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...


Why Canada’s public broadcaster covers the U.S. election

CBC News: As Canada’s public broadcaster, CBC News often fields questions from members of our audience on why we give the U.S. election so much time and focus. Editor in chief Brodie Fenlon explains.

What we're listening to...


How does RFI talk about Russia and Vladimir Putin: the war of narratives? (French – Listen) 

RFI: Many listeners criticize our coverage of current events related to Russia and Vladimir Putin, through a question that could be summed up as: is RFI anti-Russia or anti-Putin?

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.

ANGOLA: President Signs Laws Curtailing Speech, Association

Human Rights Watch: New Legislation Poses Threats to Media, Critics of Government


ETHIOPIA: Anti-press hostility and media capture threaten investigative journalism in Ethiopia

IJNet: In Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country, investigative journalism currently faces a series of severe challenges: a public mired in ethnic and religious extremism, a sharply partisan private media market with little tolerance for independent reporting, oppressive government regulation, and, not least of all, routine threats, intimidation, and arrests of members of the press. 


GHANA: Building media capacity essential for safeguarding Ghana’s democracy

Modern Ghana: The Executive Secretary for the Private Newspapers and Online Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), has stressed the importance of building the capacity of Ghana’s media for safeguarding the country’s democracy. 


MALI: Mali junta suspends French-language channel TV5 Monde for lack of ‘balance’

France24: Mali’s junta leaders suspended the French-language channel TV5 Monde for three, allegedly for a lack of “balance” in covering civilian drone strike deaths without providing the Malian army’s version of events.


NIGER: Concern over the disappearance of journalist Serge Mathurin Adou (French) 

RFI: Where is Serge Mathurin Adou? This is the question being asked by the relatives of the Ivorian journalist, who has been living in Niger for a long time – the country of which he acquired nationality – and of whom there has been no news for two weeks.


NIGERIA: Akwa Ibom journalists hold media stakeholders summit 

Premium Times: Journalists in Akwa Ibom State, South-south Nigeria, are set to hold the first-ever media stakeholders summit in the state.


NIGERIA: Nigeria must investigate attacks on journalists — IPI 

Daily Trust: The IPI global network has condemned attacks on journalists covering the recent anti-government protests in Nigeria, calling on authorities to investigate these incidents and take measures to ensure journalists’ safety.


SENEGAL: Plea by Journalist Zaynab Sangarè for a Civil Society Mobilized for Transparency and Good Governance (French)

Press Afrik: Zaynab Sangaré, an independent journalist specializing in data journalism and investigative journalism, has sent an open letter to the Senegalese Civil Society for Transparency and Good Governance. 


SOUTH AFRICA: SABC funding crisis as South Africans spurn TV licences

Tech Central: It is unlikely that any new funding model for the SABC will be finalised and implemented in less than five years.


SOUTH AFRICA: SABC Still Seeking Solutions For Financial Stability

Broadcast Media Africa: In South Africa, the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies chair, Khusela Sangoni, has warned that the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is still facing a potential crisis if its funding model is not addressed promptly.


SOUTH AFRICA: SABC TV licence pain

MyBroadband: South Africans are expected to continue a public boycott of TV licence fees while the SABC formulates a new funding model that can rid the public broadcaster of its financial distress.


ZIMBABWE: Broadcasting Authority bans prophets, traditional healers advertisements – says they mislead the public

New Zimbabwe: The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has issued a directive prohibiting all broadcasters from airing advertisements related to churches, traditional healers and unverified herbal medicines.


REGIONAL: Africa Media Monitoring August 2024: Threats to press freedom in Nigeria, Somalia and Guinea Bissau

IPI: In August 2024, attacks on journalists covering anti-government protests in sub-Saharan Africa soared, especially in Nigeria, where dozens of journalists covering the 10-day #EndBadGovernance assaulted, detained, or blocked from accessing protest sites.


REGIONAL: Journalists in Southern Africa launch united front against disinformation and misinformation 

IJF: The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the Pan-African organisation of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), has officially launched a comprehensive regional initiative to combat the escalating threat of disinformation and misinformation across Southern Africa.


REGIONAL: State Broadcasters from ECOWAS States commit to mis/disinformation fight 

MFWA: Heads of the State-owned broadcast media from member states in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have pledged commitment to countering mis/disinformation in the West Africa sub-region.

AFGHANISTAN: Taliban claims over 400 ‘media violations corrected’

Amu: As Taliban continues its grip on the media the Taliban-run Ministry of Information and Culture announced on Tuesday that it had “corrected” 444 media violations over the past year.


BANGLADESH: Two senior journalists allegedly linked to Sheikh Hasina, detained by police

The Print: Bangladesh police have detained two senior journalists from an area near the India-Bangladesh border in northern Mymensingh, a senior police official said on Monday.


BRUNEI: Brunei’s RTB International using Asiasat to expand presence across Asia (2 September)

Indian TelevisioN: Asian satellite operator Asiasat and Brinei’s pubcaster Radio Television Brunei (RTB) gave signed a lease agreement. This is for the use of C-band capacity on Asiasat 2 for free to air distribution of the ‘RTB International’ channel, serving viewers in Asia, Australasia and the Middle East. 


CAMBODIA: UN experts want Cambodia’s journalism charter suspended

UCA News: A group of United Nations independent experts have urged Cambodia to suspend its recently promulgated Charter for Professional Journalists saying it failed to meet with international human rights standards nor did it include relevant input from all relevant parties.


CHINA: Circle 19: a vital resource for the Chinese public’s right to information

RSF: In the year since Circle 19 for the Right to Information in the People’s Republic of China held its inaugural symposium in collaboration with Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the civil society group has compiled a wide range of intellectual and technical resources for the Chinese people to take action and fight for this fundamental right.


CHINA & US: How China targets Uyghur journalists abroad: the chilling story of a reporter exiled in the US

RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) shares the testimony of a Uyghur journalist exiled in the United States, whose friends still in China were detained in retaliation for his work.


INDIA: Philanthropists must support nonprofit media platforms in India (Opinion) 

The Times of India: Here’s how philanthropy can help build an alternative media ecosystem that centres community-driven narratives and publishes perspectives from the margins.


INDONESIA: RRI’s Role in Children’s Growth Through Kindergarten Broadcasts (Indonesian) 

RRI: Ensuring the fulfillment of citizens’ rights to education is one of the missions carried out by Radio Republik Indonesia. The various benefits of the programs presented by RRI Yogyakarta were felt not only by adults and parents.


JAPAN: Q&A: How will Japan public broadcaster NHK’s new streaming service affect viewers? 

The Mainichi: This new service will begin in October 2025, marking what NHK President Nobuo Inaba called a “historic turning point” for the broadcaster, which has focused primarily on television. 


MALAYSIA: Malaysia’s RTM Transitions Radio Network to AoIP

MixOnline: RTM, Malaysia’s government-owned major broadcaster, has embarked on a multi-year transition to AoIP for its radio station network.


MYANMAR: Myanmar journalists facing ‘terror campaign’ in deadliest year for media since coup

The Guardian: In 2024 four journalists have been killed, with others jailed, as they report on human rights abuses by the military junta


MYANMAR: ‘We have no hope in Myanmar’ – A rebel and a journalist in love and on the run

MyanmarNow: Having met in the aftermath of the 2021 military coup, a young couple from Mogok navigate conflict, conscription, and life as migrants


NEPAL: HoR endorses Public Service Broadcasting Bill designed to merge Radio Nepal and Nepal Television

Online Radio Nepal: The House of Representatives has endorsed the Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) Bill-2024 designed to merge Radio Nepal and Nepal Television.


PAKISTAN: Pakistan braces for deadliest year for journalists, setting grim record

VOA: Pakistan has documented the killings of 11 journalists in 2024, reaching a record-breaking annual tally with nearly four months left in the year.


PAKISTAN: SC accepts apology tendered by 34 TV channels

Dawn: The Supreme Court on Thursday disposed of contempt proceedings against 34 television channels by accepting their unqualified apologies after the media outlets committed to broadcasting their regrets on prime time.


SOUTH KOREA: KBS welcomes the public to the newly renovated KBS Visitors Hall (Press release)

KBS: KBS remains firmly committed to its public service mission to better serve its audience, despite the financial challenges associated with the introduction of a separate TV license fee collection system. 


SRI LANKA: Foreign journalists unable to get visas to cover Sri Lankan election

Tamil Guardian: International journalists attempting to travel to Sri Lanka and cover the upcoming presidential elections have faced visa delays or even outright refusals in recent weeks, as tension continues to build on the island ahead of the polls.


SRI LANKA: What journalists should know about Sri Lanka’s presidential election

IJNet


TAIWAN: AI Wave Sweeps Global Media Office AI International Seminar and Workshop Explores Public Broadcasting Opportunities and Challenges (Press release – Chinese)

PTS: The AI ​​wave is sweeping the world. Taiwan Public Television, which continues digital transformation and innovation, from a media perspective, invited film and television workers from Europe, the United States, Japan and other countries for two consecutive days (9/5~6) to hold an international seminar and practice on AI. 


THAILAND: Thai PBS Citizen Station joins in creating a network community aware of cyber threats in Ban Phaeo District, Samut Sakhon Province. (Press release – Thai) 

Thai PBS: Thai PBS’s People’s Station program joins hands with the Cyber ​​Police Technology Crime Suppression Division to go to the area to raise online warning levels, create a network community to be aware of cyber threats for the elderly in Ban Phaeo District, Samut Sakhon Province.

AUSTRALIA: ABC admits video of Australian soldiers firing from helicopter in Afghanistan was ‘incorrectly edited’

The Guardian: News director Justin Stevens confirms in Melbourne Press Club speech broadcaster has removed the clip and is ‘looking into how this happened’.


AUSTRALIA: Elon Musk dubs Australia’s gov’t ‘fascists’ over misinformation law

Al Jazeera: Tech billionaire’s comments prompt rebuke from Australian officials.


AUSTRALIA: Media watchdog will have more power to force tech companies to crack down on disinformation under new bill

ABC: The federal government will introduce a bill on Thursday that would grant Australia’s media watchdog greater powers to pressure tech companies to crack down on misinformation and disinformation on their platforms.


AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND: ABC signs MOU with RNZ (Press release)

ABC: Radio New Zealand (RNZ) and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining a new framework for co-productions, sharing of content domestically and on each other’s international channels. 


NEW ZEALAND: Google piles heat on Government and news media over Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, says it may ‘reassess’ NZ operations (Paywall)

NZ Herald: Media Minister Paul Goldsmith faces a huge test of will as he oversees a new law in the face of strident opposition from one of the world’s biggest tech companies. 


NEW ZEALAND: RNZ awards contract for new internal editorial system to boost efficiency (Press release)

RNZ: New Zealand’s independent public media organisation RNZ is partnering with Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media organisations, to deliver its much-needed internal editorial systems upgrade, freeing up RNZ’s kaimahi to spend more time on what really matters – the story.


NEW ZEALAND: Social media regulation needed to protect NZ’s diverse communities – BSA research finds

RNZ: Social media is the most cited platform for seeing offensive material, according to New Zealand’s Pacific Peoples, Māori, Asian and Muslim communities.


SAMOA: A slap across the face of media freedom (Editorial)

Samoa Observer: The government’s attempt to control the media for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is a slap across the face of press freedom, democracy and freedom of speech. It is a farce and an attempt by a dysfunctional government unit to gag local and overseas media.


SAMOA: Samoan journalists decry ‘ridiculous’ media restrictions at Commonwealth summit

Benar News: Restrictions on journalists covering an upcoming summit of Commonwealth nations in Samoa are “ridiculous” and at odds with a government that purportedly values democracy, the Pacific island country’s media association said Thursday.

AUSTRIA: Austria helps Austria Flood relief: ORF initiative starts relief campaign immediately (Press release – German) 

ORF: In response to the dramatic flood situation, particularly in eastern Austria, the effects of which cannot yet be estimated, the ORF initiative “Austria helps Austria – flood aid” is now being launched.


AUSTRIA: Floods: 4.3 million people have so far been informed on ORF TV (Press release – German) 

ORF: Yesterday twelve hours of live information on TV, comprehensive coverage also on radio and online, AUSTRIA HELPS AUSTRIA in full swing


AUSTRIA: ÖVP Foundation Council: Continue with ORF contribution, with ORF boss Weißmann until 2031 (German) 

Der Standard: Ending the household tax, reducing the size of the foundation board or replacing the ORF leadership after the election would be difficult to explain for parliamentary group spokesman Thomas Zach


AUSTRIA; Ziegler case in the ORF Foundation Council: General to examine “need for action” (German) 

Der Standard: The foundation board members Westenthaler and Lederer demanded that ORF General Weißmann provide information about the consequences. Information from a report documented “the abuse of power by the ÖVP in the ORF” 


BELGIUM: No grievances are held against Les Grenades for an investigation deemed serious by the CDJ (French) 

RTBF: The Council of Journalistic Ethics noted on September 4, 2024 that an article from Les Grenades which dealt with testimonies from patients and caregivers denouncing the behavior of a doctor who allegedly used the therapeutic link for relational and sexual purposes was in compliance with ethics.


BELGIUM: VRT leads the way in broadcast innovation with NetOn.Live (Press release) 

VRT International: NetOn.Live’s LiveOS is making a significant impact on the live broadcasting industry by simplifying and enhancing production workflows.


FINLAND: Yle will launch news in Arabic and Somali in autumn 2024 (Press release) 

Yle: Yle Uutiset news service will improve its service for minority languages by launching news in Arabic and Somali on 23 September. The news serving these language groups is an experiment that will last around a year.


FRANCE: Crash-test for press freedom as threats of media capture rise

IPI: Imagine a country where the government has abolished the public media licence fee in 2022 and replaced it with a financing based on a percentage of the revenue from  value added tax, with no legal guarantees to maintain the funding in the future.


FRANCE: Inspiring and criticized general information conference, far from the initial promises (French – Listen) 

RFI: Meeting at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron, the States General of Information have just delivered their conclusions, Thursday, September 12, 2024, after eleven months of work. 


FRANCE: Unique small French media outlets from the Balkans and Central Europe struggle to survive 

The Fix: Two unique small French media outlets, funded by their readers, try to survive in countries where press freedom is not always respected


FRANCE & RUSSIA: How does RFI talk about Russia and Vladimir Putin: the war of narratives? (French – Listen) 

RFI: Many listeners criticize our coverage of current events related to Russia and Vladimir Putin, through a question that could be summed up as: is RFI anti-Russia or anti-Putin?


GERMANY: ARD and ZDF modernize media usage research (Press release – German) 

ARD: New ARD/ZDF media study: Linear media usage continues to decline, non-linear media usage stagnates


GERMANY: DW Akademie and the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours launch new French language Master’s program in international journalism 

DW Akademie: Wednesday, September 11, 2024, marked the official opening of the “Master francophone en journalisme international” (MFJI) degree program, with a ceremony held at the French Embassy in Berlin.


GERMANY: From 2025, ZDF will combine portfolio management, planning and distribution in one directorate (Press release – German) 

ZDF: ZDF Director General Himmler: “Biggest reform process in 25 years”


GERMANY: The ARD classical and cultural channels present joint evening programs (Press release – German) 

ARD: On September 23, the ARD cultural channels will be moving closer together. In the future, they will share the best from the editorial offices and studios of the public broadcasting network.


GERMANY: ‘This is a big chance for all of us’: Germany’s freedom hotel where exiled journalists take refuge 

The Guardian: As attacks on the press rise, the House of Critical Voices offers sanctuary for media workers exposing abuses


GIBRALTAR: GBC launches new and “stronger” TV and Radio schedules 

GBC: GBC Television and Radio Gibraltar have announced exciting changes as part of an improved autumn/winter schedule of programmes which start from today.


IRELAND: RTÉ publishes 2023 Annual Report (Press release) 

RTÉ: RTÉ RETURNS NET DEFICIT OF €9.1 MILLION IN 2023 – A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR THE ORGANISATION. A DECLINE IN TV LICENCE REVENUES, ALONG WITH AN INCREASE IN OPERATING COSTS AND THE BROADCAST OF SPECIAL EVENTS CONTRIBUTED TO DEFICIT FOR 2023. 


LITHUANIA: The LRT sustainability policy has been approved: a responsible approach – both in the organization and on the air (Press release) 

LRT: A responsible approach to the environment and social responsibility are the principles that LRT follows in order to create an efficient and innovative organization.


MOLDOVA: ‘We’re Taking on Russian Propaganda’: Why a Romanian Media Outlet Came to Moldova

Balkan Insight: Veridica’s publisher, Marian Voicu, tells BIRN that as Russian disinformation efforts in Moldova intensify, the country needs media that are experienced in tackling the avalanche of fake news.


THE NETHERLANDS: 5G Broadcast On Air in Amsterdam during IBC2024 

NPO: NPO & Broadcast Partners are giving a 24/7 live 5G Broadcast demonstration during the International Broadcast Convention (IBC), the world’s leading media and technology trade show for broadcasting in Amsterdam.


NORTH MACEDONIA: Mobile newsrooms help drive citizen journalism in North Macedonia and beyond

Nieman Lab: “With each region we visited, the audience from that region grew, and they have continued to follow us to this day.”


POLAND: Together for You – Polish Television launches aid for flood victims (Press release – Polish) 

TVP: The Together for You campaign is a series of activities of Telewizja Polska aimed at helping flood victims in southwestern Poland.


RUSSIA: Amid Russia’s deepening authoritarianism, journalists set the foundation for a democratic future

IJNet: As Russia’s war on Ukraine rages on, the regime of President Vladimir Putin continues to crack down on political and civil society opposition, ban independent media, and infuse society with nationalistic and militaristic propaganda. 


RUSSIA: Radio Liberty vox pop contributor given 5 years in prison for comments on war 

Novaya Gazeta: A court in Moscow has resentenced a Russian man who gave a street interview to Radio Liberty to five years in prison for spreading “false information” about the Russian army, after prosecutors challenged his initial sentence, independent news outlet Mediazona reported on Tuesday.


RUSSIA & US: Meta bans RT, other Russian state media networks 

DW: The owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp said it’s banning a list of Russian state outlets due to “foreign interference activity.” The US previously warned of Russia’s use of RT to gain influence in the West.


SERBIA: MFRR: alarmingly poor state of media freedom in Serbia

Slavko Ćuruvija: “The state of media freedom in Serbia is alarming, with verbal abuse accounting for the majority, or 63.2% of recorded incidents,” states the report for the first six months of the year, in which the MFRR recorded 38 alerts involving 51 individuals or media outlets.


SLOVAKIA: European Commission sends warning letter over public television reform

EFJ: The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes the warning letter sent this week by European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova to the Slovak authorities over the reform and political capture of the Slovak public broadcaster RTVS.


SLOVENIA: RSF suspends participation in Slovakia’s press freedom advisory body

RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has stopped partaking in sessions with Slovakia’s state-run Platform for the Promotion of Press Freedom and the Protection of Journalists in response to a change in its composition.


SWEDEN: “A clear illustration of the role that investigative journalism can play” (Press release – Swedish) 

SVT: The Svea Court of Appeal has sentenced Swedbank’s former CEO Birgitte Bonnesen to prison for serious fraud. Without qualified journalism, the truth would never have come out, writes Axel Björklund, responsible publisher of Uppdrag gränskning.


SWEDEN: Proposals leading to gradual dismantling (Press release – Swedish) 

SR: If the public service inquiry’s proposal is carried out, it will mean a gradual dismantling of Sweden’s Radio.


SWEDEN: SVT’s consultation response submitted – the mission 2026 – 2033 is underfunded (Press release – Swedish) 

SVT: Today, SVT submits its report on the public service investigation.The investigation was carried out by a parliamentary committee which in May presented its report with proposals for the period 2026 – 2033.


SWITZERLAND: Bakel Walden leaves SRG (Press release – German) 

SRG SSR: Bakel Walden, Director of Development and Offer, has decided to leave the company. He will step down as head of his department on November 1, 2024. He will complete his external mandates on behalf of SRG by the middle of next year.


UK: New ten-year public service broadcast licences for Channel 3 and Channel 5 (Press release) 

Ofcom: Ofcom has today published the renewed broadcast licences for Channel 3 and Channel 5, securing public service broadcasting on these channels for a further ten years.


UK: Why you’ll get the best of the BBC, first, on BBC Sounds (Press release) 

BBC: Later this month, we will start to make more on-demand BBC podcasts and radio programmes available to listen to first on BBC Sounds – usually for a week (seven days) or a month (28 days).


REGIONAL: EBU welcomes European Commission’s signing of the AI Convention (Press release) 

EBU: Last week, the European Commission signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence (AI) – the first legally binding international treaty on AI.


REGIONAL: New book marks a decade of research on media pluralism in Europe (Book) 

CMPF: After ten years of in-depth research conducted under the Media Pluralism Monitor (MPM) project, the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom has published Media Pluralism in the Digital Era: Legal, Economic, Social, and Political Lessons Learnt from Europe, a book that gathers key findings and presents the results of its extensive efforts over the years.


REGIONAL: Stand Up For Journalism: EFJ workshop on collective bargaining (Event) 

EFJ: With the adoption of the European minimum wage directive in 2022, all European countries are obliged to promote collective bargaining. On 23-24 September, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) will organise a workshop on collective bargaining in Istanbul as part of its Stand Up for Journalism (SUJ) project.

ARGENTINA: Cyberbullying of journalists: In Argentina, most cases were initiated by Milei (Spanish)

Canal Abierto: A report by Periodistas Argentinas presented today denounces the escalation of “trolling”, which in our country has a peculiarity: the attacks come from the government. The virulence is such that one journalist has been exiled and another has required custody. What to do?


ARGENTINA: Tension in public media: a K official barricaded himself and refuses to resign (Spanish)

Clarín: The government is paying millions in compensation to officials who refuse to resign from public media outlets. It did so with four assistant managers, who received between $15.1 million and $81.5 million in voluntary retirement and early retirement plans, as reported last week by Clarín.


BRAZIL: Government launches notice to support community radios with R$2 million (Portuguese) 

Agência Brasil: An unprecedented initiative within the scope of public policies aimed at community communication. The Cultura Viva notice of sponsorship in the form of cultural support for community radio stations.


BRAZIL: X has been blocked in Brazil. Does it matter for journalism?

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Journalists from Brazilian digital news outlets Agência Pública, Poder360, and Núcleo discuss the implications of the block for news outlets in the country


CHILE: TVN continues to decline: losses reach 11 billion with an increase of 355% (Spanish)

El Ciudadano: Chilean National Television reports losses of $10,882 million in the first half of 2024, five times that of the previous year, according to a report submitted to the Financial Market Commission, which reflects a severe financial crisis at the state-owned station.


COLOMBIA: In rural and small-town Colombia, community journalists face violence, stigmas and job insecurity

LatAm Journalism Review: Three journalists from Proclama Cauca y Valle, a small news outlet from the small city of Santander de Quilichao in southwestern Colombia, had their lives threatened in July. 


COLOMBIA: President Petro signs directive to guide interaction between public officials and journalists (Spanish) 

FLIP: President Gustavo Petro today signed a directive that seeks to promote good practices and ethical conduct that align with social and democratic responsibilities related to guaranteeing freedom of expression and the press.


CUBA: The crackdown on Cuba’s independent press

CJR: In 2021, Cuban journalist and opposition activist Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca was arrested on charges of disseminating enemy propaganda and sentenced to five years in prison.


MEXICO: Who is Alonso Millán Zepeda, the new director of Channel 22? (Spanish)

Milenio: In recent weeks, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum announced the names of some directors and officials who will be in charge of the departments. 


PERU: Peruvian Press Council presents draft bill to make IRTP independent from the powers of the State (Spanish)

Infobae: One of the central proposals of the document is the formation of the National Commission of Cinema, Radio, Television and Digital Media (Conacrat). In addition, it is intended that the selection of the members of the Board of Directors and the president of the ICRTP be carried out through a meritocratic process.


URUGUAY: From TV to campaigning: journalists who left the profession and went into politics (Spanish)

El Observador: Four television personalities have announced in recent months their incorporation into political activity after resigning from their role in the media.


VENEZUELA: Violence against journalists in Venezuela reaches levels never seen before (Spanish)

IJNet: “I think that the journalism I am doing, telematically, remotely, without direct human contact, is not so different from what I would be doing there (in Venezuela) with the difference that I would be much more nervous than I already am, and I would be having worse nightmares than I already have at night.”


REGIONAL: Latin American journalists in exile share sustainability strategies in video podcast

LatAm Journalism Review: For Cuban journalist José Nieves, founder of El Toque, finding a way to make his digital media outlet sustainable keeps him up at night. Not only must he face the challenges familiar to any journalistic endeavor, but he must do so from exile.

GAZA: Open letter: Call for media access to Gaza

DW: Nearly a year into the war in Gaza, journalists remain barred from the conflict zone. In an open letter, national German media urge the governments of Israel and Egypt to allow access for independent reporting.


IRAN: Iran Orders Media Blackout on Mahsa Amini Anniversary

IranWire: The Islamic Republic’s security agencies have ordered domestic media outlets to completely censor any coverage of the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death in custody.


IRAN: RSF profiles cases of repression against women journalists since the death of Mahsa Amini

RSF: On the second anniversary of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protest movement, spurred by the death of Mahsa Amini, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has compiled a list, which will be updated in real-time, of repressive acts against Iran’s women journalists.


IRAQ: Iraqis unveil monument to the “Guardians of Truth,” including 2 CBS News journalists killed in Baghdad

CBS: Officials, family members and journalists gathered Saturday in Freedom Park, in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah, for the unveiling of a new monument to the “Guardians of Truth.” The monument commemorates the lives of journalists killed covering the more than two decades of warfare that have plagued Iraq since 2003.


ISRAEL: Israeli authorities revoke Al Jazeera journalists’ press passes

IPI: The IPI global network condemns the Israeli government’s decision to revoke Al Jazeera journalists’ press passes. 


SAUDI ARABIA: Neom Executive Faces Allegations of Racism and Disregard for Worker Safety: Report

Variety: A Wall Street Journal report has leveled accusations of racism and misogyny at Wayne Borg, head of the media hub at Neom, Saudi Arabia’s futuristic megacity in-the-making.


UAE: UAE Media Council issues 230 licenses for social media ads in H1 2024

Campaign: The UAE Media Council granted more than 1,570 printing permits for local Arabic and foreign language publications in the first half of 2024, representing a 16 per cent growth compared to last year.

CANADA: Statement by TVO’s Board of Directors regarding Russians at War (Statement) 

TVO: TVO’s Board of Directors has decided to respect the feedback we have received, and TVO will no longer be supporting or airing Russians at War.  


CANADA: This journalist wants Canadian media to cover marginalized communities with sensitivity (Watch) 

CBC: Christopher Cheung, who works for The Tyee, wrote a book called Under the White Gaze, which he hopes will encourage Canadian media to cover racialized and marginalized communities with more nuance and not limit their coverage to events or festivals.


US: “Amazing care”: How KUNM stepped up to help their community in the wake of a disaster

America Amplified: Natural disasters are chaotic for communities and the newsrooms who serve them…


US: Arizona PBS receives $10M gift, largest in its history

Current: The donation will fund technology improvements and additional programs.


US: CPB Selects PBS SoCal to Lead Public Media’s Civic Content and Engagement Initiative (Press release) 

CPB: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today that PBS SoCal (Southern California) has been selected as the lead station for a national public media civic content and engagement initiative.


US: Film revisiting ‘Bowling Alone’ revives calls for public media to focus on civic engagement 

Current: A Paragon webinar on “Join or Die” encouraged stations to become “better caretakers of their communities.”


US: GBH’s New Special DEADLOCK Encourages Civil Discourse about Ethical Dilemmas (Press release) 

PBS:  DEADLOCK: an election story, a dynamic new one-hour special from GBH, airing and streaming nationwide on PBS, aims to facilitate civil dialogue in an era dominated by polarizing debates. 


US: New York Public Radio cuts 26 positions, ends ‘Notes From America’

Current: The layoffs amount to a workforce reduction of 8.5% at the station, which faces a significant budget deficit.


US: Otherwise Lost

CJR: In Austin, a movement journalist named Kit O’Connell covers the trans community—and many others—as major outlets don’t.


US: Why public media’s past might be its future

Current: To succeed in the world of on-demand media choices, public media organizations need to return their focus to creating original local content.


US & RUSSIA: US slams RT as ‘de facto’ arm of Russian intelligence

VOA: The United States and some of its allies have launched a global campaign to undercut efforts by RT and other Russian state-backed media outlets, accusing them of operating on behalf of the Kremlin’s intelligence agencies.

Atex AI Challenge: accelerating AI innovation in journalism

The Fix: A look at the initiative helping kickstart AI projects in the news industry


‘Consent or pay’: Why UK news websites are getting tough with readers over data

Press Gazette: The Times has set the highest price for avoiding personalised advertising – but will people actually pay?


Five reasons people leave — or stay in —local journalism

Journalism Forum: The past two decades have only compounded that pressure as deteriorating economic conditions have led to hosts of layoffs and consolidating of job duties with stagnant pay.


Five tips for building a culture of care in your newsroom: strategies for newsroom leaders

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Research shows that positive workplace cultures boost productivity, reduce employee turnover, and lead to healthier and happier teams. But these environments rarely develop by accident – and even less in high-stress, fast-paced industries like the news media. 


‘I’m not sure what to trust’: a student navigates the news in the age of social media

The Guardian: With more people getting their news online than on TV, Ben Herd, 20, records his experience of following current affairs


Instagram gives parents more control over teen accounts

BBC News: Instagram is overhauling the way it works for teenagers, promising more “built-in protections” for young people and added controls and reassurance for parents.


Poynter: When it comes to using AI in journalism, put audience and ethics first (Report) 

Poynter: The Poynter Institute brought together more than 40 newsroom leaders, technologists, editors and journalists during its Summit on AI, Ethics & Journalism to tackle both topics.


Reinventing journalism: New ideas for a people-centric sustainable future (Keynote) 

IJNet


Reporters face unique mental health risks in cross-border investigations. A new piece looks at how to address them

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: “Most still rely on individual coping strategies, leaving many systemic challenges to be faced alone,” says writer and researcher Belle de Jong


RSF and Society join forces for a special issue designed for and with eight journalists imprisoned around the world (French) 

RSF: The NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the bimonthly Society are teaming up for a special issue entirely designed for and with eight journalists in prison.


‘This is a big chance for all of us’: Germany’s freedom hotel where exiled journalists take refuge

The Guardian: As attacks on the press rise, the House of Critical Voices offers sanctuary for media workers exposing abuses.


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: grayscale photography of tower – Credits: hobi-industri, Unsplash.Com