekly | 28 January – 3 February 2026
PMA's weekly round-up of public service…
PSM Weekly | 21 – 27 January 2026
PMA's weekly round-up of public service…
PSM Weekly | 14 – 20 January 2026
PMA's weekly round-up of public service…