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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What we're watching...
Stanley Benjamin Similo, President of SABA – OTT Streaming Platforms And Content Management Summit
BMA: Where is SABA TV Today: “The SABA TV Project and Regional OTT Platform – Status And Possibilities” – By Stanley .B. Similo, President of SABA. Mr Similo was speaking at the 4th OTT Streaming Platforms And Content Management Summit, which took place from 27 to 28 February 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.
What we're listening to...
Azerbaijan’s media crackdown continues
OC Media: In early March, Azerbaijani police raided the offices of Toplum TV and arrested several of their journalists on charges of smuggling. The targeting of the independent outlet was the latest in Azerbaijan’s ongoing crackdown on media in the country.
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ALGERIA: Algeria Scolds TV Stations for Ramadan Advertising, Immoral Programming
VOA: Officials in Algeria are chiding television stations over the content choices they’ve made since the start of Ramadan last week, injecting religion into broader discussions about how the country regulates content and advertising in media.
CAMEROON: Trial begins into the murder of journalist Martinez Zogo (French)
RFI: The long-awaited trial into the murder of journalist Martinez Zogo, former director of an urban radio station in Yaoundé, who was found dead at the end of January 2023.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Freed DRC journalist says he was imprisoned as warning to others
RFI: Prominent Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera, released from prison this week after spending six months behind bars, has accused the government of fabricating the charges against him as part of a campaign to intimidate reporters looking into the death of an opposition politician.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Prominent DR Congo journalist Stanis Bujakera freed from jail after six months
France24: A prominent DR Congo journalist was released from prison late Tuesday after spending six months behind bars, a colleague announced.
GHANA: GBC loses case against GHAMRO
Ghana Web
LIBERIA: LINA’s former director ordered to return government asset
The New Dawn: Liberia’s Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah has ordered former Liberia News Agency (LINA) Director General Kwame Oldpa Weeks to return LINA’s social media access to the Ministry or face legal action.
NIGERIA: Armed men take Nigerian journalist Segun Olatunji from Lagos home
CPJ: A First News report following Olatunji’s arrest speculated that the journalist may have been taken in response to a February 29 report by the privately owned online news site that accused an official working with the Nigeria Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), which serves under Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence, of failing to fairly allocate public contracts.
NIGERIA: In Nigeria, Student Journalists Act as Public Watchdog (Watch)
VOA: Student journalists are leading efforts to hold public officials accountable in Nigeria. A media nonprofit is training students to investigate public construction projects and other targets of corruption and report to the community.
SENEGAL: NEW R+10 HEADQUARTERS OF THE RTS | A HISTORICAL MILESTONE IN SENEGALESE AUDIOVISUAL
RTS: Today, a new page in the history of Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) is being written as the President of the Republic, His Excellency Macky Sall, will officially inaugurate the new headquarters of the institution.
SENEGAL: Senegalese President grants tax amnesty to the media in bridge-building efforts
MFWA: The MFWA warmly welcomes President Macky Sall’s decision on March 18, 2024, to absolve Senegal’s media outlets of their tax debts, estimated at over 40 billion CFA francs.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC staff threaten strike
Advanced Television: South Africa’s SABC public broadcaster has its staff deadlocked in what are long running pay negotiations. The powerful Communication Workers Union (CWU) is now threatening a full blown strike.
SOUTH AFRICA: South African Media Outlet Files Complaint Over Op-Ed
VOA: One of South Africa’s leading news websites has filed a complaint with the country’s Press Council, alleging that another media company is trying to discredit reporters who investigated the owner’s business practices.
SOUTH AFRICA & UK: BBC Studios and SABC announce the launch of BBC Primetime
Bizcommunity: BBC Studios and South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) have announced the May launch of BBC Primetime, a brand-new content block for S3, featuring a hand-picked selection of award-winning dramas, factual entertainment and documentaries from BBC Studios’ award-winning catalogue.
SOUTH SUDAN: South Sudan Probe Says US Journalist Died in ‘Crossfire’
VOA: South Sudan has said that its investigation into the 2017 death of journalist Christopher Allen supported earlier government claims that he was “unintentionally killed as a result of crossfire” while covering the country’s bloody civil war.
SUDAN: ‘Back to the Dark Ages’ – Editor Ataf Mohamed On Sudan’s Wartime Communications Blackout
CPJ: For the last six weeks, Sudan has been almost totally cut off from the world. Since early February, there has been an internet and telecommunications blackout in the country, where a war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed more than 13,000, displaced millions, and threatens to cause widespread famine.
ZIMBABWE: More changes loom at ZBC (9 March)
Newsday: A CHANGE of the editorial team at State broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) is looming in the wake of a restructuring exercise being implemented by a newly-appointed board.
BMA: At the recently concluded OTT Streaming Platforms And Content Management Summit, which took place on 27 – 28 Feb 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, Stanley Benjamin Similo, President Of the SABA and co-convener of the event, shared SABA TV’s journey, currently at a pivotal juncture, poised to redefine its model and embrace cutting-edge solutions to reach even greater heights.
REGIONAL: AI Report on Southern Africa
MISA: Applications of AI in Southern Africa are in their early stages. Many pilot projects and technology-driven business models demonstrate the potential for AI to benefit underserved populations, better connect local communities and international technology firms, and improve lives.
AFGHANISTAN: AFJC: Annual report on media freedom in Afghanistan
IFEX: The report documents at least 139 violations of media and journalists’ rights, including 80 threats and 59 arrests.
AZERBAIJAN: IPI demands the immediate release of arrested Toplum TV journalists
IPI: The IPI global network today strongly condemns the raid on the independent TV channel Toplum TV and the imprisonment of its journalists.
AZERBAIJAN: There’s a rising trend of arresting female journalists in Azerbaijan
JAM News: After the recent spate of journalist arrests, several international human rights organizations have urged the Azerbaijani government to free the journalists and treat them humanely. The official response from Baku was to recommend that these organizations refrain from meddling in the nation’s internal matters.
BANGLADESH: This editor is breaking news on Bangladesh from afar: “The space for independent media is shrinking fast”
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Bangladesh is a tough place to do investigative journalism: it’s home to one of the world’s most draconian laws for journalists, the Digital Security Act, which allows the government to search and arrest journalists without warrants and hand out heavy prison sentences for journalism deemed as “negative propaganda”.
CAMBODIA: Editing Cambodian News: A Conversation With Alan Parkhouse
The Diplomat: Australian journalist Alan Parkhouse holds the rare distinction of having served as editor of both The Phnom Penh Post and its rival, the Khmer Times, at a time when journalistic freedoms in Cambodia were much greater than they are today.
CHINA: ‘Cherry on the Cake’: How China Views the U.S. Crackdown on TikTok
The New York Times: Dan Wang, an expert on China’s technology sector, says Beijing would see a forced sale or ban of the social media platform as a propaganda coup.
CHINA: Chinese officials issue rare apology after authorities harass journalists on live TV
ABC News: City officials in eastern China have apologized to local journalists after authorities were shown pushing them and trying to obstruct reporting from the site of a deadly explosion
CHINA: Chinese state media body condemns police harassment at site of deadly blast
The Guardian: The All-China Journalists Association – a Communist party-backed group – issue a rare rebuke of authorities attempts to ‘control public opinion’
CHINA: Reporter’s Notebook: Is China Really Opening to the World? (Opinion)
VOA: Over the last few weeks, China has gone to great lengths to give the impression that it is opening up to the world – whether for foreign businesses, tourists or journalists.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong journalists’ new norm is to do a job under ‘unclear’ laws
Radio Free Asia: New security rules entail discarding previous practices and increased self censorship, say frontline journalists.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong national security law: What is it and is it worrying?
BBC: Numerous pro-democracy news outlets in Hong Kong have shut down, including Lai’s Apple Daily, which was known to be critical of the mainland Chinese leadership.
INDIA: AI deepfakes, bad laws – and a big fat Indian election
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Almost one billion people head to the polls in a country threatened by misinformation and government censorship. Will AI make things worse?
INDIA: Authorities Revoke Visa Privileges of Diaspora Critics
Human Rights Watch: Indian authorities are revoking visa privileges to overseas critics of Indian origin who have spoken out against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s policies, Human Rights Watch said.
INDIA: Indian court halts operations of government-run social media fact checker
The Register: Rights groups protested potential for sneaky censorship of political rivals
INDIA: What Happened When India Pulled the Plug on TikTok
The New York Times: The United States is agonizing over the possibility of a ban, but India did it at a stroke. Indians adjusted quickly, and Instagram and YouTube built big audiences.
JAPAN: Japan’s NHK joins BBC drive for gender parity on TV
The Mainichi: Japanese public broadcaster NHK has launched a major initiative to put equal numbers of male and female news anchors, reporters and experts in front of its cameras — a move grounded in an awareness that it cannot pay mere lip service to gender equality. And the effort is apparently already changing the production system.
KAZAKHSTAN: Tokayev’s five years in Kazakhstan marked by unkept promises, more media censorship
RSF: As Kassym-Jomart Tokayev completes his fifth year as Kazakhstan’s president, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns his increasingly oppressive rule and urges him to finally keep his pledges to improve press freedom and allow free and independent journalism.
KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyzstan takes page from Russia in pushing ‘foreign agents’ law
Nikkei: Critics urge President Japarov not to sign a bill that would squeeze NGOs and media.
KYRGYZSTAN: Reshuffle at news outlet offers fresh hints of media scene decline
Eurasianet: Coverage by 24.kg was far from aggressive, but the outlet still managed to embarrass the government at times.
Sarawak Report: Malaysia’s Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has issued a statement inviting others to join in expressing solidarity with the editor of this website over the two year jail sentence passed last month for purported ‘criminal defamation’.
MONGOLIA: Assessment of media development in Mongolia
UNESCO: This first-ever comprehensive assessment of the media landscape in Mongolia was undertaken in 2013-2014 to determine the level of media development in the country.
MYANMAR: In Myanmar, Citizen Journalism is Connecting News to Its Revolutionary Roots
The Irrawaddy: Editor Khin Yupar pays very close attention to anonymous messages sent via apps, especially those that camouflage their senders. Sometimes a text message can turn into global news.
MYANMAR: Pro-junta editor charged with defamation after criticizing ministry
Radio Free Asia: The editor’s arrest is the first of a pro-junta news outlet employee since the 2021 coup.
South China Morning Post: Since 2018, the series has been travelling to ‘unexplored places’ in Nepal to tell deeply personal stories of people who rarely receive media coverage.
PAKISTAN: Pakistani journalist Jam Saghir Ahmed Lar shot dead in Punjab
CPJ: Pakistani authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Jam Saghir Ahmed Lar and ensure that his murderers are brought to justice.
SINGAPORE: ‘Act of rebellion’: trans actor finds stage in Singapore
France 24: With LGBTQ characters effectively barred from free-to-air TV, performers like Loo are rare in Singapore’s mass media.
SINGAPORE: CNA’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY: MEDIACORP’S NEWS NETWORK ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SCALE UP GROWTH IN REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (Press release)
Mediacorp: Mediacorp’s news and current affairs brand CNA will focus on reaching new audiences in regional and international markets like Indonesia, East Asia, US, and the UK, while continuing to serve Singaporeans by delivering trusted news and quality stories across its multiple platforms.
SOUTH KOREA: KBS and AstroDesign Sign Agreement to Promote Production on AI and 8K (Press release)
KBS: KBS signed an agreement with AstroDesign of Japan to establish a partnership in video production on March 12, 2024 at the KBS Yeouido headquarters.
SOUTH KOREA: Yoon accepts resignation of senior aide following veiled threat to journalists
Hankyoreh: The resignation comes six days after Hwang referred to a 1988 stabbing of a journalist
SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka failing to probe journalist murders: Press group
Reuters: Sri Lanka shows no political will to probe a spate of murders of journalists, international press groups said on Friday, demanding an end to impunity for the perpetrators and intimidation of the media.
AUSTRALIA: ABC Australia staff’s concerns over pro-Israel bias revealed
Al Jazeera: Staff warned that language in the national broadcaster’s coverage ‘favoured the Israeli narrative over objective reporting’.
AUSTRALIA: ABC Chair: Organisation must maintain ‘contemporary relevance’
ABC: Speaking about his focus in his new role as ABC Chair, Kim Williams says he wants to ensure the ABC always maintains “contemporary relevance”. He says there is a need to “regularly interrogate the priorities of the ABC.”
The Guardian: Motion passed by 75 union members expresses outrage over way Chris Oliver-Taylor and senior executives ‘damaged the public’s trust in our capacity to report without fear or favour’
AUSTRALIA: Disinformation continues to infect Australia’s body politic. It’s time to anchor our discourse in shared reality (Opinion)
The Guardian: From a viable news media to social media platforms free from state control to enforceable election ground rules, guardrails are urgently needed.
The Guardian: Facebook owner repeats its opposition to news media bargaining code and claims just 3% of content in feeds is news-related
AUSTRALIA: SBS Learn partners with the Islamic Museum of Australia to support classrooms in understanding Ramadan and Eid with new teacher resource (Press release)
SBS: Coming together in their second joint education project, SBS Learn and the Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA) have launched an Australian curriculum-aligned resource to build student understanding of the diversity of the Muslim community’s observance of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr in 2024.
AUSTRALIA: Secrecy law affecting journalists ‘perhaps’ unnecessary, ASIO boss says
ABC: Australia’s spy agencies have been coaxed out into the open to appear at an unusual public hearing into Australia’s secrecy laws.
AUSTRALIA: Whose ABC?
The Monthly: Amid questions of relevance and culture war hostilities, the ABC’s charter clearly makes the case for a government-funded national broadcaster.
AUSTRALIA & PACIFIC: The ABC is the most trusted international media in the Pacific
The Strategist: Research conducted last year across six key Pacific markets confirms that overall the Australian Broadcasting Corporation is performing strongly among Pacific audiences, a significant achievement given a decline in audiences for traditional media.
AUSTRALIA: The brutal reality is that Australia’s media is broken and policy tinkering will not help (Opinion)
The Guardian: The foundations have crumbled and need to be entirely rebuilt if journalism is to play its vital role in our democracy.
FIJI: Sexual harassment of Fiji’s women journalists ‘concerningly widespread’ – research
RNZ: Sexual harassment of women journalists continues to be a major problem in Fijian journalism and “the issues of power lie at the heart of this”, new research has revealed.
NEW ZEALAND: Chris Luxon says the media didn’t innovate. In two crucial cases, it just wasn’t allowed.
The Spinoff: Since the announcements of mass layoffs at Newshub and TVNZ, many have suggested that the media has failed to evolve. Duncan Greive looks back at two momentous merger decisions that radically changed our media history.
NEW ZEALAND: Deputy PM Winston Peters attacks media over speech reporting
RNZ: Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has railed against the media again, over the reporting of his speech over the weekend.
NEW ZEALAND: Mā Tātou – for all of us – 20 years of Whakaata Māori (Press release)
Whakaata Māori: Minister for Māori Development, Hon. Tama Potaka, has paid tribute to Whakaata Māori and its contribution to national identity.
NEW ZEALAND: Maiki Sherman named as TVNZ’s first wahine Māori political editor
Asia Pacific Report: Journalist Maiki Sherman (Ngāpuhi/Whakatōhea) has been appointed Television New Zealand’s political editor, the first wahine Māori to lead the 1News political team in the channel’s history.
NEW ZEALAND: What role does the Government have in saving New Zealand media?
Stuff: Does the Government have a responsibility to save New Zealand news companies? And if so, what can it do? Glenn McConnell looks at the options as hundreds of media workers face the axe.
PACIFIC: Supporting Pacific women to tell the region’s stories
Lowy Institute: Rosi Tamani-Doviverata is co-founder of Women in Media Fiji, President of the Fijian Media Association, and Acting Publisher/CEO at the Fiji Sun. Kathy McLeish is inaugural co-chair and now board director of Women in Media Australia, and Supervising Producer of ABC TV’s Back Roads program. Here they reflect on the experience of supporting women in telling the region’s stories.
ARMENIA: Media Watchdog Defends State Radio Chief Over Criticism Of Pashinian
RFE/RL: A media ethics watchdog has defended the executive director of Armenian Public Radio who was censured by a state body last month for criticizing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s statements on the conflict with Azerbaijan.
AUSTRIA: There is no legal supervision for “illegal” ORF orders, says the university president (German)
Der Standard: The university conference already rejected the second instance with its complaint about the – from its point of view – illegal appointment of public councils by Media Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP).
BELGIUM: “Frederik Delaplace has lost credibility within the cultural sector”: opposition critical of CEO of VRT (Dutch)
VRT: For Flemish Member of Parliament Katia Segers (Vooruit), VRT boss Frederik Delaplace has lost his credibility after the saga surrounding the documentary about Bart De Pauw. Other politicians want the VRT to learn lessons from the case.
BELGIUM: VRT helps young production houses and tech start-ups with their first steps and international restart (Press release – Dutch)
VRT: Six months ago, VRT, together with MediaNet Vlaanderen and Thomas More, launched a call for young media talent. From student, start-up to starting production house, to shape the future of media.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: Media freedom is under siege in Bosnia’s Republika Srpska
IJNet: In Republika Srpska, one of two largely autonomous federal entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, legislation criminalizing defamation passed by lawmakers in July 2023 is threatening media freedom in the name of “bringing order to the public space.”
FRANCE: Digital audiences for France Télévisions overseas radio stations jump 67% (Press release – French)
France TV: This 67% jump in digital audience volume in the space of one year is an increase shared by all the group’s overseas radio stations.
FRANCE: Le Monde goes it alone by signing an agreement with OpenAI (Paywall – French)
Mind Media: The newspaper chaired by Louis Dreyfus is the first in France, and one of the first in the world, to be paid by a generative AI provider to make its content available. Other French publishers were opting for collective bargaining.
FRANCE: The 26-year-old YouTuber conquering French journalism
CNN: Travers, 26, is the founder and face of HugoDecrypte, a French media start-up that delivers news aimed primarily at young audiences. What began eight years ago as a university student’s YouTube channel now boasts 14 million followers across its social media accounts, 200 million monthly views on TikTok and another 35 million on YouTube.
GERMANY: ARD and ZDF media libraries: study shows high proportion of information programs (Press release – German)
ZDF: In 2022, more than 50 percent of the ARD and ZDF media libraries consisted of content in the information genre. This is the result of a first-time content analysis of both platforms. In contrast, the proportion of information provided by commercial broadcasters and US streaming platforms was significantly lower.
GERMANY: ZDF promotes independent journalism with a new image campaign (German)
HORIZONT: Public broadcasting is currently under pressure. In view of the proposed increase in contributions, there is once again intensive discussion about the costs and structure of ARD and ZDF. In a new image campaign, ZDF is now pointing out the great importance of independent journalism for democracy.
GERMANY: ZDF statement on the Future Council (Press release – German)
ZDF: ZDF expressly welcomes the fact that the Future Council is taking a positive approach to public broadcasting and fully affirms its necessity.
GERMANY: ZDF Television Council adopts declaration on the Future Council’s report (Press release – German)
ZDF: Marlehn Thieme: “We support ZDF’s democratic mission”
GERMANY & RUSSIA: DW launches Russian channel on RSF’s Svoboda satellite package ahead of Russian presidential elections (Press release)
DW: As the world gears up for the Russian presidential elections scheduled for 17 March, DW announces the launch of a Russian channel tailored for the Svoboda satellite package, operated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
HUNGARY: Hungary’s Átlátszó accused of foreign influence
IPI: CÖF-CÖKA accused Átlátszó and other non-profits of conducting investigative work funded by, and therefore driven by, foreign interests. CÖF-CÖKA further said it would present its findings to the Sovereignty Protection Authority, established under Hungary’s controversial Sovereignty Protection Act.
Irish Independent: Correspondence reveals dealings between programme-makers and officials over grant scheme heavily promoted in show
ITALY: Radio Rai newspaper on strike, Usigrai: «Don’t dismember the editorial staff». Fnsi alongside colleagues (Italian)
FNSI: «The protest against the company’s objective of merging the sports editorial team with Rai Sport and Gr Parliament with Rai Parliament. A completely wrong idea that does not take into account the technical and language differences between radio and TV”, complain the union representatives.
ITALY: TeleMeloni ? It is the Democratic Party that occupies the Rai news (Italian)
Il Giornale: The Dems have the record for the most time on public TV news. Schlein the most present among the leaders
KOSOVO: It’s Time Kosovo’s Govt Condemned its Army of Cyber-Bullies
Balkan Insight: The growing use by Balkan governments, including Kosovo’s, of ‘digital vigilantes’ to smear and harass critics and opponents online is contaminating the digital space and eroding press freedom.
THE NETHERLANDS: Gerard Timmer stops as general director of the NOS (Statement – Dutch)
NOS
NORTH MACEDONIA: North Macedonia Completes U-Turn on State Funding for Media
Balkan Insight: From banning state money in the media to cementing this practice in law, the country’s Social Democrat-led government has over seven years completely reversed its media reforms.
POLAND: A huge cash injection for TVP. It may receive over PLN 1 billion (Paywall – Polish)
Onet: In March, public media are to receive up to PLN 1.5 billion, reports “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”. Of this amount, Telewizja Polska is to receive as much as PLN 1.24 billion.
POLAND: Big cuts in TVP. One of the channels will receive PLN 30 million less (Paywall – Polish)
Onet: In 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will reduce support for TVP Polonia by 45%. This means that the channel will receive PLN 30 million less for operation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to support TVP World – “Press” found out.
POLAND: IPI, partners ask MFA to reconsider drastic budget cuts at Belsat TV (Letter)
IPI: Today, IPI and partner organizations address Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging it to reconsider massive budget cuts Belsat TV, a flagship independent broadcaster for Belarus which is part of Poland’s public television service (TVP).
POLAND: Persistent obstruction of Ukrainian journalists’ work
IFJ: Since the beginning of 2024, Ukrainian journalists investigating Poland’s economic ties with Russia and Belarus have faced deliberate obstruction of their activities by Polish law enforcement officers.
POLAND: Regulator fine against TVN appears to punish independent journalism
IPI: Poland’s politically controlled media regulator punishes private TV channel for a documentary on child abuse in the church
RUSSIA: Russia jails journalist over plane crash coverage, detains another during election
CPJ: On Monday, a court sentenced Kustov, chief editor of local broadcaster Bars, to 10 days imprisonment on charges of disobeying a police officer, according to his outlet, multiple media reports, and a court statement.
RUSSIA & CZECH REPUBLIC: Appeal: protect exiled Russian journalists in the Czech Republic (Letter)
IPI: In a letter to Czech and European authorities, IPI joins partners of the Safety of Journalists Platform in urging them to address security threats faced by exiled Russian journalists in the Czech Republic.
RUSSIA & SPAIN: Moscow Expels Spanish Journalist, Employer Says
Moscow Times: He was notified of this decision by a Russian official, who threatened him with unspecified “problems” if he did not leave before his work visa expired, El Mundo wrote in a two-page article.
SERBIA: Escalating threats and attacks against journalists in Novi Sad
IPI: The escalation of threats and violence suffered by journalists in Novi Sad, northern Serbia, has reached an unprecedented level in the past fortnight.
SERBIA: Urgent action needed to address threats against journalists (Letter)
IFJ: In a letter to Serbian authorities, the International and European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) joins partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in urging them to address death threats faced by journalists Ana Lalić Hegediš and Dinko Gruhonjić, in Serbia.
SLOVAKIA: Opinion of RTVS on the new law (Slovak – Statement)
RTVS: RTVS watches with concern the efforts of the current government coalition to take over the public media with the aim of seizing them, subordinating them to strong political power and gaining control over them.
SLOVAKIA: Thousands protest Fico’s media law in Slovakia
Central European Times: Thousands protested at Freedom Square, Bratislava, over Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s plan to overhaul the country’s state media, on Friday, 15 March.
SPAIN: Spanish official threatens and doxxes journalists at 2 news outlets after corruption exposé
CPJ: Escolar said in an opinion piece that the messages were sent “to intimidate and silence us” hours after elDiario.es published two articles about a criminal investigation into alleged tax fraud by Alberto González Amador, Ayuso’s partner.
SWEDEN: Confidence in Sweden’s Radio is increasing (Press release – Swedish)
SR: The Swedes trust Sveriges Radio. This is shown by the new figures from the SOM institute which were published earlier today.
SWEDEN: Continued high and stable trust in SVT (Press release – Swedish)
SVT: SVT continues to have the highest level of trust among the media in Sweden. 75 percent answer in the SOM survey that they have very high or fairly high confidence in SVT’s content. The proposal to narrow the public service has very weak support in the population.
SWEDEN: Scrap all plans to slim down the public service (Opinion – Swedish)
Aftonbadet: In a few weeks, the state committee that investigates the future of SVT, SR and UR will present its proposals, where the downsizing of operations is part of the investigation mission and where tougher governance and control are among several of the political parties’ proposals.
SWEDEN: SVT seminar: Information war – journalism and verification as a force of resistance (Press release – Swedish)
SVT: Disinformation and influence campaigns are singled out as a serious threat to global stability. At SVT’s seminar is discussedLink to other website, opens in new window.the threats but also how journalism can be a force of resistance.
SWEDEN: The staffing process is now complete at Sveriges Radio (Press release – Swedish)
SR: As a result of Sveriges Radio having to save money, staffing has been reviewed. It is now clear that 183 permanent positions will disappear. For those who have been made redundant, the company has mostly found different severance solutions, for example retirements.
SWEDEN: Transparency about our AI use builds credibility (Press release – Swedish)
SR: The media industry has agreed on how AI use should be explained to the audience within the framework of the Publishers. The initiative is in line with the work that Sveriges Radio has already started to promote ethical use of the new technology.
SWITZERLAND: How we work: comment moderation (Watch)
SwissInfo.ch
UK: BBC boss defends broadcaster’s impartiality amid ‘storms of social media’
The Guardian: Director general Tim Davie tells MPs it is covering issues including Israel and Hamas fairly during ‘profound polarisation in society’
UK: BBC to meet future challenges with rigorous focus on three essential roles (Press release)
BBC: In a major speech on the BBC’s future, Director-General Tim Davie said the broadcaster has a central role in ensuring the UK retains a healthy democracy, a strong creative economy and a more cohesive society
UK: Channel 4 targets new wave of investment into overlooked founders (Press release)
Channel4: Channel 4 is launching Untapped, a ground-breaking commercial initiative to invest in entrepreneurs who have traditionally been overlooked by the VC ecosystem.
UK: Ofcom publishes its Plan of Work for 2024/25 (Press release)
Ofcom: Ofcom has today published its Plan of Work for 2024/25, outlining its areas of focus for the next financial year.
UK: Understanding the influence of social media as gateways to news (Press release)
Ofcom: Online intermediaries, such as social media, search engines and other online aggregators exert a significant influence on the news stories people consume, according to new Ofcom research.
UK & US: Julian Assange US extradition ruling live: UK court issues ruling
Al Jazeera: The British High Court in London has ruled that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can take his challenge against extradition to the United States to another hearing.
UKRAINE: Empowering front-line journalism: ‘Close to Zero Line’ launched in Ukraine
Free Press Unlimited: In the front-line territories of Ukraine, there’s a strong desire among the people for professional, reliable information. Therefore, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine in partnership with Free Press Unlimited, implemented the Close To Zero Line project.
REGIONAL: EFJ calls for immediate and ambitious implementation of the European Media Freedom Act
EFJ: As the final text of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) was formally adopted today by the European Union, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) calls once again on the Member States to be efficient and ambitious in implementing this crucial legislation.
REGIONAL: Media Freedom Act: a new bill to protect EU journalists and press freedom
European Parliament: MEPs on Wednesday gave their final green light to new legislation to protect EU journalists and media from political or economic interference.
REGIONAL: New IPI report examines spyware surveillance and the battle for accountability in European journalism (Report)
IPI: Abuses in Greece and Hungary raise concerns over illicit surveillance and effectiveness of existing safeguards
REGIONAL: The AI Act and the Existential Risk Facing Journalism
Tech Policy : The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), passed this month, is a pioneering effort to fill a legal regulatory void with ethical, safety and rights-based standards for the adoption of AI. But as much as it is welcome, it is insufficient to address both the immediate and existential risks these technologies pose — and the harms they are already causing.
ARGENTINA: Journalist from Télam agency, closed by the Government: “Milei seeks to generate a media blackout” (Spanish)
La Republica: The communicator and spokesperson Tomás Eliaschev assures that the closure of Télam is not feasible and asserts that the Government of Javier Milei seeks to “silence many voices”, which puts freedom of expression at risk.
ARGENTINA: On the anniversary of the 1976 military coup, Argentines push back against leaders revising history
AP: As Argentina on Sunday marked the most traumatic date in its modern history — the 1976 military coup that ushered in a brutal dictatorship — President Javier Milei posted a startling video that demanded justice. Not for those who suffered repression under the junta, but for those victims of leftist guerrillas before the putsch.
ARGENTINA: Télam workers continue fighting and demand to return to their jobs (Spanish)
Nota Alpie: The auditor of the news agency appointed by the National Government, Diego Chaher, notified another week of work relief. For their part, the employees rejected the measure and announced a new assembly for this Tuesday, where they will define the steps to follow.
ARGENTINA: There is little adherence to voluntary withdrawals in Télam and the government is unable to move forward with the closure (Spanish)
La Politica: Less than 20% of the plant agreed to listen to the libertarian government’s proposal and the percentage of those who reach an agreement could be even lower.
COLOMBIA: Hollman Morris attacks Álvaro Uribe: “They prefer quiet, inconsequential RTVC” (Spanish)
Infobae: The deputy manager of Rtvc came out in defense of the public media outlet after several controversies that have had the entity as the protagonist and also attacked the former president
COLOMBIA: Mistrust and self-censorship: the editorial crisis in RTVC, the largest public media system in Colombia (Spanish)
El Pais: Several journalists point out that the radio and television where they work were at the service of propaganda for the Government and they risk losing their contract if they oppose it. The manager denies political bias and denounces harassment against her
COLOMBIA: Transparency Secretariat of the Presidency investigates irregularities in Rtvc due to complaints against Nórida Rodríguez (Spanish)
Infobae: In recent days, a series of irregularities has been uncovered in Colombia’s public media entity, Radio Televisión Nacional de Colombia (Rtvc), which places its directors Nórida Rodríguez and Jorge Arzuaga at the center of the controversy.
CUBA: Cuban Journalist Carlos Michel Morales Released from Jail
Havana Times: The mistreatment received in prison has taken its toll on the reporter’s body, especially a beating he received at the hands of prison guards in mid-2022.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Government declines responsibility for journalist safety crossing from DR into Haiti
Dominican Today: The Dominican Republic’s Foreign Ministry has expressed its willingness to grant authorization for international media to enter Haiti via land routes, provided that the executives of these media outlets send a disclaimer to the Dominican Government. This decision comes in response to numerous complaints from various international media organizations currently in Dominican territory, seeking to travel to Haiti.
EL SALVADOR: El Salvador Media Come Under Attack in Election Year
VOA: The work of journalists in El Salvador is becoming tougher, with an increase in efforts to harass or block them from reporting in the past year, a media association says.
HAITI: Haitian journalist Lucien Jura kidnapped as violence escalates in capital
CPJ: Jura was abducted from his home in Pétion-Ville on the outskirts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday, March 18, according to news reports.
MEXICO: In Mexico, Russian media and diplomatic efforts swell
The Hill: Russian messaging and media are growing in Mexico, which is holding federal elections in June and whose proximity to the United States makes it an invaluable intelligence target.
MEXICO: López Obrador’s mañaneras in Mexico a unique form of communication marked by attacks on the press (Analysis)
LatAm Journalism Review
NICARAGUA: Ortega media enrich his family, entrench his hold on Nicaragua
Reuters: In early 2010, Nicaragua’s Canal 8, an independent television network, had a new owner. Details of the deal – the identity of the buyer, the purchase price, an exact date for the transaction – remained secret. The seller died of cancer soon after.
GAZA: Call for action for safety of journalists and access to information in Gaza
Free Press Unlimited: Free Press Unlimited coordinated a call on behalf of 39 organisations working for media freedom, urging Member States of the Media Freedom Coalition for urgent action to protect the safety of journalists and access to information in Gaza.
GAZA: UN: International support growing to stop the killing of journalists in Gaza
CPJ: Journalists have paid a bloody price to report the Gaza conflict, Wael Al-Dahdouh told international representatives in Geneva, Switzerland on 25 March 2024.
IRAN: Iranian Journalists Under Pressure: A Year of Arrests, Sentences, and Job Insecurity (IFJ Report 2023) (Report)
Iran News Update: The report details a systematic targeting of media workers, including arrests, imprisonment, job losses, and the closure of publications. These actions, the IFJ argues, are part of a long-standing pattern of government restrictions on media freedom in Iran, fostering a climate of fear and self-censorship.
LEBANON: In response to Gaza war, RSF opens regional press freedom centre in Beirut
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is opening a regional press freedom centre in Beirut, Lebanon, to provide journalists and media covering the war in Gaza and the entire region with the equipment, assistance and resources they need to pursue their reporting duties as safely as possible.
RSF: As a result of a Constitutional Court ruling on 6 February condemning lower court censorship of journalistic content based on article 9, censored news media stories have begun reappearing online.
TURKEY: Turkish media upbeat about anti-PKK cooperation with Iraq after talks
BBC Monitoring: Turkish media coverage struck a highly positive note about the prospect of increased cooperation with Iraq’s government against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), following high-level talks in Baghdad on 14 March.
YEMEN: Call for proposals to civil society organisations in Yemen (Opportunity)
EEAS: The European Union Delegation to Yemen is pleased to announce a new Call for Proposals as part of EU Support to Civil Society Organisations in Yemen. This initiative presents a unique opportunity for civil society organisations working in women’s rights and inclusion at all levels and/or freedom of expression and independent media.
CANADA: As Atlantic Canada’s largest newspaper chain falters, some media experts want more support for entrepreneurs looking to fill the gap (Paywall)
The Hill Times
CANADA: Bell is gutting Canadian journalism and handing a gift to the enemies of truth
Toronto Star: The loss of ‘W5″ and thousands of journalist’s jobs are occurring at the precise time as the surging digital threat to the safety and security of Canadians.
CANADA: Black Press emerges from creditor protection
CBC: Surrey-based publisher says it is now on solid and sustainable financial footing
CANADA: Get the facts: “Bonuses” at CBC/Radio-Canada (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: This week, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) issued another press release about what they call “bonuses” at CBC/Radio-Canada — their seventh in the last 12 months.
CANADA: How audience data is shaping Canadian journalism (French)
The Conversation: Major media groups are cutting jobs, reducing programming and publications are going out of business. Faced with the challenges of news avoidance and declining confidence in journalism, it has become a matter of survival for journalists to find ways of attracting, engaging and retaining their audiences.
CANADA: Rudyard Griffiths: In trying to save journalism, government risks killing it (Opinion)
The Hub: The blind rush to subsidize news risks destroying what little remains of the industry’s credibility
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: “AI journalism goes awry when it’s unchecked, lazy, selfish and opaque. It’s got to be vetted and motivated by what’s best for readers,” Zach Seward says
US: February CDP Index: New donor acquisition reaches ‘crisis phase’ for radio (Paywall)
Current: “Investing in diverse donor, listener and digital user acquisition is critical to the future of local public news outlets.”
US: House approves $535M for FY26 CPB appropriation
Current: The U.S. House of Representatives approved $535 million in level funding Friday to CPB for fiscal year 2026. CPB’s appropriation is forward-funded by two years.
US: Iowa student journalists buy two local papers saving them from closure (Watch)
NBC News: Student journalists from the Daily Iowan, a non-profit paper, have purchased two local newspapers saving them from shutting down. Students from the University of Iowa will help both papers cover their communities.
US: Local news is too important for our democracy. We need a ‘Marshall Plan’ for public media (Commentary)
Missouri Independent: The collapse of news outlets, especially local papers, is robbing our communities of indispensable watch dogs. The disappearance of reporters from city council meetings and public safety hearings is creating oversight vacuums that leave citizens in the dark and enable shady dealings that let the wealthy exercise undue — and undetected — influence.
US: NBC News Faces Rebellion Over Hiring of Former Republican Party Chair
The New York Times: In extraordinary on-air remarks, Mika Brzezinski, Joe Scarborough and Nicolle Wallace questioned their own network’s decision to hire Ronna McDaniel as a political analyst.
US: NPR urges FCC to improve incentives for public stations to invest in local journalism (Paywall)
Current: The commission’s proposal to boost localism in broadcasting won’t make a significant difference to public radio, according to comments filed by NPR.
US: Strengthening Democracy Through Public Media
The Montecito Journal: The discussion, moderated by NPR journalist Ailsa Chang, delved into the pressing issue of distinguishing fact from fiction in today’s news cycle.
US: ‘The final act’: fears US journalism crisis could destabilize 2024 election
The Guardian: Job losses, declining circulations and local newspaper closures could mean spread of misinformation in pivotal election year
US: This public media fellowship will help you lead, strategize and thrive (Training programme)
Poynter: The program is free for selected participants, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and administered by Poynter.
US: TikTok ban forgets the lessons of the Pentagon Papers
Columbia Journalism Review
US: ‘Very few have balls’: How American news lost its nerve
Semafor: There’s too much to read and watch, too many places to read and watch it. It’s enough to distract you from the biggest news in journalism right now: In 2024, it’s harder than ever to get a tough story out in the United States of America.
5 podcasts on the state of journalism today
IJNet
A new AI-powered tool can help journalists detect audio deepfakes in Spanish
Nieman Lab: Journalists can now identify Spanish-language deepfake audio using a new tool called VerificAudio launched Tuesday, according to an announcement from Prisa Media.
AI detection tools for audio deepfakes fall short. How 4 tools fare and what we can do instead
Poynter: Technology for deepfake detection is improving, but experts say tools for audio deepfake detection lag behind.
Autocracies gaining ground around the globe
DW: In the last two years alone, shaped by a new geopolitical climate, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and the coronavirus pandemic, elections in 25 countries have been less free and fair than they were before, according to the study, which also found that in 39 countries freedom of expression and freedom of the press has been increasingly restricted.
Avoiding the news isn’t the same as not consuming it
Nieman Lab: As many news organizations have worked in recent years to reach audiences that have at times felt increasingly fickle and apathetic, a lot of attention has focused on news avoidance.
Can AI be sued for defamation?
Columbia Journalism Review
Global Task Force for public media CEOs meet to discuss state of public broadcasting worldwide (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: Leaders of the Global Task Force for public media held a virtual meeting on March 20 to discuss a wide range of challenges and opportunities in the year ahead — from trust in publicly funded news services and initiatives to verify the authenticity of content, to the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in content creation and the need for increased collaboration in a media environment under great economic strain.
Here’s How Google’s Generative AI for Newsrooms Product Will Work
Big Technology: Google is pushing hard on a generative AI product that would help news outlets write, distribute, and monetize their work. “It feels very big,” one person with knowledge of the project told me. “It’s certainly a high priority project,” said another person within Google said.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: From satire to robocalls, generative AI is entering politics in a crucial year. Four experts reflect on its possible consequences and on how to cover it.
How journalists can incorporate mutual aid to support one another and their communities
IJNet: As newsrooms navigate financial pressures and shifts in ownership, many journalists have turned to mutual aid to support one another.
How should we value news used by AI? A checklist for publishers (Opinion)
Poynter: AI companies need quality information. News publishers have it. Should they share it? And how much should they get for it?
Sexism and the place of women in sports journalism: Marie Portolano testifies (Watch – French)
Konbini: “Marie Portolano revisits her documentary Je ne suis pas une salope, je suis une journaliste, which was withdrawn from the platforms of the channel that produced it almost a month after its publication in 2021. Three years later, in her book Je suis la femme du plateau, she once again denounces sexism and the place of women in sports journalism.
The 7 challenges facing the media in the face of artificial intelligence (French)
EJO: Artificial intelligence (AI) promises a profound transformation of the media industry and, more generally, of the way we produce, consume and value information. From awe to the exploration of new editorial frontiers, we take a look at seven challenges to reinventing journalism and the media in the age of generative AI.
The enduring power of indigenous storytelling
Whakaata Māori: A delegation of indigenous broadcasters arrived at Whakaata Māori Friday morning for the 2024 World Indigenous Content Conference – Hawaikirangi.
The Financial Times is ready for its AI to answer your questions (well, some of them)
Nieman Lab: Ask FT is in a very limited beta, but it promises to bring the wisdom of its archives to bear on your information needs.
Understanding the impact of social media on online news (Research)
Ofcom: This research examines how online intermediaries, especially social media, can influence today’s news landscape.
Your newsroom needs an AI ethics policy. Start here.
Poynter: Until we create standards around artificial intelligence — even though it’s early in the game — we are holding back innovation
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Header image: An outdoor press conference with multiple cameras and journalists. Credit: Michael Fousert / Unsplash.com
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