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!
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Our PSM Research and Resources page brings together all the latest academic studies looking into the world of public media.
What we're watching...
The future of CBC with a new president (Watch)
CBC: The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has a new president and CEO. Marie-Philippe Bouchard took on the role as of the beginning of January. She is in Edmonton today.
What we're listening to...
Antoinette Lattouf v the ABC – Full Story podcast
The Guardian: Journalist Antoinette Lattouf’s unlawful termination claim against the ABC has been heard in the federal court over the past two weeks. The lawsuit has brought former chair Ita Buttrose and the outgoing managing director, David Anderson, into public view – to give testimony about what happened in the lead-up to Lattouf being pulled off air after she posted on social media about the Israel-Gaza war.
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Global Headlines
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UNESCO: The DigiKen Programme is a transformative 36-month initiative led by the consortium of UN agencies (UNESCO, UN Women, UNEP, UNCDF), and the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy of Kenya, to shaping a thriving digital platforms ecosystem in Kenya.
GUINEA: SPPG paints an alarming picture in 2024 Freedom of Expression in Guinea report
MFWA: The report highlights four major issues. These are physical attacks, threats and attempted kidnappings, and law suits.
NAMIBIA: Namibia Media Trust says struggle for media freedom reflects Nujoma’s complex legacy
The Namibian: The Namibia Media Trust (NMT) says the ongoing fight for media freedom is a continuation of the democratic vision founding president Sam Nujoma helped establish.
NIGERIA: 20 Veteran Media Professionals Launch Miia
Leadership: The Media Integrity Initiative Africa (MIIA) has been officially launched. It brings together 20 veteran media professionals dedicated to upholding ethical reporting and excellence in African journalism.
NIGERIA: FRCN DG urges veteran broadcasters to document legacy
FRCN: The Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr. Mohammed Bulama, has urged veteran broadcasters to document their experiences in books to guide and inspire young professionals in the industry.
NIGERIA: More than half of Kano residents rely on radio for information (Study)
The Premium Times: The study found that online radio platforms are underutilised, partly due to weak signals in rural areas such as Jita Dutse in the Tudun Wada Local Government Area.
SOUTH AFRICA: Bill to reform SABC’s funding model urgent, says Parly’s communications committee
EWN: Last week, a meeting to consider the public submissions on the bill was postponed to allow Communications Minister Solly Malatsi to consult with the deputy president and the National Assembly speaker over his instruction to withdraw the bill.
SOUTH AFRICA: High-level meeting to thrash out SABC Bill controversy
Tech Central: Parliament’s deliberations over the SABC Bill have been halted to allow for high-level political discussions.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC ANNOUNCES APPOINTEMENT OF MR. LUNGILE BINZA AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (Press release)
SABC: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Lungile Binza as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective 01 March 2025.
SOUTH SUDAN & JAPAN: Japan launch $2.5M media development project
Radio Tamzuj: The South Sudan Ministry of Information, Communication, Telecommunication Postal Services, in collaboration with Japan and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on Tuesday launched a USD 2.5 million mass media development project aimed at improving access to information during and after the 2026 elections.
Dabanga Sudan: The media has witnessed significant developments since the advent of the printing press, but the emergence of radio in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was a qualitative shift in the world of media.
TANZANIA: UNESCO Strengthens Efforts to Tackle Gender-Based Violence in Media and Technology in Tanzania
UNESCO: UNESCO, the government, and civil society stakeholders have developed and integrated a new thematic pillar on Safer Media and Digital Spaces into the National Plan of Action (2025-2029)
ZAMBIA: CPJ urges Zambian government to withdraw cyber bills from parliament
CPJ: CPJ raised concerns that the two bills would pose a significant threat to journalism in Zambia if enacted into law in current form, including numerous provisions that could undermine freedom of expression.
REGIONAL & CHINA: China flexes its media muscle in Africa – encouraging positive headlines as part of a soft power agenda
The Conversation: Partnering with local outlets and journalist-training initiatives, China has expanded China’s media footprint in Africa. Its purpose? To change perceptions and anchor the idea of Beijing as a provider of resources and assistance, and a model for development and governance.
AFGHANISTAN: Taliban ban domestic political and economic broadcasts in Afghanistan
CPJ: The Ministry of Information and Culture issued a verbal directive to media executives in the capital Kabul on February 13, stating that organizations may only address political and economic issues through the group’s spokespersons, two local journalists told CPJ on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal.
AFGHANISTAN: The Afghan Taliban’s War On The Press (Op-Ed)
Eurasia Review: In 2024, the Afghan Taliban took a decisive and troubling step in consolidating their authoritarian control by shutting down 12 independent media outlets.
AZERBAIJAN: IPI condemns spiraling oppression following arrests of two journalists
IPI: The IPI global network today condemned the arrests of journalists Shamshad Agha and Shahnaz Beylargazi as the number of media workers currently in Azerbaijan’s jails tops 20, since authorities embarked on a campaign of repression in November 2023.
BANGLADESH: Govt. to take all out initiative to strengthen Bangladesh Betar: info secy
BSS: Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farjana has said the government will take all out measures to strengthen the Bangladesh Betar as Betar plays significant role in connecting people.
BANGLADESH: Most people want Bangladesh Television, Betar to remain under government control: BBS survey
BD News: Although there have been periodic demands for granting full autonomy to Bangladesh Television, or BTV, and Bangladesh Betar, a survey indicates that most people support keeping these two state-owned media outlets under government control.
CHINA & AFRICA: China flexes its media muscle in Africa – encouraging positive headlines as part of a soft power agenda
The Conversation: Every year, China’s minister of foreign affairs embarks on what has now become a customary odyssey across Africa. The tradition began in the late 1980s and sees Beijing’s top diplomat visit several African nations to reaffirm ties.
CHINA: China punishes Xinhua journalist who called for probe into Li Keqiang’s death
RFA: Gu Wanming is jailed after penning an open letter, his retirement benefits revoked.
RSF: In a worrying move, the Indian tax authorities revoked the non-profit status of two independent media organisations: the journalist association The Reporters’ Collective (TRC) and the news site The File.
INDIA: RSF condemns revocation of non-profit status of two independent media outlets
Media India Group: Indian tax authorities have revoked the non-profit status of two independent media outlets, the Reporters’ Collective and the File, prompting condemnation from RSF, which warns of growing pressure on press freedom in India.
KYRGYZSTAN: Ministry of Culture of Kyrgyzstan suspends broadcasting licenses of 3 TV channels (Paywall)
AKI Press: The Ministry of Culture of Kyrgyzstan in 2024 issued 350 broadcasting permits and suspended the licenses of three TV channels, including Revel TV 4K, TV Extra, and Motorsport, based on the applications from Stream Plus LLC.
MALAYSIA: Fahmi to address media practitioners’ welfare concerns on Wednesday
The Sun: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil will meet with media practitioners on Wednesday to discuss various issues, particularly their welfare, amid changes in Malaysia’s media landscape.
NEPAL: Emphasis on inclusive media content production and broadcasting
Radio Nepal Online: Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) Nepal has emphasized the importance of including public concerns and citizen voices in the content produced and broadcast.
NEPAL: Nepal lawmakers should reject social media bill threatening press freedom
CPJ: The Nepalese government should withdraw a recently introduced social media bill that is expected to undermine press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
PAKISTAN: IFJ president calls for repeal of amended PECA law as journalists protest nationwide
Pakistan Today: President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Dominique Pradalie has called for the repeal of the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) law, following recent amendments introduced by the government of Pakistan, The News reported on Saturday.
SINGAPORE: Wee Wai Lin takes over as head of Mediacorp’s Chinese news and current affairs
Channel News Asia: Mediacorp veteran Wee Wai Lin has been appointed head and chief editor of the company’s Chinese news and current affairs units, 8World reported on Wednesday (Feb 12).
SOUTH KOREA: Court upholds KBS new board appointments amid opposition members’ lawsuit
Chosun Biz: The court did not accept the application filed by the current KBS board members classified as opposition, requesting to suspend the effectiveness of the appointment of the new board members. As a result, the seven new KBS board members were able to begin their terms.
TAIWAN: Taiwan using AI to fight disinformation campaigns, former minister says
The Record: Taiwan’s first-ever minister of digital affairs, Audrey Tang, told an audience at the Munich Cyber Security Conference on Friday that the island nation is using AI to battle disinformation on social media. She said that the technology is helping officials pre-bunk Chinese influence operations targeting the island before they spread online.
THAILAND: 3 Network Parties Believe “Online Threats – Fake News” Are About to Become More Intense, Advise People to Increase Their Knowledge (Thai)
Thai PBS: On the occasion of Safer Internet Day 2025, which falls on the second Tuesday of February, this year it is Tuesday, February 11, 2025, partners from various sectors came together to discuss upgrading the response to disinformation 4.0 to reduce global threats: COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO COMBAT DISINFO 4.0 TO MITIGATE THE GLOBAL RISKS.
VIETNAM: Enhancing digital human resource capability – key to digital transformation at VOV (Interview)
VOV World: “Digital transformation is a gradual process. You can’t just buy a new system, turn it on, and turn off the old system. Voice of Vietnam is taking gradual step in digital transformation carefully and professionally,” said VOV Vice President Dr. Vu Hai Quang.
The Guardian: The seven-day hearing of the high-profile unlawful termination case, Antoinette Lattouf v the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ended this week. Final submissions will be heard at the end of February, and Justice Darryl Rangiah will retire to consider his verdict.
AUSTRALIA: Holocaust survivors share their journeys of hope in new ABC Education resource (Press release)
ABC: ABC Education in partnership with Melbourne Holocaust Museum has launched a new education resource for all Australian students and teachers: Journeys of Hope.
AUSTRALIA: In 2025 Australia’s most trusted news brand celebrates 50 years with bold stories from home and across the globe (Press release)
SBS: Australia’s esteemed discussion forum for taboo topics, Insight, and its stablemate, the award-winning international current affairs series Dateline, will return to SBS and SBS On Demand on Tuesday 4 March from 8:30pm AEDT.
AUSTRALIA: Labor moving too slowly on making big tech pay Australian media for news, Coalition and Greens say
The Guardian: Trump tariff threat fuels concerns the news bargaining incentive announced in December could be delayed.
The Guardian: In strongly worded statement, Kim Williams says allegations in Murdoch-owned tabloids ‘do not stand up to scrutiny’
FIJI: Government upholds media freedom: Prasad
FBC: The coalition government has kept to its promise to ensure there is media freedom and its first step was to repeal the oppressive Media Industry Development Act.
MARSHALL ISLANDS: Trump’s USAID freeze ‘undermines relationships in Pacific’, says editor
Asia Pacific Report: Marshall Islands Journal editor Giff Johnson says US President Donald Trump’s decision on aid “is an opening for anybody else who wants to fill the gap” in the Pacific.
NEW ZEALAND: Google’s AI has been breaching New Zealand court name suppressions
RNZ: Google’s AI has been breaching name suppression orders put in place by New Zealand courts. Both AI overviews, and a website function showing things people have also searched for, have given the names of people granted suppression while going through a court case.
NEW ZEALAND: Government releases proposals to level media playing field
RNZ: The government is seeking public feedback on a series of proposals which it says may help level the playing field for local media against international competitors.
REGIONAL: Pacific media at a crossroads: Can Tonga’s struggles ignite a regional revolution?
PMN: Chronic underfunding and eroding independence threaten the future of Pacific media in a digital age, says Melino Maka.
AUSTRIA: Failure of the coalition secures the ORF general’s job for the time being (German)
Der Standard: The end of the coalition negotiations between the FPÖ and ÖVP on Wednesday secures the job of the head of Austria’s largest media group for the time being: ORF Director General Roland Weißmann is thus likely to remain in his position until the end of 2026.
AUSTRIA: Media policy and ORF: Where ÖVP and SPÖ can reconnect (German)
Der Standard: Where could the ÖVP and SPÖ start media policy-wise if they start coalition negotiations again? The minutes of the government negotiations at the beginning of January provide some clues.
AUSTRIA: ORF publishes AI guidelines (Press release – German)
ORF Public Value: ORF Director General Roland Weißmann established the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) as a corporate focus at an early stage.
BELGIUM: Five insights about the news of tomorrow: the most important innovation trends in news media (Press release)
VRT: Future Media Hubs, the international media network of 52 media organizations founded by the Flemish public broadcaster VRT, has enlisted digital transformation expert Jo Caudron to explore how people will consume news in the future and how journalists will produce it.
BELGIUM: Strike: RTBF trade union organizations join the social movement on February 13 (French)
RTBF: The CGSP and the CSC firmly oppose government disinvestment policies affecting public services, and stress that these measures also threaten the human resources and editorial independence of RTBF.
CROATIA: At least 200 people are leaving HRT, including some very famous faces from the small screen (Croatian)
Šibenski: By February 7, around 200 HRT workers had accepted the amicable termination of their employment contracts, and it is expected that there will be around 250 of them by the end of March, which is around 50 percent of the number of workers to whom HRT offered severance pay, the public broadcaster confirmed.
CROATIA: Tackling political pressure, legal challenges and precarity to revive media freedom (Event)
MFRR: Media freedom in Croatia is under growing pressure due to outdated laws, political influence, SLAPP lawsuits, and worsening working conditions for journalists. The latest Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) report highlights these challenges and outlines key reforms needed to strengthen independent journalism and protect press freedom.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech opposition leader eyes state funding for public media
DW: Czech opposition leader Andrej Babis hopes to return to power this fall. High on his agenda would be his plan to bring public media under state control — taking inspiration from neighboring Slovakia.
CZECH REPUBLIC: The vote on increasing fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio will not take place until March. (Czech)
Seznam Zprávy: The Chamber of Deputies will vote on the increase in radio and television fees on Wednesday, March 5 at noon. It was decided on Friday by votes from deputies of the coalition parties and the former government Pirates.
DENMARK: Rasmus debuts as MGP editor: ‘A privilege to organize Denmark’s largest and most important children’s party’ (Press release – Danish)
DR: MGP is turning 25 and has become a cornerstone of Danish children’s culture. So how do you approach the task of this year’s show as a new editor, and how does MGP remain relevant for new children?
GEORGIA: Jailed Georgian journalist: ‘I will not bow to this regime’
VOA: Amaglobeli is the founder of the websites Batumelebi and Netgazeti, which focus on political news, investigations and corruption. Both Amaglobeli and her media group have come under pressure and threats previously for their work.
GERMANY: ARD and ZDF take legal action against Joyn (German)
Deutschlandradio: ARD and ZDF have initiated legal action against the streaming service Joyn of ProSiebenSat.1. It had integrated the media libraries of both channels into its platform.
GERMANY: Between Russia and Elon Musk, German Voters Face a ‘Dual Front’ of Disinformation
The New York Times: In the first major European vote since President Trump’s re-election, influence campaigns are targeting Germany from two sides.
GERMANY: Check your box – ARD offers for first-time and young voters (Press release – German)
ARD: For everyone who wants to take the first step to the ballot box well prepared, ARD offers comprehensive information: diverse, in-depth and tailored entirely to young people.
GERMANY: ZDF sticks to voluntary film funding (Press release – German)
ZDF: ZDF remains committed to German cinema and has once again committed itself to voluntary contributions to the German Federal Film Board (FFA) and to direct investments in cinema co-productions.
HUNGARY: A Warning from a Hungarian Journalist: ‘Brace Yourself for the Worst’ (Listen)
CJR: András Pethő is a Hungarian journalist and a cofounder of Direkt36, an independent investigative news outlet. Over the past decade, he’s watched as the government of Viktor Orbán—the world leader whom Steve Bannon once praised as “Trump before Trump”—has systematically eroded the freedom of the press in his country, in ways that may feel familiar to Americans watching corporate news leaders succumb to pressure from the administration.
IRELAND: BBC Studios expands partnership with Digitize New Media to represent BBC podcasts in Ireland
Radio Today: BBC Studios has expanded its partnership with digital advertising company Digitize to represent the BBC’s podcasts to the advertising market in Ireland.
NETHERLANDS: Protect public media against big tech, says former media mogul
Dutch News: Theatre producer and former media mogul Joop van den Ende has called on the government to protect Dutch media against the influence of American tech companies.
NORWAY: Six disasters are conjured up in a new NRK series dedicated to our emergency preparedness. (Norwegian)
Aftenposten: A new NRK series dedicated to emergency preparedness shows what can happen in crises such as power and communication outages, forest fires, floods, antibiotic crises and hybrid warfare.
SPAIN: Can solutions journalism in local media be the solution to news fatigue in Spain?
The Fix: While news fatigue has been on the rise in recent years in Spain, initiatives are developing to put in place solutions journalism in Spanish local media to reverse the trend
UK: BBC Teach finds online safety issues growing among primary school children (Press release)
BBC: Ahead of Safer Internet Day 2025 on 11 February, a Censuswide survey commissioned by BBC Teach suggests that online safety, often considered an issue for teenagers, is a growing problem amongst younger children.
UK & SRI LANKA: BBC News Sinhala launches its channel on YouTube (Press release)
BBC: The new channel will host a diverse range of content about issues relevant to Sinhala-speaking audiences
REGIONAL: Dissecting the EMFA with the European Audiovisual Observatory
EFJ: The Council of Europe’s European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) published a report analysing the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) ahead of the entry into force of several articles in February 2025.
REGIONAL: EU’s Disinformation Code moves closer to becoming DSA benchmark
Tech Crunch: Staying on the right side of the European Union’s online rulebook when it comes to the slippery topic of disinformation is set to get easier for platforms that commit to the bloc’s long-standing Code of Practice on Disinformation. You know, the voluntary Code that Elon Musk pulled X (formerly Twitter) out of back in 2023.
REGIONAL: European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom (Opportunity)
EU Funding Portal: Call for proposals by the European Commission for professional organisations and associations, non-profit organisations, editors, international organisations, universities, educational institutions, and research centres to fund a European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom to facilitate exchanges between media professionals from across Europe.
REGIONAL: Monitoring Report 2024: 1,548 media freedom alerts in the past year
MFRR: Between January and December 2024, Mapping Media Freedom documented 1,548 press freedom violations targeting 2,567 media-related persons or entities – an alarming increase compared to the 1,153 violations recorded in 2023.
EFJ: The European Commission has released a draft template for the summary of training data designed to support the implementation by AI model operators of the transparency obligations from the AI Act.
REGIONAL: Public Service Media: A Vital pulse in the Digital Ecosystem (Infographic)
EBU
REGIONAL: The F.R.E.I.H.E.I.T. Project: tackling disinformation in Eastern Europe.
Euractiv: The F.R.E.I.H.E.I.T Project is a bold and ambitious initiative currently tackling the growing threat of disinformation, particularly in Europe’s Eastern Neighbourhood.
BRAZIL: Brazilian transparency advocates publish letter against changes to Access to Information Law
LatAm Journalism Review: Six independent organizations published a letter on Wednesday opposing a bill that would amend Brazil’s Access to Information Law. The government is expected to present its proposals this year.
BRAZIL: Government defines rules for observatory of violence against journalists (Portuguese)
Poder360: Ministry of Justice and Public Security approves internal operating regulations; ordinance was published this Monday.
COLOMBIA: Hollman Morris defends its journalists against accusations from Infobae (Spanish)
Pluralidad Z: The manager of RTVC Public Media System, Hollman Morris , responded to the recent accusations published by the Infobae portal , which mention that the FARC dissidents could be using radio stations in Cauca to transmit their messages.
COLOMBIA: Letter from the general manager of RTVC to organizations and government entities regarding the serious stigmatization of peace broadcasters of Radio Nacional de Colombia (Statement – Spanish)
RTVC: Today, February 12, 2025, we inform you that the repeated campaign of discredit from some political sectors and media outlets against the Peace Stations of RTVC Public Media System continues, which arose from section 6.5 of the Final Agreement for the Termination of the Conflict and the Construction of a Stable and Lasting Peace between the National Government and the FARC – EP.
CUBA: Cuban media in crisis: the impact of the USAID closure ordered by Trump
CiberCuba: Platforms such as Diario de Cuba and Cubanet are calling for the collaboration of their readers in light of the suspension of foreign aid from the United States
CUBA & GUYANA: Cuban Journalist José Luis Tan Estrada Fears for Safety in Guyana, Points Finger at Cuban Regime
Cuba Headlines: José Luis Tan Estrada, a Cuban journalist now living in exile in Guyana, has publicly expressed concerns for his safety, holding the regime in Cuba responsible for any threats against him. Through his social media platforms, Tan has highlighted the precarious situation he faces being stranded in a foreign country due to the actions of the Cuban government.
EL SALVADOR: Four women journalists talk about digital violence in Bukele’s El Salvador
LatAm Journalism Review: “Idiot,” “crazy,” “bitch,” “call girl” and “shameless” — these are just some of the insults that Salvadoran journalist Wendy Monterrosa regularly receives through her social media accounts.
HAITI: The risks of journalism in Haiti: Nation ranks among deadliest places on global list
Miami Herald: The Western Hemisphere ranks among the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
HONDURAS: Honduran military chief files defamation complaints against 12 news outlets
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Honduran Armed Forces to end its intimidation campaign against journalists following defamation complaints against 12 media outlets in connection with reports on alleged government corruption.
MEXICO: Death of Josué Othoniel Alejandre, director and founder of a digital newspaper in southern Veracruz, confirmed (Spanish)
Diario de Xalapa: CEAPP confirmed that Josué Othoniel Alejandre Gaytán had reported alleged threats against him.
NICARAGUA: IACHR orders Nicaragua to release imprisoned journalist Catalino Cárcamo for the second time (Spanish)
Swissinfo: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ordered Nicaragua on Wednesday, for the second time, to release imprisoned journalist Catalino Leo Cárcamo, whose family has been unaware of his whereabouts and health status since November 2024.
PERU: Clara Elvira Ospina reproduces the insults she receives systematically and blames “people who receive money from the State” (Spanish)
Infobae: The EpicentroTV journalist listed a large number of attacks that she is a victim of every day. Politicians spoke out to express their solidarity.
PERU: IRTP will promote the multi-sector strategy “Peru without Racism” by 2030 through its communication platforms (Press release – Spanish)
IRTP: With the aim of strengthening the appreciation of ethnic-cultural diversity and combating racism in the country, the Government approved the multi-sector strategy “Peru without Racism” by 2030 through Supreme Decree No. 002-2025-MC.
IRAN: Iran extends amnesty to journalists who covered Amini’s death
The Jordan Times: Iranian authorities on Tuesday granted pardons to two journalists jailed after covering the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, which sparked nationwide protests, official media said.
IRAQ: Dozens of Iraqi Kurdistan journalists teargassed, arrested, raided over protest
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by Kurdistan security forces’ assault on 12 news crews covering a February 9 protest by teachers and other public employees over unpaid salaries, which resulted in at least 22 journalists teargassed, two arrested, and a television station raided.
PALESTINE: “We urgently need support to help rebuild the media sector in Gaza”
IFJ: “The news of the ceasefire was received with great relief among the journalistic community,” said Tahseen Al-Atsall, vice president of the IFJ-affiliated Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS), based in Gaza.
SYRIA: IFJ calls on authorities to reverse dissolution of journalists’ union
IFJ: Syria’s Prime Minister Mohammad al-Bashir ordered the dissolution of the General Assembly of the Syrian Journalists’ Union (SJU) and the appointment of a temporary office from outside the SJU’s union representatives on 6 February.
TURKEY: RTÜK’s license requirement for Cumhuriyet TV: It is an attempt to control opposition media (Turkish)
Evrensel: RTÜK has decided to impose a license requirement on Cumhuriyet newspaper’s YouTube channel, Cumhuriyet TV. The first YouTube channel that RTÜK requested a license for was Cumhuriyet TV. Press professional organizations reacted.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Yalla TV’s strategic evolution in the UAE’s thriving media industry
Zawya: Yalla TV plans to revolutionize content creation with AI and automation
CANADA: Condé Nast, McClatchy and Other Publishers Accuse AI Firm Cohere of Copyright Violations
The Wall Street Journal: The Atlantic, Politico, Vox and other major publishers are suing AI startup Cohere for copyright and trademark infringement, escalating the news industry’s legal battle over the technology.
CANADA: Dany Meloul elected president of Médias Francophones Publics (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: Dany Meloul, Executive Vice-President of Radio-Canada, was elected President of Médias Francophones Publics (MFP) on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at the association’s annual meeting. She succeeds Jean-Paul Philippot, CEO of Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française (RTBF), who had led MFP since 2021.
CANADA: Foreign interference report is just the start of a conversation about Canadian democracy
CBC: Beyond Hogue’s reassurance that there were no “traitors” in Parliament, her most pointed comments concerned a problem that was somewhat overshadowed by more sensational claims about foreign interference — the spread of disinformation and misinformation.
CANADA: Tariffs on the arts: The impact of Canada-US trade tensions on media and entertainment
Dentons: While we can be confident that virtually no cultural works are subject to the first wave of the Canadian tariff regime, there remains uncertainty about whether they will be included in the second wave of Canadian tariffs and whether existing exceptions for “information” will apply to exempt cultural works from the US tariff regime.
CANADA: The damage done when the journalists get the story wrong (Opinion)
Al Jazeera: Canadian media’s baseless China hysteria not only tarnished reputations, but also diverted attention from real threats lurking on the horizon.
CANADA: ‘Without journalism, it’s dark’: Pouring their hearts into ethnic media, coping with rapid change
CBC: Small upstarts and legacy outlets try to fill a gap, often on a shoestring budget
US: A.P. Accuses White House of Violating First Amendment
The New York Times: The Associated Press said the White House had blocked its journalists from attending press events because the news agency had not started using the term Gulf of America.
US: Arkansas committee advances bill to abolish state library and PBS oversight boards
Current: An Arkansas Senate committee on Thursday advanced a proposal to abolish the state boards that oversee public libraries and educational public television programs.
US: F.C.C. Chair Orders Investigation Into Comcast’s D.E.I. Practices
The New York Times: The investigation follows inquiries by the agency into NPR, PBS and CBS News.
US: Fighting the Great Federal Website Purge
CJR: Journalists, judges, and archivists are keeping government data online.
US: How Elon Musk and the Right Are Trying to Recast Reporting as ‘Doxxing’
The New York Times: Right-wing influencers are criticizing journalists who have published public information about government employees.
US: Montana Public Radio hires rural policy reporter
NBC Montana: Montana Public Radio is expanding their coverage by hiring a rural policy reporter.
US: Preparing for the Onslaught
CJR: The Federal Communications Commission, which allocates broadcast frequencies and licenses radio and televisions stations across the nation, is not generally known as an enforcement body. But Trump-appointed FCC chairman Brendan Carr wants to change that.
US: Senators send letter to FCC chair over ‘weaponization’ of commission
Current: Three senators sent a letter to FCC Chair Brendan Carr and Commissioner Nathan Simington Wednesday about the “weaponization” of the commission, including Carr’s direction that the commission’s Enforcement Bureau open an investigation into NPR and PBS member stations.
US: Trump continues federal purge, gutting cyber workers who combat disinformation
Politico: The Trump administration has moved to push out a swathe of federal workers previously involved in combating election-related disinformation, according to three people familiar with the matter, amid allegations from congressional Republicans that their work unfairly targeted conservative speech online.
US: Trump wants news outlets to get on board with “Gulf of America” — or else. Will they?
Nieman Lab: The White House’s move to block AP’s reporters over its house style has turned a debate about language into one about power.
US: With public broadcasters pressured by the Trump administration, PBS shuts down its diversity office
AP: PBS says it is shutting down its office of diversity, equity and inclusion to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order, firing the two executives brought on when the effort was begun in 2021.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: As we celebrate World Radio Day 2025, we talked with eight audio reporters – from Czechia to Tanzania – on how they cover climate change
AI-agent-based system for fact-checking support using large language models (Research)
CEUR Workshop Proceedings: In today’s world, the problem of disinformation is becoming increasingly relevant due to the speed of information dissemination and the influence of social media. This article examines the impact of fake news on society and its political, economic and social consequences. Special attention is paid to the use of large language models (LLMs) to automate the fact-checking process.
AI: salvation or danger for traditional media? (Listen – French)
Radio France: Artificial intelligence is transforming journalism. Agreements between media and AI, various experiments: the profession is wondering. Assistance tool or threat to information? AI is redefining practices and poses major ethical challenges to be resolved.
Foreign aid freeze decimates investigative news outlets internationally
ICIJ: Many affected are the only investigative journalism organizations in poor countries or fragile democracies.
Generative Ai Is Already Being Used in Journalism – Here’s How People Feel About It
The Conversation: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has taken off at lightning speed in the past couple of years, creating disruption in many industries. Newsrooms are no exception.
Groundbreaking BBC research shows issues with over half the answers from Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistants (Press release)
BBC: New BBC research published today provides a warning around the use of AI assistants to answer questions about news, with factual errors and the misrepresentation of source material affecting AI assistants.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: “The verdict is still out. Audiences seem fine with some uses of AI, if done transparently; they might grow to accept this use”, argues Felix Simon
Journalists have a ‘messaging problem’ when it comes to defending fact-based media
Poynter: At a time when trust in the media is low, journalists must be more transparent about their work, experts say
Musk Takes Aim at RFE/RL, to Japarov’s Delight
The Diplomat: The powers-that-be in Washington, elected and unelected alike, are parroting the same language used by Central Asian and Russian autocrats about RFE/RL.
Who’s Watching What on TV? Who’s to Say?
The New York Times: People now watch so many programs at so many different times in so many different ways that measuring viewership has become a hot debate in the industry.
RTBF: Google has facilitated censorship by removing content at the request of autocratic regimes such as Russia and China, the British Sunday newspaper The Observer reports. This included, for example, YouTube videos of anti-government protests or content criticizing politicians and accusing them of corruption.
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Header image:An outdoor press conference with multiple cameras and journalists. Credit: Michael Fousert / Unsplash.com
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