Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world.
As the global Covid-19 pandemic continues and many countries enter a state of lockdown, 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.
With this in mind, the Public Media Alliance has compiled an extensive and growing resources featuring recommended tools, advice and sources for journalists and the public alike. The resources can be found via the link below or in the ‘Tools’ section of our website.
The resource will be frequently updated to reflect the changing needs and evolving situation. If you have any recommendations, please let us know.
We also want to hear about your local public media coverage! Email us!
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.
We want to hear from our members about what you are doing to best cover the crisis on a local level. Email us using the link below.
Coronavirus: Resources & best practices
Essential resources for sourcing and reporting news about the coronavirus pandemic
What we're watching...
The value and the future of public service media
Reuters Institute: Noel Curran is the former Director General of Irish public broadcaster RTÉ where he transformed it into a stable digital media organisation following the financial crisis. He is an award-winning investigative journalist and producer. Curran will speak about the evolving role of public service media, and the opportunities to evolve to adapt to our changing societal needs.
What does Minister for Media and Data John Whittingdale make of the BBC’s new DG and the TV licence fee?
The Media Show, BBC Radio 4: John Whittingdale talks to the Media Show’s Amol Rajan.
What we're listening to...
Professor Lee McIntyre – lies and fake news
RNZ: Fake news, science denial and the rise of social media where anyone can say just about anything and that’s making it harder and harder to tell fact from fiction . We live in an era where truth is under threat says Professor Lee McIntyre. He says there is a way to make people, especially politicians, more accountable for telling lies.
Global Headlines
Click on the tab menu below to reveal the latest regional stories.
EGYPT: Egypt agrees to release a few journalists
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomes the Egyptian justice system’s agreement in principle to release five journalists but points out that this is far from enough and that only two of the five have so far been freed.
EGYPT: Statement on media freedom in Egypt
Gov.uk: Statement on media freedom in Egypt from the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition’s Executive Group
ETHIOPIA: Ethiopia: Media crackdown amid military offensive in Tigray region
IFJ: The Ethiopian Government has launched a wave of arrests against journalists covering the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region. Since November 7, at least six journalists have been arrested on unknown charges. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the arbitrary arrest of media workers and urges the Ethiopian authorities to immediately stop the crackdown on media covering the military conflict.
GHANA: GBC Presidential Encounters begin Tonight
GBC: Beginning Thursday, November 12, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) is providing all aspiring Presidential Candidates the platform to engage them one-on-one to answer questions from the electorate.
LESOTHO: Lesotho Police Shoot Journalist During Protests
MISA Zimbabwe: Lesotho police have been accused of shooting journalist Ntsoaki Motaung during a youth protest dubbed #BachaShutDown on 6 November 2020.
MALAWI: State House reprimands journalists for not masking up
Nyasa Times: State House on Monday reprimanded journalists for not wearing face masks at the weekly news briefs at Kamazu Palace in Lilongwe.
NIGERIA: 160 journalists attacked in Nigeria in last two years — Report
Premium Times: The report shows that the North-Central zone witnessed the highest number of attacks.
NIGERIA: Nigeria: Regulator Warns Broadcasters Against Impetuousness, Might Increase Sanctions
Broadcast Media Africa: Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, the acting director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) – the regulator of Nigeria’s broadcasting industry – has issued a stern warning to TV and radio operators in the country, asking them to ensure they are not reckless with what they broadcast, especially at “times of national emergency when there is the need for extreme care and restraint”.
SOUTH AFRICA: CWU plans full-blown strike against SABC restructuring process (Watch)
SABC News: The Communication Workers Union (CWU) says it will soon embark on a full-blown strike against the SABC‘s restructuring process, which could see as many as 400 full-time employees lose their jobs.
SOUTH AFRICA: Right2know: Govt Must Safeguard SABC In Interest Of Transparency
Eyewitness News: Right2Know on Saturday said government must safeguard the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in the interest of national transparency.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC loses R2bn per year in unpaid TV licence fees – COO
IOL: The SABC would be commercially viable and would receive an immediate cash injection of up to R2bn per year if everyone paid their TV licence fee.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC lunch hour picket to continue (Watch)
SABC News: Lunch-hour pickets are expected to continue at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on Tuesday against its restructuring plans, which will see about 400 permanent workers lose their jobs.
ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe Government Accused of Restricting Social Media
VOA: Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was denied bail Thursday after being arrested on November 3 for a second time this year. Chin’ono is facing charges of “abusing” social media to obstruct justice.
AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan: Radio Free Europe correspondent killed by car bomb
IFJ: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE / RL) correspondent Elias Daei was killed in an explosion in the Helmand province of Afghanistan on November 12. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation for journalist safety in Afghanistan.
AFGHANISTAN: The Media (r)evolution in Afghanistan (part 1)
EJO: In recent years, the Afghan media system has changed rapidly, becoming increasingly progressive. But is that enough to change society?
CAMBODIA: Cambodia jails journalist Ros Sokhet for criticizing Prime Minister Hun Sen
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists today strongly condemned the sentencing of Cambodian journalist and publisher Ros Sokhet and called for his immediate and unconditional release.
HONG KONG: How Hong Kong authorities are gradually taking over public broadcaster RTHK
Global Voices: The city’s public broadcaster faces tremendous political pressure from all directions.
HONG KONG: RTHK Arrest in Hong Kong Is Further Blow to Press Freedom
VOA: The appearance in court Tuesday of journalist Bao Choy over her investigative reporting for Hong Kong’s public broadcaster is viewed as another blow to press freedom for the region.
INDIA: Arnab Goswami — Why press freedom in India transcends ideological barriers
Deutsche Welle: The recent arrest of a pro-government TV anchor has sparked a debate in India about press freedom and the journalists’ ability to maintain neutrality and objective reporting. Murali Krishnan reports from New Delhi.
INDIA: Online News Portals, Streaming Services Brought Under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
The Wire: Interestingly, even the “news and current affairs content on online platforms’, has been added under the sub-category of “Films” and not “Press”.
JAPAN: NHK eyeing ¥20 billion cap on internet-related business costs
The Japan Times: Japanese public broadcaster NHK has announced a plan to set a cap of ¥20 billion for its internet-related business costs per year from fiscal 2021, dropping its earlier proposal to abolish the upper limit on such expenses.
The Kathmandu Post: Advocates of free speech fear the culture that trickled down from the federal government will ultimately lead to a state of censorship.
PAKISTAN: Jang group editor released from jail
PPF: Editor-in-Chief of Jang Group Mir Shakilur Rehman was released from the jail on Wednesday as he furnished a bond of Rs10 million along with two sureties with an accountability court in light of the bail granting order by the Supreme Court.
PAKISTAN: PFUJ rally warns govt to stop retrenchments, media gagging
The News International: Speakers in protest rallies of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) across the country warned the government with the message of “Enough is enough, no more retrenchments, censorship and media gagging in Pakistan”, says a press release on Wednesday.
PHILIPPINES: Filipinos aren’t so much resilient as Duterte is incompetent, abusive (Analysis)
Rappler: ‘The information deficit on Typhoon Ulysses led to needless misery, caused in part by Duterte’s pointless persecution of ABS-CBN’
PHILIPPINES: Journalist killed in Philippines in second attempt on his life
The Guardian: Virgilio Maganes shot outside his home in what NUJP says is 18th such killing under Duterte
SOUTH KOREA: ‘Fact-Check Net’ launched to fight disinformation, misinformation
The Korean Herald: Local journalists, citizens and professionals on Thursday launched a joint fact-checking platform to systematically fight disinformation and misinformation in Korean society.
SOUTH KOREA: Number of K-dramas likely to decrease next year amid coronavirus pandemic
The Star: The number of South Korean TV drama series is expected to decrease next year due to the fallout of the protracted novel coronavirus pandemic, experts said.
THAILAND: Tripadvisor Warning on Hotel Puts Thailand’s Defamation Laws In Spotlight
Vice: The arrest of a tourist for writing a bad review about a hotel in Thailand made headlines around the world, but freedom of expression advocates say the case should draw more attention to deeply problematic defamation laws trained on human rights activists and journalists.
AUSTRALIA: Australia: Public broadcaster faces intimidation and manipulation
IFJ: Australian national public broadcaster ABC faced pressure from government ministers and senators prior to the airing of an investigative program exposing misconduct and toxic behaviour in federal parliament on November 9.
AUSTRALIA: Australia: Senate media inquiry urged to consider multiple challenges facing the industry
IFEX: The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance welcomes a new Senate inquiry into Australia’s media and offers its expertise on the role of public interest journalism, concentration of media ownership, and the impact of digital platforms, among other issues affecting the industry.
AUSTRALIA: Australia’s newspaper ownership is among the most concentrated in the world
The Guardian: Australia’s newspaper industry ranked third in 2011, behind state-owned media of China and Egypt.
AUSTRALIA: Calls to defund the ABC, made by pundits who abhor cancel culture, are nonsense (Speech)
ABC Australia: Chris Kenny has been a vigorous critic of the ABC while previously “resisting calls for its privatisation or abolition”, but after last week’s Four Corners, Media Watch and Q&A he has asserted that it now “is beyond redemption”.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Solomons to ban Facebook but claims ‘media freedom to remain’
Asia Pacific Report: The Solomon Islands cabinet has agreed to ban the world’s biggest social networking platform Facebook in the country.
NEW ZEALAND: Henare te Ua – RNZ Māori Journalism Internship Te Karahipi a Henare te Ua (Press Release)
RNZ: Te Aorewa Rolleston (Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui) is the recipient of the 2020 Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Internship established by Radio New Zealand to support Te reo Māori and foster Māori journalism.
BELARUS: No Guarantee of Safety for Media Covering Disputed Belarus Election
VOA News: Three months after disputed elections in Belarus, protesters and journalists continue to be arrested, beaten and harassed. On Sunday, police detained over 1,000 people at protests in cities across the Eastern European nation.
CROATIA: Vexatious lawsuits a SLAPP in the face for journalists in Croatia
IPI: Fresh wave of SLAPP cases against three media outlets.
CZECH REPUBLIC: MFRR partners concerned over side-lining of critical media outlets during the government press conferences (Statement)
ECPMF: The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) are writing to express our disappointment over the lack of communication with the media by your government and the repeated denial of access for certain outlets to COVID-19 press conferences.
DENMARK: Strong increase for streamed news (Swedish)
Nordvision: DR’s corona reporting is a strong reason why news broadcasts are finding more and more viewers on the streaming service DRTV. But the service has also without increasing help from the corona content gathered an ever-increasing crowd of users. We have noticed this and other things this week.
FINLAND: Yle’s year 2021: an all-time value year, more culture and a voice for the silent (Press release – Finnish)
Yle: In accordance with the strategy that came into force in May 2020, Yle’s goal is to improve its relationship with children and young people, reach all Finns and be personally relevant. Successful digital services and an even better offering for different Finns play a key role in this.
FRANCE: European Week for the Employment of People with Disabilities from November 16 to 22, 2020 (Press release – French)
Radio France: On the occasion of the 24th edition of the event from November 16 to 22, Radio France confirms its commitment to the professional integration of people with disabilities.
FRANCE: France: bill on security will prohibit dissemination of images of police (Statement)
EFJ: The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), with French unions SNJ, SNJ-CGT, CFDT-Journalistes, are concerned about a legislative proposal currently pending in the French parliament, which would make it illegal to disseminate images of law enforcement officers of the national police and gendarmerie. We call on the members of Parliament to delete the proposed text.
FRANCE: Orange launches targeted advertising service with FranceTV Publicite
Telecompaper: Orange France said that its IPTV platform is the first in the country to enable targeted advertising campaigns during linear TV viewing. This follows the recent partnership with FranceTV Publicite, the in-house ad agency within public broadcaster France Televisions.
GEORGIA: GPB Board of Trustees addresses diplomatic corps, int’l organisations (Statement)
Georgian Public Broadcaster: Recently, directed by some politicians, we have heard more of alleged accusations against Georgian Public Broadcaster and its journalists.
RSF: Demonstrations against health restrictions to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic represent a worrying trend in Germany: violence against the media. Reporters without borders (RSF) calls on the authorities to ensure journalists’ safety and help guarantee the fundamental right to inform.
GERMANY: Programme change: ARD and ZDF show specials on the corona situation (German)
TV Spielfilm: The “lockdown light” is in full swing, but the number of new infections remains high. Politicians are discussing tightening the measures, which is why ARD and ZDF have again included special programs in their programs at short notice.
HUNGARY: Hungary public media forced to toe govt line: leaked recordings
France 24: Reporters at Hungary’s public broadcaster have been forced to toe the line of the government of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, according to leaked recordings and testimonies revealed by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Thursday.
HUNGARY: Twisting The Truth? How Editors Manipulate News Coverage At Hungary’s State Broadcaster
RFE/RL: Ahead of European Parliament elections in Hungary in 2019, editors sat down with reporters at the state MTVA broadcast group — which includes television channels, the MTI news wire, and radio stations — to discuss not only what to cover, but how.
ICELAND: Interview with Stefan Eiriksson, RUV Director General: Leadership during the pandemic (Interview)
EBU: Stefan Eiriksson, Director General of Iceland’s RUV, talks to Marie-Soleil Levery, EBU Member Relations for the Nordics.
IRELAND: RTÉ will be close to break even for 2020 (Paywall)
Independent: RTÉ’s finances have improved so much in recent weeks that the broadcaster is now expecting to end the year in a close to break-even position, the Sunday Independent understands.
ITALY: Italy: MFRR partners condemn increasing violence against journalists covering anti-lockdown protests
Article 19: The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) expresses our serious concern over the string of physical attacks, death threats and acts of intimidation against journalists and media workers covering issues related to COVID-19 and recent anti-lockdown protests across Italy.
MONTENEGRO: Censorship and self-censorship: The wounds of Montenegrin journalism
Safe Journalists: Although there is little information about open censorship in the Montenegrin media, covert censorship has almost become domesticated and an integral part of newsrooms.
POLAND: Poland: IPI condemns police violence against journalists amidst Warsaw clashes (Statement)
IPI: The International Press Institute (IPI) today strongly condemned police violence against photojournalists reporting on clashes in the Polish capital Warsaw. The violence led to numerous injuries and the hospitalization of a 74-year-old photographer who was shot in the face with a rubber bullet.
RUSSIA: Police arrest, fine journalists covering protests in Russian far east; 3 remain in detention
CPJ: Russian authorities should immediately release all journalists detained while covering recent protests, and ensure that the press can cover demonstrations freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
SLOVENIA: As of today, Fridays on the rtvslo.si website are green (Press release – Slovenian)
RTV SLO: A series of articles accompanied by explanatory videos presents answers to the simplest questions about the climate crisis, climate change and the social changes that lie ahead. But the answers are far from simple, and far from simple.
SLOVENIA: Parliamentary committee discusses epidemic bonuses at RTV Slovenija
STA: The parliamentary Committee for Culture convened a session to discuss bonuses to staff of public broadcaster RTV Slovenija for work in risky conditions and increased workload during the time of official epidemic.
SPAIN: Government’s anti-fake news policy potentially threatens press freedom in Spain
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is concerned about the Spanish government’s new policy for combatting fake news, especially its loose wording, which poses a potential threat to press freedom.
SWEDEN: Big increase in listening during the US election (Press release – Swedish)
Sveriges Radio: Listening to Swedish Radio increased greatly during the US election. The increase applies both linearly and on demand. The US pod has increased its listening significantly during the autumn and this week takes second place on the Pod index with a reach of just over 236,000 *.
SWITZERLAND: Public radio admonished for ignoring Romansh language
Swissinfo: A programme about the country’s multilingualism has failed to heed the rules of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).
SWITZERLAND: The allegations of misconduct at RTS are investigated externally (Press release – German)
SRG SSR: The Geneva law firm “Troillet Meier Raetzo” is investigating the allegation of misconduct in the three recently made public reports on Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS).
UK: BBC response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission report into Equal Pay (Statement)
BBC: In March 2019, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) started an investigation into pay practices at the BBC. Today, the Commission has published its final report, which has found no evidence of unlawful pay discrimination.
UK: ITV Q3 revenues hit by pandemic
Advanced Television: ITV, the UK commercial broadcaster, has published its Q3 trading update for the 9 months to September 30th. Total external revenue was down 16 per cent at £1.86 billion (€2.08bn).
UK: Letter from the Chairman and Director-General to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (Statement)
BBC: Sir David Clementi, Chairman of the BBC and Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC today sent the following letter to The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport regarding the Licence Fee settlement.
REGIONAL: EFJ urges EU to stay away from encryption
EFJ: The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) demands the EU Council of Ministers to immediately retract all plans that may weaken secure encryption in digital communication.
REGIONAL: Media plurality in Europe (Opinion)
EURACTIV: Smaller independent media are struggling to survive in the wake of COVID-19. The EU should do more to protect media plurality: money needs to go to the support of the media sector, without the risk that those outlets end up being forced to take a specific message or narrative, writes Dace Melbarde.
REGIONAL: The story in the center – the news podcasts take place (Swedish)
Nordvision: Do not touch the “next section” button! The number of news podcasts is increasing, and to keep listeners in an on-demand news world, where it is easy to choose to listen to something else, a really well-told story is required. Maybe DR and Svenska Yle have found the recipe in different places.
ARGENTINA: The newspaper industry, an essential and critical sector throughout the country (Spanish – Opinion)
ADEPA: The journalistic media, in all its editorial, geographic and platform diversity, play a fundamental and strategic role in democratic societies as instruments of access to information for citizens. This role is enhanced in times of crisis such as the current pandemic.
ARGENTINA: The value of freedom of the press (Spanish)
La Nacion: Free and independent journalism is not there to satisfy the powers of the day or any circumstantial majority
BRAZIL: FENAJ condemns attacks on journalists and hacker attacks on websites and blogs (Portuguese)
FENAJ: The National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ) is publicly repudiating all attacks on journalists and on progressive websites and blogs that took place in the last week and, in particular, on the eve of the vote that will elect mayors and councilors of the 5,570 Brazilian municipalities.
COLOMBIA: Five new digital media platforms for uncensored news from Colombia
Global Voices: Colombia is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists and broadcasters. Threats and harassment by those involved in drug trafficking and armed groups are commonplace, and journalists frequently self-censor in order to avoid reprisals. Recently, new media outlets have sprung up, challenging the traditional media monopolies.
COLOMBIA: Press, democracy and freedom (Spanish – Opinion)
Las 2 Orillas: “The policy of those who exercise power in Colombia is that the media allow the realisation of the sovereignty of the elites over popular sovereignty”.
CUBA: EL MUNDO condemns repression against journalists, artists and activists in Cuba (Spanish)
El Mundo: Although the Cuban regime’s repression of those who oppose it peacefully has not ceased for 60 years, EL MUNDO is concerned about the wave of arrests and threats against journalists, artists and human rights activists in the last two weeks.
EL SALVADOR: Journalists and other workers on Channel 12 are fired (Spanish)
APES: At least four people, including journalists and personnel from different areas of Channel 12, were dismissed from their posts on Friday, October 30. Some of them had been working on the channel for more than 20 years.
GUYANA: Building trust in the governance process (Editorial)
Stabroek News: In a country of incremental advances in media freedom arising through no effort on the part of government but rather on account of the gradual rolling out of an increased number of media houses and advancements in enabling technology, the various publics have, over time, become more vociferous, more empowered in ‘talking back’ to government.
HAITI: Haiti-Criminalité: Towards a formal partnership to ensure appropriate monitoring of the files of victim journalists (French)
AlterPresse: It is important to set up a formal partnership between the Bar (of lawyers) of Port-au-Prince and associations of journalists, to ensure a follow-up on the files of journalists victims of crimes.
MEXICO: Female journalists covering Mexican feminist protests face harsh police response
CPJ: Lizbeth Hernández, a freelance journalist based in Mexico City, is documenting a rising women’s protest movement against gender-based violence in the country.
MEXICO: Killing of reporter adds to grim toll of violence against Mexican journalists
The Guardian: Israel Vázquez became the third journalist to be murdered in two weeks – and the eighth this year – while reporting on Monday.
MEXICO: Public media should not be the object of political expressions or demonstrations in favor of Morena: Rigoberto Mares (Spanish)
Mi punto: Deputy Rigoberto Mares Aguilar (PAN) condemned that John Ackerman was “awarded” with a new television program despite accusations of misogyny, workplace harassment and influentialism under the shadow of his wife, the secretary of the Public Function, Irma Eréndira Sandoval.
MEXICO: Setbacks to freedom of expression in 2020
IFEX: One year after an International Mission to Mexico, the government has failed to fulfil its commitments, and the freedom of expression situation in the country is worsening.
PERU: At least 35 journalists injured covering anti-government protests in Peru
CPJ: Peruvian authorities should ensure that journalists can cover protests safely, and thoroughly investigate attacks on the press by demonstrators and police officers alike, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
URUGUAY: Public media: Beatriz Argimón said they took Lacalle Pou out of context (Spanish)
La Diaria Politica: The president said that more journalists must be “removed.” The vice president of the Republic, Beatriz Argimón, said at a press conference that the statements of the president, Luis Lacalle Pou, about the dismissed public media workers were misrepresented.
IRAN: Iran: Citizens exercise their right to know, to demand a response to illegal Internet shutdowns
Article 19: Nearly a year on from the Internet shutdown that facilitated the bloody crackdown of protests across Iran in November 2019, the authorities continue to show little to no transparency and accountability. with regards to their decisions about the shutdown.
IRAN: Secondary Targets: When You Can’t Punish a Journalist, Family Will Do Just Fine
VOA: Journalists who’ve reported on repressive regimes sometimes have no choice but to flee for their safety. But exile is no shield for loved ones back home. The threat of family reprisals puts journalists in a fraught corner. This series tells their stories.
ISRAEL & PALESTINE: Israel urged to lift ban on Palestine TV bureau in Jerusalem
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns Israel’s decision to extend its 12-month-old closure of the Palestine TV bureau in East Jerusalem by another six months and the resignation of the TV channel’s Jerusalem correspondent, Christine Rinawi, after repeated police and judicial harassment.
SAUDI ARABIA: G20 members called on to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for rights abuses and jailed dissidents
IFEX: As G20 member countries meet in Riyadh this month, Human Rights Watch calls on government leaders to hold the kingdom accountable for human rights abuses, and release unlawfully detained prisoners of conscience like Loujain al-Hathloul and Raif Badawi.
TURKEY: Turkish Government is Tightening Media Censorship, Report Says
Balkan Insight: A new report [by the] Journalists’ Association of Turkey says censorship of the media – especially the online media – is getting worse, while media workers also face other problems as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
YEMEN: Yemen: IFJ calls on Yemeni authorities to end impunity for crimes against journalists
IFJ: As part of its 2020 campaign to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the IFJ has sent on 16 november a letter to the Yemeni Prime Minister Maïn Abdelmalek Saïd and Mahdi Al-Mashat, the President of the Supreme Political Council, Ansar Allah Movement, calling for swift action to improve the state of impunity in Yemen.
CANADA: CBC Automates Configuration, Updates to New Media-Over-IP Network, Devices
TV Technology: Montreal facility is the broadcaster’s first major project to be designed around IP technology
CANADA: CBC/Radio-Canada recognized among Canada’s Top 100 Employers
CBC/Radio-Canada: For the second year in a row, CBC/Radio-Canada is among Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Mediacorp Canada Inc. announced today. CBC/Radio-Canada was previously ranked among Canada’s Top 100 Employers in 2020, 2004 and 2005.
CANADA: When discussing media freedom, Canada shouldn’t leave Indigenous journalism off the agenda (Opinion)
The Globe and Mail: Canada is hosting the Global Conference for Media Freedom today [16 Nov]. It is the second iteration of what is expected to become an annual event where governments discuss issues related to the protection of media freedom, safeguarding journalists, and the freedom of expression and human rights…
CANADA: When the CRTC wanted do something about satellite TV
CBC News: Signals from outside Canada presented problem when it came to ensuring Canadian content
US: Americans’ main sources for political news vary by party and age (Research)
Pew Research Center: Americans turn to a wide range of media outlets for political and election news, but two stand out as especially common sources.
US: Biden Must Restore America’s Reputation as a Beacon of Press Freedom (Opinion)
Foreign Policy: After four years of hostility to journalists and a free press, the United States must repair the damage Trump has done at home and abroad.
US: How Wisconsin Public Radio is using surveys to track diversity of its sources (Paywall)
Current: By inviting people who appear on air to share their demographic data, WPR created a way to accurately measure the diversity of sources in its news and talk programs.
US: Journalism Organizations: Proposed US Visa Change Could Result in Censorship, Retaliation
VOA News: Proposals to restrict how long foreign correspondents can live and work in the United States will make it harder to report on the American story and could expose journalists to retaliation in the U.S. or elsewhere, critics say.
US: NPR Digital Platforms See Largest Audience Ever (Press Release)
NPR: During last week’s election coverage the NPR website (NPR.org) saw its largest audience ever, reaching over 34.7 million unique users – eclipsing NPR’s typical weekly broadcast radio listenership.
US: Microsoft grants aid journalism in public media newsrooms (Paywall)
Current: Broadcasters will use the funds to support interns and expand coverage of the pandemic, health care, criminal justice and other topics.
US: Proposed funding in Senate leaves out $50M bump for CPB (Paywall)
Current: Increased funding could support remote-learning services amid the pandemic, argued APTS CEO Pat Butler.
US: Public Editors: Why even good reporting no longer impacts the vote (Listen)
CJR: The media did better work covering Trump than in 2016, but did that reporting have any impact on the real world?
US: Will Donald Trump start his own right-wing news channel?
CJR: As Trump and his allies continue their desperate efforts to overturn the election results, there are reports that the soon-to-be former president is planning to launch his own media venture…
Committee To Protect Journalists Prepares For ‘Virtual’ Press Freedom Awards (Event)
RFE/RL: The Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ) has announced that it will present the winners of its 2020 International Press Freedom Award during an online ceremony on November 19.
RISJ: This report presents findings from an analysis of 165 responses to a survey of a strategic sample of known and identified independent news media organisations on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted them, combined with interviews with a critical sample of seven independent news media operating in middle income countries with some or significant limitations on media freedom across the globe.
Google’s increasing capture of journalism
EFJ: Why does Google invest so much in publishing houses? How does this funding affect media pluralism and editorial independence? How can “new work” create a better atmosphere for workers, particularly during Covid-19?
Journalists from Kenya, Canada, Turkey, Poland and Brazil on what’s next for U.S. journalists
Poynter: “Your problems are also way bigger than Trump or his followers.”
Media development organisations join forces to support public interest media in crisis
BBC Media Action: BBC Media Action and its consortium partners are pleased to announce the launch of Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development, a three-year project to support public interest media essential to good governance and more informed societies.
Podcast platforms striving for world domination have a long way to go: Podcast Day
Asia Radio Today: There is a struggle for world domination by podcast platforms, but it may turn out that one single dominant podcast platform may never emerge.
Nieman Lab: ProPublica’s plain language experiment is a first for a mainstream news organization. Disability experts say it shouldn’t be the last.
Reporting the fact-free claims of Team Trump (Listen)
RNZ: Since losing the US election, president Donald Trump and his allies have mounted an evidence-free campaign to portray the vote as rigged. That’s thrown the dysfunctions of the country’s media ecosystem into sharp relief.
Social media: How might it be regulated?
BBC News: Several countries around the world are considering regulating social media – but what might that look like?
Women bear brunt of online abuse as world goes digital in pandemic
Thomas Reuters Foundation: Rape threats, fake porn – virtual reality for women as COVID-19 turns the world ever more digital
Why talk of ethical journalism has to be about newsroom cultures as well as content
EJN: Conversations around ethical journalism have traditionally focussed on the content created by people in the media. But until we really start recognising the link between newsroom cultures and the content we create, we are doing a disservice to any discussion of journalism ethics.
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