AFGHANISTAN: Taliban Launch Media Database as Journalists Raise Concerns Over Press Freedom 

The Kabul Tribune: The Taliban said they have created a new database for media, as journalists and media organizations raise concerns that such measures could further restrict access to information and press freedom.

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BANGLADESH: When mobile journalism crosses the line into public shaming

The Daily Star: In too many corners of Bangladesh, however, we are witnessing a rather disturbing reality where mobile journalism is used as a tool for moral policing and public shaming of the vulnerable members of our community, especially women.

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CHINA: How China’s Press Abandoned Its Readers

China Media Project: A WeChat post arguing that China’s dying newspapers did not just lose readers — they abandoned them first — was swiftly censored for violating “relevant laws.”

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INDIA: Election Code Breach: Left Parties Accuse PM Modi of Misusing Public Broadcast

DevDiscourse: Left parties have accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of violating electoral norms by using the public broadcaster for political messaging, potentially influencing upcoming elections.

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INDIA: New data protection law threatens freedom of information 

RSF: The entry into force of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and Rules has effectively overturned more than 20 years of legislation designed to protect the right to information.

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KAZAKHSTAN: Media freedom groups urge Kazakhstan’s president to drop charges against journalists 

AP: The Committee to Protect Journalists and five other international press freedom and human rights groups have urged Kazakhstan’s president to drop criminal charges against several journalists placed under house arrest and revise the country’s legislation to ensure press freedom.

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MALAYSIA: Media Literacy in Malaysia: A Vital Reliance on Network Confirmation

Fulcrum: This Long Read reports findings from a study investigating how Malaysians practise media literacy in a fast-moving and often untrustworthy media landscape. A key finding is that respondents with busy schedules who still want to verify the information they come across, turn to leveraging trusted social networks.

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NEPAL: Nepali media is fighting for survival. Its journalists are fighting for their paychecks

The Kathmandu Post: As the industry faces an existential threat, newsroom staff are going months without pay, with little recourse and nowhere else to go.

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SINGAPORE: SPH Media and Google in collaboration to enhance delivery of trusted journalism

The Straits Times: News publisher SPH Media and tech company Google announced a partnership on April 17 in four key areas – AI capability building, content and distribution, talent and ecosystem development, and audience engagement.

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SOUTH KOREA: Broadcasters embrace global streaming platforms to survive

The Korea Times: …For years, major broadcasters such as KBS, MBC and SBS were seen as rivals to streaming platforms. That is no longer the case. Falling advertising revenues and rising production costs have pushed broadcasters to seek partners rather than fight competitors.

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SOUTH KOREA: South Korean broadcasters, including terrestrial and comprehensive programming channels, have revealed their share of viewers in 2024.

Maeil Business: …Among terrestrial broadcasters, the Korea Broadcasting Corporation (KBS) was the highest at 20.862%, followed by Culture Broadcasting (MBC), 10.978%, SBS 7.550%, and Korea Education Broadcasting Corporation (EBS) 1.859%.

AUSTRALIA:  Independent/regional media critical in fight against climate misinformation

IFJ: Australia’s information ecosystem is under threat from a growing proliferation of misinformation and disinformation on climate change, according to the Senate report into the issue.

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NEW ZEALAND: Broadcasting Standards Authority will ‘probably’ be scrapped, Goldsmith says (Paywall) 

New Zealand Herald: The Media and Communications Minister has all but confirmed the Broadcasting Standards Authority will be scrapped.

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NEW ZEALAND: RNZ remains New Zealand’s most trusted news brand, survey reveals

RNZ: RNZ has held its top spot as New Zealand’s most trusted news brand in the latest Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand report.

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NEW ZEALAND: Trust in news in Aotearoa New Zealand (Report) 

JMAD Research

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NEW ZEALAND: What is the Broadcasting Standards Authority and why is its future in doubt? 

RNZ: Who decides who’s a broadcaster, and who regulates the media in New Zealand? It might all be about to change.

AUSTRIA: Criticism is growing louder: Maurer demands the resignation of four ORF foundation board members. (Paywall – German) 

Der Standard: The Green Party’s media spokesperson describes the governance structures at the ORF as “a complete disaster,” while Neos media spokesperson Brandstötter says the ORF presents a disastrous image.

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AUSTRIA: Eleven candidates for an eight-month ORF leadership position (Paywall – German) 

Der Standard: Interim ORF Director General Ingrid Thurnher is considered the favorite for appointment until the end of the year next Thursday.

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BELGIUM: Auvio celebrates its 10th anniversary: ​​how the RTBF’s streaming platform conquered the screens (French)

RTBF: With over 4.5 million accounts, Auvio has established itself as a key player in streaming in Belgium. Ten years after its launch, the platform continues to evolve to attract an increasingly connected audience.

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BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: Is public broadcasting facing extinction? (German) 

ORF FM4: The Bosnian-Herzegovinian public broadcaster is threatened with closure due to high debt. It is one piece of the mosaic of many crises in the country. A visit to the BHRT newsroom in Sarajevo.

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BULGARIA: “If You Are Democrats”: Organization Proposes Plan for Media Freedom in Bulgaria (Paywall – Bulgarian) 

Dnevnik: The international organization “Reporters Without Borders” has proposed to Bulgarian political parties a plan to save independent journalism.

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BULGARIA: Public service media from across Europe are meeting in Sofia (German) 

BNR: On April 22 and 23, executives and representatives of the public service media organizations within the Union will discuss their role in a fragmented geopolitical environment and during times of crisis. 

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CATALONIA: The publishing sector joins the 3Cat SuperCampus with language audiovisual productions for the educational community (Press release – Catalan) 

3Cat: Bromera, Edebé and Text are the three major educational publishers that produce linguistic content for the 3Cat educational platform.

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CZECH REPUBLIC: Concerns over public media independence in Czechia, as government unveils funding shake-up 

Radio Prague international: Culture Minister Oto Klempíř on Tuesday unveiled details of a planned overhaul of public media funding which would abolish license fees in favour of state funding.

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CZECH REPUBLIC: From licence fees to state budget: Media expert Jan Jirák on planned changes in public media funding 

Radio Prague International: In Czechia, there is increasing debate about a proposed law from the Ministry of Culture that would abolish licence fees and change the funding of Czech public service media.

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CZECH REPUBLIC: Joint statement by Czech Television and Czech Radio on the government’s draft law on public service media (Press release – Czech) 

CT: The government’s draft law on public service media does not bring a well-thought-out concept or declared modernization, but a number of ambiguities in elementary issues of the establishment, functioning and status of public service media.

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ESTONIA: Bill to include women on ERR’s board passes 1st reading 

ERR: Legislation to include both men and women on the board of Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) passed its first reading on Wednesday after being proposed by opposition parties.

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FRANCE: Information, the new front line (Press release – French) 

France Télévisions: At a time when information warfare is emerging as a major strategic reality for European democracies, France Télévisions brought together on Tuesday, around the group’s president, Delphine Ernotte Cunci, journalists, public officials, experts, defence actors and heads of European public television around a shared observation: information has become a front line. 

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FRANCE & RUSSIA: RFI facing Russian manipulation: what strategy? (French) 

RFI: Sergey Lavrov’s interview on France TV highlighted the vulnerability of the French media to Russian influence. What lessons can be learned from this? Anna Colin-Lebedev, a lecturer and researcher in political science at Paris Nanterre University, provides some answers.

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GERMANY: Broadcasting fee in court (German) 

SWR: Since a 2025 ruling by the Federal Administrative Court, there has been an increase in lawsuits against the broadcasting fee. Now, lawsuits against the SWR (Southwest German Broadcasting) are being heard before the Administrative Court of Mannheim.

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GERMANY: New structure for SWR – two directors confirmed (German) 

Stuttgarter Zeitung: With fewer directorates and new responsibilities, SWR aims to eliminate redundancies. However, some managers will remain – with altered roles.

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HUNGARY: Magyar announces the end of government interference in public media 

European Interest: Péter Magyar, leader of the TISZA party and the next Prime Minister of Hungary, stated in an interview with Radio Kossuth that his government plans to suspend public media broadcasts and create new oversight institutions for media.

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HUNGARY: Media freedom reform must be priority for incoming Tisza government 

IPI: IPI and MFRR partners call for establishment of expert working group on media reform. 

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ICELAND: Positive results and turnaround in operations (Press release – Icelandic) 

RUV: The annual general meeting of the Icelandic National Broadcasting Corporation was held on April 16th at the Broadcasting House at Efstaleit. The annual accounts show that RÚV’s results were positive by 14 million ISK.

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ITALY: Rai Firenze examines AI’s impact on radio 

RedTech: An event at Rai Firenze — the Florence regional headquarters of Italy’s public service broadcaster RAI — on Feb. 18 explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping radio, focusing on practical applications and ethical implications.

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ITALY: Sparks fly in the Senate over RAI governance. A tit-for-tat exchange erupts between the opposition and Vice President Ronzulli. (Italian) 

Il Giornale: The left pressed on the issue of RAI governance, but the FI senator who presided over it replied that it wasn’t on the agenda. Paita: “It’s a La Russa who didn’t make it.”

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ITALY & MOZAMBIQUE: Italy renews cooperation with TVM and AICS in Mozambique

ANSA: The cooperation agreement between the Italian Embassy in Mozambique, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and Televisão de Moçambique (TVM) has been renewed, with the involvement of Rai to strengthen the audiovisual sector.

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KOSOVO: “Lack of transparency”: calls made to suspend the selection of members of the Boards of Radio Television of Kosovo and Independent Media Commission

KosovaPress: An emergency press conference was held regarding the selection of members of the Boards of Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) and Independent Media Commission (IMC), regarding concerns over these processes. Civil society is demanding that this process be suspended and restarted when it is ensured that there is transparency.

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LATVIA: Significant changes for LTV1 viewers (Latvian) 

nra: At the end of June this year, Latvian Television channel LTV1 will stop broadcasting nightly news, Raina Anna Ločmele, head of corporate communications at Latvian Public Media (LSM), confirmed to LETA.

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LITHUANIA: As Lithuanian parliament threatens its public broadcaster, new report proves that public media boosts private news in Lithuania (Press release) 

EBU: A new independent study finds that Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT strengthens, rather than weakens, private news media. The findings come at a crucial time as lawmakers consider changes that could cut its funding and independence.

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LITHUANIA: Lithuania moves toward DAB+ rollout 

RedTech: Lithuania’s Ministry of Transport and Communications said it has begun the process of introducing DAB+, marking a shift from a radio market that still relies almost entirely on FM transmission.

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POLAND: The controversial composition of Nawrocki’s New Media Council. “People spreading Russian disinformation.” (Paywall – Polish) 

Gazeta Wyborcza: The president appointed a 27-member New Media Council. “Are you surprised that Karol Nawrocki appoints people who spread Russian disinformation to his media council? It would be strange if he appointed people who combat it,” commented Prime Minister Donald Tusk. 

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SLOVENIA: Experts warn that the abolition of the RTV licence fee could jeopardize the independence of the public service (Slovenian) 

RTVSLO: The new National Assembly could soon decide on the abolition of the RTV fee, as proposed by the Resni.ca party. Public media are often the first target of populist policies, and are particularly under attack in the eastern member states of the European Union.

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SPAIN: The Central Electoral Board dismisses three complaints from the PP against RTVE (Press release – Spanish) 

RTVE: One concerning election polls on RNE; another about an interview with María Jesús Montero on ‘Las Mañanas de RNE’; and another regarding a caption on ‘La Hora de La 1’ about the president of the Junta. 

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UK: BBC to cut almost one in 10 staff to make £500m savings 

BBC: The BBC has announced it will cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs – or almost one in 10 – in an attempt to tackle “significant financial pressures”.

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UK: News of BBC jobs cuts ‘real concern‘, says UK’s culture secretary

The Guardian: Lisa Nandy says staff have been strongly affected as some express frustration that high-paid presenters and executives likely to be safe.

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UK & IRAN: Stabbings, kidnap threats and arson attacks: how the Iranian regime targets UK journalists

The Guardian: Staff at outlets critical of Tehran have faced chilling intimidation and violence, amid calls for greater protection and support. 

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REGIONAL: ARTE Europe Weekly: Why is Europe’s Public Media Under Threat? 

Balkan Insight: The right to access free, independent, pluralistic information is a key principle of democracy. In an age of polarised opinions, public media remain the most trusted sources of information in Europe. But public service broadcasters are under growing political and financial pressure, while facing new challenges, such as the concentration of private media ownership, disinformation on social media and political propaganda.

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REGIONAL: Europe Now: DW Launches European Newsletter (Press release) 

DW: DW has launched “Europe Now. The Stories Shaping Europe,” a weekly English-language newsletter published every Thursday starting immediately, offering a European perspective on the continent’s key developments.

GAZA: Gaza’s young, untrained journalists step up to document Israel’s war crimes (Watch)

Al Jazeera: More than 260 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, marking one of the deadliest periods for media workers in recent history. Despite newsrooms being destroyed and reporters losing their lives, coverage continues through a new generation of young, often untrained correspondents determined to document the conflict. 

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ISRAEL & GAZA: Press groups push Israeli court to expedite Gaza media access decision

The New Arab: Press groups including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) file emergency motion urging Israel’s top court to allow international media into Gaza.

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ISRAEL & LEBANON: Foreign media group slams Israel military over AI image of killed Lebanese reporter

RFI: An international media association has accused the Israeli military of discrediting a Lebanese journalist it killed last month by circulating an AI‑generated image of him in Hezbollah fatigues.

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ISRAEL & SPAIN: Spain announces it will not broadcast Eurovision due to Israel’s participation

The Jerusalem Post: The Eurovision Fun website reported that Spain’s public broadcaster, RTVE, had announced it would not air the song contest for the first time since the country began participating in 1961.

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IRAN: Iran Eases Some Internet Restrictions, as Wider Blackout Passes 50th Day

The New York Post: Critics say Iran may be creating a “tiered internet” model, where access is limited to the politically and economically privileged.

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: ‘Media war’ ran parallel to conflict, UAE official says

Khaleej Times: Dr Ali Al Nuaimi suggested that a more unified media response at a regional level could have helped challenge misleading narratives more effectively

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YEMEN: Escalating Abuses Against Journalists in Yemen Reveal Political Use of Media

Yemen Online: Press freedoms in Yemen continue to deteriorate amid a conflict‑charged environment and competing centers of power, where journalists are no longer mere conveyors of events but direct targets for groups seeking to control and politicize the media narrative.

CANADA: Should journalists decide who is and isn’t a journalist? (Watch)

NowMedia Group: Should journalists decide who is and isn’t a journalist?

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US: NCEs Proliferate as Public Radio Navigates Challenges

Radio World: Loss of federal funding leaves startups seeking new options

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US: NPR receives $113 million in charitable gifts

NPR: NPR has received two of the largest gifts in the public media network’s existence, totaling $113 million. They will go toward fueling innovation in NPR’s use of digital technology, increasing its connection with audiences, and ensuring the viability of public radio stations after Congress eliminated all federal funding for public media.

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US: RSF launches protective equipment grant program as journalists face mounting risks

RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has launched the Providing Reporters with Emergency Safety Supplies (PRESS) Fund, a new grant program to help journalists obtain personal protective equipment (PPE) amid a spike in threats to those reporting on the ground over the past year.

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US: 2 local TV giants merged. Then a court stepped in

VPM: On paper, local TV giant Nexstar’s $6.2 billion acquisition of rival Tegna worked like a dream.

Impossible to imagine democracy without a public broadcaster, — Mykola Chernotytskyi and Delphine Ernotte Cunci at a France Télévisions event (Press release) 

Suspilne: Mykola Chernotytskyi, Head of the Board of Suspilne Ukraine, and Delphine Ernotte Cunci, President of the European Broadcasting Union and CEO of France Télévisions, discussed the role of public broadcasters during wartime at the French broadcaster’s panel “War, interference, threats: media as actors in Europe’s defense.”

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Independent journalists are mission-driven, but financially strained, a new report says (Report) 

NiemanLab: There isn’t yet a clear playbook for financial sustainability in creator journalism, according to a report published by the Center for News, Technology & Innovation (CNTI) on Monday.

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Journalism Essentials: A Limited Series on Media Literacy

The New York Times: Our first bite-size teachings on fundamentals from The School of The New York Times look at journalism’s role in society.

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Meeting the audience where they are: How Local News International is rewriting the rules of news delivery

WANIFRA: Dave Jorgenson and Lauren Saks built one of journalism’s most successful social media presences at The Washington Post. Now, with Local News International, they’re taking that playbook independent – with ‘Zero regrets’.

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The State of Media Development Report 2026 (Report) 

DW Akademie: This report takes stock of the current situation for organizations engaged in expanding and strengthening spaces for reliable information world-wide. It’s alarming, but organizations see a clear path forward.

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Top 50 English-language news sites in the world in March: Al Jazeera traffic surges amid Iran war

Press Gazette: Press Gazette’s analysis of the 50 biggest English-language news websites in the world, updated monthly.