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...
Tracks East: Freedom of the Press in Danger (Russian – English)
ARTE: In Russia, where journalistic freedom is largely curtailed, a handful of media outlets have managed to survive. But even in democratic societies, war undermines press freedom. In Ukraine, journalists who are (too) critical are sometimes get called up to fight.
What we're listening to...
Laurence Bloch: “The day public broadcasting is no longer there, this country will be more difficult to live in” (French)
FranceInter: Laurence Bloch, former director of France Inter, talks in “Radioactive” (Stock) about her fifty-year career at Radio France and says she wants to defend public broadcasting, which is “criticizable” but “useful.”
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BURKINA FASO: Burkina Faso Pioneers AI Integration In Public Broadcasting With RTB Partnership
Broadcast Media Africa: The Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts, and Electronic Communications of Burkina Faso has forged a pioneering partnership with Radio and Television of Burkina (RTB) to harness artificial intelligence (AI) for enhancing the accessibility of information and communication services throughout the nation.
ETHIOPIA: DW protests suspension of its correspondents (Press release)
DW: DW protests the suspension of the work done by its nine local correspondents in Ethiopia by the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA).
EBC: The Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) has organised a half-day training session for its extensive workforce of over 2,500 employees, focusing on Ethiopia’s national interests and geopolitical stance.
GHANA: GJA President pledges to restore GBC’s status as Ghana’s premier public broadcaster
GBC: The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) reclaims its rightful position as the nation’s foremost public service broadcaster.
GHANA: GTV and the public mandate: Can TV license fees level or tilt the playing field?
The Business & Financial Times: The recent outcry over GBC’s inability to telecast Ghana’s World Cup qualifying matches reignited public frustration on social media.
IVORY COAST: CJID moves to counter disinformation as Côte d’Ivoire votes today
The Guardian NG: The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has deployed a specialised team of fact-checkers, researchers, and data analysts to Côte d’Ivoire as the country holds its presidential election today, October 25.
NIGERIA: Nigeria’s Media Revenue To Hit $5.8bn By 2029 — PwC
The Whistler: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has projected a steady digital-driven expansion for Africa’s entertainment and media (E&M) industry between 2025 and 2029, as Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa continue to outperform global benchmarks despite economic and infrastructure challenges.
NIGERIA: NUJ to Tinubu: Defend press freedom, review laws that criminalise journalism
The Premium Times: VP Shettima pledges to table NUJ’s demands for protection, review of libel laws, and others before the president.
SOMALIA & TURKEY: Türkiye enhances Somali state media’s capacity with modern equipment
TRT AFRIKA: The Turkish government has handed over a suite of broadcast and digital production equipment to the Somali government.
SOUTH AFRICA: Public broadcasters as engines of youth development
SABC: Speaking about a developmental state, we speak about a nation that deliberately harnesses every institution, every sector, and every platform to drive inclusive growth and social upliftment.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC to implement 4.5% wage hike amid restructuring: Masuku
SABC: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is set to implement a 4.5% salary increase for non-unionised employees in the 2025/26 financial year. That’s according to SABC Group Executive for Human Resources, Rachel Masuku, who confirmed the adjustment will take effect from 1 November.
SOUTH AFRICA: Stern warning to the SABC
MyBroadband: State signal distributor Sentech says it can no longer afford to carry the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC’s) non-payment of signal distribution costs.
SOUTH AFRICA: Surprising information about who kisses TV licences goodbye in South Africa
MyBroadband: The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) has revealed a trend of non-payment of TV licences within government entities and among government officials.
SOUTH SUDAN: After a year of suspension: Bentiu State Radio returns to broadcasting. (Arabic)
Radio Tamazuj: The Unity State government celebrated the relaunch of Bentiu 99.0 FM on Tuesday after a year-long hiatus. This move is being described as a vital achievement in community service and awareness-raising in the oil-rich state.
SUDAN: Why it is critical to support media in Sudan now (Opinion)
Radio Tamazuj: Independent media is critically important in Sudan, particularly during its current transitional and pre-post-conflict phases, because it plays a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, disseminating crucial information, and fostering conditions conducive to peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
TANZANIA: Tanzanian media chiefs vow neutrality amidst election tensions
The Citizen: Leading media executives and editors across Tanzania have issued a joint commitment to ensure peace and professionalism in their coverage as the nation prepares for its general election on 29 October 2025.
REGIONAL: BBC World Service and BBC Hausa now available on Zeno.FM and Zeno Radio (Press release)
BBC: BBC World Service has extended its partnership with Zeno Media to make BBC World Service and BBC News Hausa content available on Zeno’s global audio platform, Zeno.FM.
AFGHANISTAN: Taliban crush media freedom in Afghanistan, HRW reports
Amu TV: Taliban have effectively dismantled media freedom in Afghanistan since seizing power in August 2021, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Thursday, citing systematic surveillance, censorship, arbitrary detentions and torture of journalists, with women in the media bearing the brunt of the crackdown.
ARMENIA: Media groups condemn plan to strip Shoghakat TV of public broadcaster status
Civil Net: A coalition of Armenian media organizations has condemned a government-backed bill that would remove Shoghakat TV, a channel operated under the auspices of the Armenian Apostolic Church from the list of Armenia’s public broadcasters.
JAPAN & UK: The BBC is a partisan battleground – why does Japan’s public broadcaster escape the same fate?
The Conversation: Public service broadcasters are supposed to be the most trusted news outlets in democratic societies. Funded through models like licence fees and free from advertising, they are meant to stand apart from commercial media.
MALAYSIA: Malaysia’s RTM apologises for misnaming Singaporean, Thai, Indonesian leaders
SCMP: Malaysian broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has apologised for getting the names of three Southeast Asian leaders wrong during a live broadcast of the opening ceremony of the 47th Asean Summit.
SINGAPORE: Gov’t has pumped $380M annually to Mediacorp over the past 5 years
The Independent: Over the past five financial years, the government has allocated about S$380 million annually to Mediacorp to support the production of public service broadcasts in Singapore’s four official languages.
SINGAPORE: StarHub and Mediacorp Announce Strategic Partnership to Reshape Singapore’s Media and Entertainment Landscape (Press release)
MediaCorp: StarHub and Mediacorp today announced a strategic partnership that will reshape Singapore’s media and entertainment market.
SOUTH KOREA: KBS Establishes AI Guidelines Prioritizing Human Values (Press release)
KBS: KBS has established comprehensive AI Guidelines setting clear standards for AI utilization. These 8-article, 25-clause guidelines are integral to KBS’s broad AI transformation.
SOUTH KOREA: KBS President Park Jang-beom to Chair PBI Seoul 2026 (Press release)
KBS: KBS President and CEO Park Jang-beom has been appointed as Chair of Public Broadcasters International Seoul 2026.
TAJIKISTAN: Tcell and Mawj Platforms launch digital ecosystem to transform Central Asia’s media landscape
Asia-Plus: During the Dushanbe International Investment Forum, Tcell, Tajikistan’s leading digital operator, and international technology company Mawj Platforms announced a strategic partnership to establish a unified digital media ecosystem for Central Asia.
THAILAND: Thai PBS joins forces with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) to raise public awareness of genomic medicine. (Press release)
Thai PBS: The Public Broadcasting Service of Thailand (MCOT) or Thai PBS, through its Content Creation Office, in collaboration with the Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), jointly organized the event “GENOMICS THAILAND: DNA Discovery Day” on October 18, 2025, at Fashion Island Shopping Center, Bangkok, to raise awareness and understanding of genomic medicine among the public, in order to drive the Thai health system towards a future of precision medicine.
THAILAND: Thai PBS joins hands with the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand to create a transparent society. (Press release)
Thai PBS: The Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT) met with Thai PBS to discuss cooperation in combating corruption, encouraging public participation, and creating a transparent society
VIETNAM & LAOS: Ho Chi Minh City, Laos strengthen media cooperation
Saigon Giái Phóng News: Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Tang Huu Phong, received a delegation of Laotian journalists on October 23.
REGIONAL: ABU-ASBU relations continue to grow
ABU: The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) has further strengthened its news exchange with the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) as both parties look for ways to enhance member services.
AUSTRALIA: ABC NEWS launches Deep Time – a digital treasure chest sharing the ancient story of Australia’s First Nations peoples (Press release)
ABC: ABC NEWS launches Deep Time today, giving all Australians the opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring ancient story of our continent and its people.
AUSTRALIA: ‘Act like it’: Matt Stanton’s rallying cry to Australian media
MediaWeek: After topping the Power List at the 2025 Mediaweek 100 event, Nine CEO Matt Stanton used his acceptance speech to challenge the industry to shift its mindset, urging the Australian’s to turn away from pessimism and toward possibility.
AUSTRALIA: AI firms crawling Nine Entertainment’s news sites 10 times a second
AFR: ChatGPT owner OpenAI, Perplexity and other artificial intelligence giants are crawling and scraping major Australian news websites tens of millions of times a month despite those media companies taking explicit steps to prevent it from happening.
AUSTRALIA: SBS Learn’s Dharug Ngurra resource empowers classrooms to meaningfully celebrate NSW Aboriginal Languages Week (Press release)
SBS: SBS Learn is encouraging teachers to celebrate this year’s NSW Aboriginal Languages Week by exploring Dharug Ngurra.
AUSTRALIA: Staff in regional ACM newsrooms concerned about rollout of generative AI model
ABC: Staff at Australian Community Media, owner of the Canberra Times, say the rollout of generative artificial intelligence to assist their journalism has been problematic. Staff say AI has misattributed quotes, wrongly identified people within headlines, and provided misleading media law advice.
NEW ZEALAND: Mediawatch: Talley’s vs TVNZ in defamation confrontation
RNZ: Successive governments have dodged the issue of how the media should be held to account, leaving us with outdated and fragmented systems for standards and complaints.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ sells Whitireia property to Ngāti Toa Rangatira
RNZ: RNZ has sold a 53 hectare property at Whitireia near Wellington to the Ngāti Toa iwi. As part of the transaction RNZ will lease back twelve hectares of land and buildings to continue its AM transmission operations.
NEW ZEALAND: Turn it up: Students petition for more Kiwi music on radio
The Post: A group of Massey University music students is petitioning the Government to mandate more Kiwi music on the airwaves.
NEW ZEALAND & US: TVNZ journalist was refused access at the Pentagon after new restrictions on the press
IFJ: Logan Church, a TVNZ journalist, was escorted out of the Pentagon and denied access to cover a meeting after his media accreditation was withdrawn at the last minute, just days after the latest restrictions on news outlets came into force.
TIMOR-LESTE: As Timor-Leste joins ASEAN, RSF urges reforms to demonstrate its status as a Southeast Asia press freedom model
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the authorities to implement reforms that would allow the country to embody a model of openness and transparency in a regional organisation where press freedom is gravely undermined.
AUSTRIA: Cutting ORF employees’ allowances was permissible according to the Supreme Court (German)
Der Standard: The Constitutional Court has rejected the appeal of long-standing ORF employees against the loss of their housing, family and child allowances
AUSTRIA, GERMANY & SWITZERLAND: Across national borders: Co-production partnership between ARD, ORF and SRF is further deepened (Press release – German)
ORF: The collaboration between the public broadcasters ARD, ORF, and SRF will continue and intensify. A production budget of approximately €150 million will be available for this purpose in the coming year. The collaborative projects span all genres, from entertainment and fictional and serial productions to documentaries and wildlife and nature films.
BELGIUM: Bouchez attacks RTBF again – and also the journalists’ association (German)
BRF: MR party leader Georges-Louis Bouchez has once again sharply criticized the French-language public broadcaster RTBF. Bouchez accuses RTBF of spreading fake news. In the run-up to Tuesday’s large demonstration in Brussels, RTBF published the unions’ demands on its website.
CZECHIA: According to Šťastný, Czech Television and Czech Radio must remain independent media (Czech)
SZ: Both Motorists and ANO assure that Czech Television and Czech Radio will remain independent, even if they could be newly funded by the state instead of fees. However, the opposition warns that such a move could threaten their independence.
CZECHIA: Baxa: If Babiš thinks we will leave him alone with Czech Television and radio, he is wrong (Czech)
SZ: The parties in the emerging government coalition promised voters fundamental changes to television and radio fees. ANO and SPD appealed for their abolition and financing of ČT and ČRo from the state budget.
CZECHIA: Czech Radio has signed a Memorandum on Public Service for the next five years. It takes into account public opinion and strengthens the role of radio in crises and regions (Czech) (14 October)
Český Rozhlas: The document defines how Czech Radio will fulfill its statutory role, particularly in the areas of news, culture, education, regional broadcasting and digital services.
CZECHIA: RSF expands with first Central Europe bureau in Prague
RSF: The Prague bureau of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — opened with the support of Czech President Petr Pavel — will strengthen the NGO’s work in the eastern European Union (EU) and highlight the region’s contribution to press freedom and to the right to reliable information worldwide.
DENMARK: DR boss on the ‘Candidate Test’: ‘It is not a checklist, but a good way to gain more knowledge about the election’ (Press release – Danish)
DR: DR is now ready with the ‘Candidate Test’ ahead of the municipal and regional elections on November 18. There are both questions that are asked in all municipalities and completely local questions, but the test is not a list of answers, emphasizes the senior editor.
FINLAND: Yle’s statement on Yleisradio’s funding, government proposal to Parliament for the state budget for 2026 (Press release – Finnish)
Yle: Yle submitted a statement to the Transport Division of the Finance Committee of the Parliament on the government’s proposal to Parliament for the state budget for 2026.
FRANCE: 2025 Budget Forecast: France Télévisions continues its management efforts (Press release – French)
FranceTV: At the board meeting on October 16, France Télévisions presented its budget reforecast for 2025. Following the adoption of a revised budget in July, the reforecast reflects the significant management efforts made by the company, in a very deteriorating budgetary and advertising context.
FRANCE: Launch of Free TV – France Télévisions and the TF1 Group denounce the provision of their channels and content without prior discussions (Press release – French)
FranceTV: France Télévisions and the TF1 Group express their deepest concerns following the announcement of the launch of the Free TV application, which includes their channels and streaming content, without prior consultation, in order to ensure compliance with their roles as publishers and appropriate monetization conditions with regard to the financing of their content.
FRANCE: Radio France and the Ministry of the Interior reaffirm the vital role of public service radio in times of crisis (Press release – French)
Radio France: Radio France and the Ministry of the Interior reaffirm the vital role of public service radio in times of crisis. The two institutions sign a new agreement to strengthen their cooperation in crisis management and national resilience.
GEORGIA: Court imposes 5-day imprisonment on GPB Board of Trustees member Lika Basilaia-Shavgulidze (Georgian)
1TV: The Tbilisi City Court has found Lika Basilaia-Shavgulidze, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB), to be in breach of administrative law.
GERMANY: Identity of killed employee of production company PMP in Gaza clarified (Press release – German)
ZDF: ZDF welcomes the Israeli military’s compliance with the request to clarify the identity of the killed employee of the PMP production company in Gaza. The 37-year-old, who was an engineer responsible for the transmission technology, was reportedly a member of the terrorist organization Hamas.
GERMANY: Legal dispute over broadcasting fee enters next round (German)
ZDF Heute: A woman from Bavaria had filed a lawsuit against the broadcasting fee because she considered the program unbalanced. The Administrative Court has now referred the case back to the lower court.
GERMANY: ZDF improves remuneration framework for creatives (Press release – German)
ZDF: ZDF has decided to improve working conditions for its camera, production and costume designers, and editors. With a declaration of commitment, the broadcaster is meeting the demands of the copyright associations and continues to focus on a positive and trusting collaboration that takes the interests of all involved into account and expresses appreciation for creative achievements.
IRELAND: Audience attitudes to harmful and offensive media content are changing (Press release)
Coimisiún na Meán: New research has highlighted Irish audiences’ evolving attitudes to harmful and offensive media content, with two-in-three adults (67%) reporting that they did not have concerns about seeing or hearing potentially harmful or offensive media content themselves.
ITALY: Interview with Sigfrido Ranucci, Italian journalist targeted by an attack: “We will not give up on informing our audience” (Interview – French)
RTBF
MALTA: In Memory of Daphne: Media reform public consultations must lead to National Action Plan
IPI: On the eve of the anniversary of the murder of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the International Press Institute (IPI) joins press freedom and journalists’ groups in calling on Malta’s authorities to set up a National Action Plan on Media Freedom and Journalist Safety.
MONTENEGRO: Public service hostage to cronyism
OBCT: Following the recent conviction for abuse of office of the President and three members of the Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) Council, controversy continues over the appointment of Boris Raonić as director of the Montenegrin public broadcaster
THE NETHERLANDS: NOS Sport Editor-in-Chief: Public broadcasting cuts ‘enormously damaging’ (Dutch)
AD: The Hague’s current budget cuts to public broadcasting are “very unwise and extremely damaging,” especially since sports broadcasting is at risk of being hit particularly hard by this political intervention.
THE NETHERLANDS: NPO cuts programming, two TV channels are being overhauled (Dutch)
NOS: The public broadcaster will retain three TV channels, but they will be filled differently, resulting in fewer programs. This is one of the measures to implement the government-imposed budget cuts of nearly €160 million starting in 2027, the NPO confirmed after a report by the AD newspaper .
THE NETHERLANDS: Public broadcaster offers extra programs for young people around elections (Press release – Dutch)
NPO: The public broadcaster is strongly committed to youth programming surrounding the 2025 parliamentary elections. Various formats will be used to make politics accessible and relevant to young viewers and listeners.
NORWAY: NRK site: Could become 1,200 homes (Norwegian)
Finans Avisen: 1,200 homes and a vibrant urban area, nothing less, those are Ferd Eiendom’s plans for Marienlyst in Oslo after NRK moves out in a few years.
POLAND: BBC News Polska announces partnership with Onet.pl (Press release)
BBC: Users of Poland’s leading news website can now see the BBC’s independent and impartial news in Polish.
RUSSIA: Russia Today is training a new generation of journalists — and other notes from Disinfo2025
NiemanLab: Russian malign influence operations took center stage at the event, and participants discussed how Europe can forge a path without U.S. support.
Council of Europe: In the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, the issue of impunity for crimes against media workers remains among the most pressing.
SLOVENIA: Attempts to discredit journalists are unacceptable (Press release – Slovenian)
RTVSLO: RTV Slovenia has recently been experiencing increased pressure and attempts to discredit journalists, including from political representatives. Such actions constitute an infringement on media freedom and threaten independent journalism.
SWEDEN: Sveriges Radio’s AI focus right now (Press release – Swedish)
SR: Sveriges Radio has launched its own internal AI portal and a new AI course is being rolled out for employees. We also continue to talk about how AI is affecting journalism and consider how AI assistants will take their place in our daily news lives. And our news search will get new features. This is what Sveriges Radio’s new AI manager, Andreas Landmark, writes.
SWITZERLAND: SRG’s future live and streaming platform is called Play+ (Press release – German)
SRG SSR: SRG (Swiss Broadcasting Corporation) unveils the name of its future national streaming platform, Play+. In fall 2026, all video and audio content from RSI, RTR, RTS, and SRF, as well as Play Suisse, will be brought together for the first time on a single platform – live, delayed, and on demand.
SWITZERLAND: Swissinfo named second-best online medium in Switzerland (Press release)
Swissinfo.ch: The Yearbook of Media Quality 2025 has once again given Swissinfo a good rating in its media quality analysis.
UK & US: ICE detains British journalist after criticism of Israel on US tour
The Guardian: Trump ally Laura Loomer took credit for Sami Hamdi’s detainment in move denounced as ‘affront to free speech’
UK: Ofcom updates guidance around politicians presenting news (Press release)
Ofcom: Ofcom has issued new guidance to broadcasters about politicians presenting news, following our consultation on this issue.
REGIONAL: EU Must Act Against Legal Bullying of Balkan Journalists: Media Lawyer
Balkan Insight: Press freedom advocate Flutura Kusari says the growing use of aggressive lawsuits to intimidate and silence journalists demands a tougher response from the European Union.
REGIONAL: Evaluation of State aid rules for public service broadcasting – Expert Consultation (Policy consultation)
European Commission: The objective of this consultation is to collect the stakeholders’ views on how the Broadcasting Communication has functioned since its last revision in 2009 and whether it has provided (and continues to provide) clear guidance to stakeholders and Member States on the application of State aid rules in the public service broadcasting sector.
REGIONAL: Investing in Independence: Financing Media Freedom in Central & Eastern Europe (Report)
Financial Times: Independent media in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) stands at a crossroads, facing political pressure, shrinking revenues and digital disruption. Yet for investors this is also a moment of opportunity.
ARGENTINA: Argentina’s newsrooms are leading the AI revolution, but risk getting devoured by it
Knight Centre: Nearly a third of newsrooms in Argentina are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to complete routine journalism tasks, according to a study published this month by the Association of Argentine Journalism Entities, known as Adepa.
BRAZIL: Dom Phillips & Bruno Pereira ‘would be killed again,’ Indigenous leader says
Mongabay: Three years after the killings of British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, threats remain in the Javari Valley, in the Brazilian Amazon, despite government efforts to halt violence in the region, prominent Indigenous leader Beto Marubo said.
BRAZIL: Ministry of Communications launches 2nd public call to expand free public TV offering (Press release – Portuguese)
EBC: The objective is to expand the digital inclusion of thousands of Brazilians through the provision of channels, ensuring greater access to information, news, services, culture and entertainment.
Diario Constitucional: The Court upheld the decision of the Santiago Court, which established that the so-called “right to be forgotten” is not recognized in Chilean law and that the publications in question correspond to true facts of public interest, disseminated in the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression.
COLOMBIA: Court orders Petro to publicly apologize for calling female journalists “mafia dolls.”
El Colombiano: The Constitutional Court ordered President Gustavo Petro to retract his remarks and publicly apologize to women journalists for the statements he made during the inauguration of Ombudsman Iris Marín Ortiz.
COLOMBIA: In Colombia, investigative journalists hit the pavement to report on realities of the armed conflict
LatAm Journalism Review: Reading a journalistic investigation into the execution of civilians by the military isn’t the same as hearing it spoken by its author in front of a military museum that is an icon of the power of a country’s military.
COLOMBIA: RTVC calls for the overturning of a ruling that restricted Petro’s presidential speeches, alleging “censorship.” (Press release – Spanish)
RTVC: The Public Media System questioned the powers granted to the CRC to determine whether a presidential address is relevant or not, and even spoke of “prior censorship.”
COLOMBIA: “Petro lives in an altered reality,” critical reactions arose to Petro’s alleged speech on RTVC. (Spanish)
IFM Noticias: A wave of criticism has erupted after President Gustavo Petro appeared on RTVC with his friend and journalist Hollman Morris, following the denial of his request to broadcast his presidential address by the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC).
ECUADOR: RSF condemns violence against at least 55 journalists during national protests
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) strongly condemns the severe escalation of violence against journalists in Ecuador during the national strike.
EL SALVADOR: The independent press is under siege in El Salvador: persecution, violence, and financial strangulation force journalists into exile (Spanish)
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns of the acceleration of threats, judicial persecution, and financial strangulation measures against the press under the government of President Nayib Bukele. This repression has already forced dozens of media professionals into exile.
JAMAICA: Fake AI videos clog social media as Hurricane Melissa bears down on Jamaica
South China Morning Post: Jamaica’s information minister urges people to ‘listen to the official channels’ as Category 5 storm approaches.
MEXICO: In Mexico, local journalism uses MIL to fight disinformation
DW Akademie: Nine lessons from a new publication explain how local media in Mexico have built stronger, better-informed communities.
PARAGUAY: Four investigative journalists attacked in three months as protection law stalls
RSF: Since August 2025, there has been a worrying surge in violence and threats against journalists investigating corruption, organised crime and the abuse of political power in Paraguay.
PERU: IRTP forms committee to implement communications strategy during state of emergency in Lima and Callao (Press release – Spanish)
IRTP: The working group is chaired by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
REGIONAL: LATAM Digital Media Festival 2025 to discuss AI, influencers, migration and more in Mexico City (Event – Spanish)
Factual: For three days, we will bring together journalists, editors, donors, representatives of international organizations and agencies, news influencers and content creators, photojournalists and documentary filmmakers, and digital media specialists from across Latin America and around the world.
BAHRAIN: The Ministry of Information to the Shura Council: We fully agree with the MPs’ amendments to the Press Law. (Arabic)
Al Ayam: As the Shura Council prepares to discuss the new draft press law, the Ministry of Information affirmed its full agreement with the amendments approved by the House of Representatives, emphasizing that the new draft responds to accelerating digital and professional transformations and balances freedom of opinion and expression with the requirements of responsible legal regulation.
EGYPT: Enas Gohar as Chairman of the Public Service Media Committee and Amr Khafagi as Rapporteur (Arabic)
The Seventh Day: The committee members emphasized the importance of restoring the true role of public service media as a national media outlet that reflects the citizen’s pulse and promotes community belonging and awareness, with a focus on developing the content provided by official media outlets to keep pace with public aspirations while maintaining professionalism and objectivity.
IRAN: Iranian Security Forces Raid Journalist’s Home, Seize Electronic Devices
Iran Wire: Iranian security forces raided the home of journalist Marziyeh Rasouli on Monday and confiscated all personal electronic devices belonging to her and her husband.
ISRAEL & PALESTINE: RSF appeals to Israeli Supreme Court against media blackout imposed on Gaza
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has joined the petition by the Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Jerusalem to the Israeli Supreme Court for the Gaza Strip to be opened to journalists, who have been denied independent access since October 2023.
QATAR & SAUDI ARABIA: Qatar, Saudi Arabia discuss further media cooperation
Qatar Tribune: At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides agreed on a number of media initiatives, including training young media professionals, discussing broadcasting rights for the national teams’ matches, and a project to produce a television drama that addresses the long-standing historical relations between the two fraternal countries and societies.
QATAR & SYRIA: Information Minister Visits Qatar Media Corporation in Doha (Arabic)
Sana.sy: During meetings with officials at the Qatar Media Corporation, Minister Al-Mustafa explored avenues for boosting cooperation and exchanging expertise in technical development and professional training for media personnel.
TURKEY: Journalists reporting LGBTQ+ issues risk criminalisation: Withdraw the proposed law!
MFRR: As press and freedom of expression organisations undersigned below, we call for the removal of the reported anti-LGBTQ+ provision from the 11th Judicial Package which would restrict and possibly criminalise media reporting on the community.
CANADA: APTN, CBC, and the Indigenous Screen Office Announce Selected Projects for 2025-2026 Early Stage Scripted Development Program for Indigenous Creators (Press release)
CBC: The Indigenous Screen Office is pleased to announce the selected recipients of the APTN/CBC Early Stage Scripted Development Program for Indigenous Creators.
CANADA: APTN expands its presence across digital platforms (Press release)
APTN: APTN is expanding its reach and offering new ways to connect with Indigenous stories in the digital era, including a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel, in-flight entertainment on Air Canada and the transition of the network’s streaming platform from APTN lumi to APTN+.
CANADA: CBC/Radio-Canada’s 2025–2030 Corporate Strategy
CBC/Radio-Canada: The Corporation commits to a bold, multi-year strategy that accentuates its public value and demonstrates its essential role for everyone. The national strategy is focused on a five-year horizon as this will take many years to implement.
CANADA: Does the CBC Still Speak for Canada?
The Walrus: The broadcaster was born in an age of shared ideals. Trouble is, that audience no longer exists.
CANADA: Guilbeault praises CBC’s plans to boost local news coverage
CKPG Today: Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault is praising CBC/Radio-Canada’s plans to increase local news coverage as part of its new five-year strategy.
CANADA: Opening Remarks from Marie-Philippe Bouchard, President and CEO, at the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (Speech – Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada
CANADA: Third-language TV producers appeal for federal budget inclusion
Broadcast Dialogue: Independent third-language community television producers are appealing for inclusion in the upcoming federal budget, warning that their sector “is on the brink of collapse.”
US: After others departed, Pentagon announces ‘new’ press corps filled with conservative news outlets
AP: Several conservative news outlets said Wednesday they had agreed to a new press policy rejected by virtually all legacy media organizations and will take their place in the Pentagon to cover Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the U.S. military.
US: APTS affiliate will now be sole manager of Protect My Public Media
Current: The American Coalition for Public Radio, an NPR-affiliated advocacy organization, will no longer co-manage the Protect My Public Media campaign and will continue leading a separate radio-focused effort.
US: As PBS News turns 50, longtime viewers share what the show has meant to them
PBS
US: ICE must respect journalists’ rights by following its own rules
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has recorded a growing number of violent attacks by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents against journalists in the course of their work.
US: John Buoymaster Elected Chairperson of the NPR Foundation Board of Trustees (Press release)
NPR: The NPR Foundation is pleased to announce that John Buoymaster has been elected as Chairperson of the NPR Foundation Board of Trustees for a three-year term beginning November 1, 2025.
US: Northwest Public Broadcasting to downsize public TV operations, cut staff
Current: The university licensee of Northwest Public Broadcasting in Pullman, Wash., is taking steps to cut jobs and shut down its public TV station KWSU-TV following the rescission of federal funding for public broadcasting.
US: Under Trump, Voice of America Is Down but Not Out
The New York Times: Buttressed by courts and support from some Republican lawmakers, federally funded newsrooms that President Trump has tried to eliminate have yet to be rendered obsolete.
A digital future created with young people, for young people (Report)
BBC: How can public service media work with young people to shape its digital future?
AI’s war on journalism will decide the fate of the free press
Euractiv: The EU’s approach to how artificial intelligence uses journalistic work could determine whether the free press survives the digital age – or vanishes into the data stream.
Building a public interest approach to AI in the news (Report)
BBC: Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are changing how journalists make the news and how audiences consume it. From translation to document analysis to writing assistance, news organisations are increasingly using generative AI to research and produce reports.
Data journalists start news site to track extremist movements
Semafor: Two veteran data journalists are launching a new investigative publication to cover rising authoritarianism from the shadowy corners of the internet.
The Guardian: A young journalist reflects on the UN leader’s responses, and hopes his messages – about human violence on an increasingly hostile planet – resonated before Cop30.
The Conversation: Online influencers, through their postings on Instagram, Threads, TikTok and elsewhere, have created an exuberant universe of news and commentary that often outruns mainstream media in reach and even impact.
Introducing the News Atom: a metadata blueprint for journalism in the age of AI
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: When AI chatbots were first introduced to the world, we were all amused at how convincingly they produced marketing copy, and even poetry. But within months, they turned from writing tools into answer machines.
IPI General Assembly Resolution: States must urgently increase protections and support for journalists in exile (Press release)
IPI: Around the world, journalists are being forced into exile in unprecedented numbers. The global press freedom environment is deteriorating as authoritarianism and illiberalism gain ground. Wars and political instability add further peril.
IPI: Around the world, journalists are threatened, attacked, and killed – and in nearly all cases, these crimes go unpunished. This impunity prevails despite international commitments by states to ensure accountability for attacks on the press.
Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory (Study report)
EBU: New research coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC has found that AI assistants – already a daily information gateway for millions of people – routinely misrepresent news content no matter which language, territory, or AI platform is tested.
Margaret Sullivan Takes a New Look at Journalism Ethics
CJR: The Columbia professor talks about her new series about how the challenges facing journalists have evolved with the times.
Meta’s Ban on Political Ads in Europe Unsettles Newsrooms
CJR: When outlets depend on a single platform, what works to reach readers today can vanish tomorrow.
R.E.M.’s ‘Radio Free Europe 2025’ Benefit EP Arrives On 10-Inch Orange Vinyl
Wildfire music: Following the announcement of Radio Free Europe 2025, the five-track benefit EP celebrating the 75th anniversary of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), R.E.M. has arrived on limited-edition 10-inch orange vinyl, available now exclusively at independent record stores and REMHQ.com. Proceeds from all vinyl and merch sales will go to RFE/RL, “an editorially independent nonpartisan and nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation.”
The Annual Conference of the International Association of Public Media has begun (Press release – Bulgarian)
BNR: The Annual Conference of the International Association of Public Broadcasters ( Public Broadcasters International ) has begun. The forum on the topic “Public Media – the Power of Arguments” is being held for the first time in Sofia, hosted by the Bulgarian National Radio.
‘The jobless should lead the attack’: a radical Jamaican journalist in 1920s London (Long read)
The Guardian: Economic insecurity, race riots, incendiary media … Claude McKay was one of the few Black journalists covering a turbulent period that sounds all too familiar to us today
TikTok didn’t mean to become a breaking news platform – but it did
journalism.co.uk: Prioritise presence over perfection when a major story breaks on TikTok – audience interest peaks within the first two hours, writes Deutsche Welle’s Erika Marzano
WorldDAB Summit 2025 to explore how DAB+ powers business of broadcast (Event)
RedTech: Broadcast and digital radio leaders from around the world will gather in Antwerp, Belgium, on Nov. 20 for the WorldDAB Summit 2025 — the flagship annual event of the global industry forum for DAB+ digital radio.
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