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.
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What we're watching...
Press freedom on the decline: Can the situation improve?
DW: Press freedom is going backwards and dangers for journalists continue to rise. Even the nations where press freedom is faring comparatively well face challenges. Despite this, observers have hope.
What we're listening to...
Too expensive, too bad? Liechtenstein abolishes its public service broadcasting (German)
Medien im Visier: Liechtenstein, the second richest country in the world, is abolishing its only public radio station. In this episode of ‘Medien im Visier’, we talk to Patrick Schädler, editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper ‘Liechtensteiner Vaterland’, about the background and consequences of this decision.
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BOTSWANA: UB Radio 99.5FM Pioneering New Era in Campus Broadcasting & Community Engagement
University of Botswana: The University of Botswana (UB) has taken a bold step in transforming its media landscape with the official launch of UB Radio 99.5FM, marking a new chapter in broadcasting, student engagement and community dialogue.
EGYPT: Egypt blocks independent media outlet Zawia3 over investigative reporting
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the blocking of Egyptian independent media outlet Zawia3, based in Brussels, and calls on Egyptian authorities to end the country’s systematic censorship of independent journalism.
ETHIOPIA: IPI urges lawmakers to reject proposed media law amendments
IPI: The International Press Freedom (IPI) global network today joins journalists, media bodies, and civil society organisations in Ethiopia in condemning the grave risk to media freedom posed by amendments to the country’s media law.
KENYA: Kenya Editors Guild partners with Radio Africa Group to uplift journalism
The Star: The Kenya Editors Guild and Radio Africa Group yesterday agreed to work together to protect press freedom and adapt to changing times.
MAURITANIA: Journalists take a stand against gender-based violence
United Nations: Many journalists in Mauritania face challenges covering gender-based violence, Ba added.
MOROCCO & FRANCE: Signing of several cooperation agreements (FrencH)
Le Site Info: Several cooperation agreements were signed on Tuesday in Rabat between Moroccan officials and their French counterparts on bilateral cooperation in the cultural field, on the occasion of the working visit to the Kingdom by the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati.
NAMIBIA: NBC editor faces dismissal for calling NNN old
The Namibian: NAMIBIAN Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) investigative editor Anna Nicodemus is facing either a dismissal or final warning after being found guilty on three charges, including calling president in waiting Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah old.
NAMIBIA: US embassy questions Namibian media independence, sparks concerns over press freedom
The Namibian: The managing director and editor of The Namibian, Tangeni Amupadhi, has rejected attempts by the United States (US) government to use advertising as a means to question whether the news organisation represents US foreign policy.
SENEGAL: TDS-SA and the CNRA for a constructive and strategic dialogue (French)
Leral: The General Director of TDS-SA, Dr. Aminata Sarr Malick Ndiaye, accompanied by her colleagues, was received by Mr. Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye at the CNRA headquarters for a strategic dialogue between stakeholders.
SOUTH AFRICA: Bill to reform SABC’s funding model urgent, says Parly’s communications committee
Eyewitness News: Last week, a meeting to consider the public submissions on the bill was postponed to allow Communications Minister Solly Malatsi to consult with the deputy president and the National Assembly speaker over his instruction to withdraw the bill.
ZIMBABWE: Information Ministry, Parly Portfolio tours ZMC, ZBC
The Herald: The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media are scheduled to tour the Zimbabwe Media Commission and State Broadcaster ZBC today.
ZIMBABWE: Mandatory radio licence bill back in Parliament
The Herald: The Broadcasting Services Bill, which makes it mandatory for motorists to first buy a radio licence before acquiring insurance cover, will be tabled in Parliament next Tuesday.
REGIONAL: State Of Digital Broadcasting Across East Africa – Reviewing The State Of Play (Event)
BMA: As East Africa continues its digital transformation, the broadcasting sector stands at a critical juncture.
AFGHANISTAN: Off air: one by one, the Taliban are removing women’s voices from Afghan radio
The Guardian: As one of the last female-run stations in the country is silenced, a former broadcaster gives an inside view of the crackdown on women working in the media.
AZERBAIJAN: BBC and Turan the latest casualties in Azerbaijan’s media crackdown
Commonspace.eu: The Azerbaijani government has ordered the suspension of BBC News Azerbaijani operation in Baku whle the influential news agency Turan has been forced to drastically scale down its operations in the country.
AZERBAIJAN: BBC statement on Azerbaijan (Press release)
BBC: Following verbal instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the BBC has made the reluctant decision to close its office in the country and to suspend the activities of our excellent journalists in Baku.
CAMBODIA: Press freedom under attack
DW: Local and foreign journalists are enduring a crackdown in the Southeast Asian country.
CHINA: China’s fragile online spaces for debate
Merics: Between entertainment and heavy state guidance, citizens raise social concerns and create new communities.
United News of India: The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed a 2014 criminal defamation case against Jaideep Bose.
INDONESIA: Media violence still rampant in Indonesia, latest index shows
The Jakarta Post: Indonesia has recorded a slight improvement of 0.7 point in the latest Journalist Safety Index, but still ranks in the bottom two-fifths of the RSF’s Press Freedom Index for last year.
INDONESIA: Strategies of seduction on social media
Inside Indonesia: To supporters of each of the candidates, the campaign felt like a real thriller. This was especially so on social media, where supporters mixed with paid ‘buzzers’ – anonymous social media influencers – to hype-up their candidate.
JAPAN: Fuji TV Scandal: A Wake-Up Call for Japanese Media
Japan Forward: The Fuji TV scandal sparked much-needed soul-searching within Japanese media outlets. Can the industry learn from its mistakes and emerge stronger than before?
KAZAKHSTAN & JORDAN: Kazakh President’s TV and Radio Complex expands partnership with Jordan’s media outlets
Kaz Inform: The TV and Radio Complex of the Kazakh President signed on Wednesday a memorandum of cooperation with Jordan Radio and Television Corporation and The Independent Media Station Al-Mamlaka TV in Amman, Jordan, Kazinform News Agency reports.
MALAYSIA: Tik Tok bans Malaysian news accounts for violating CSAM
The Malaysian Reserve: SOCIAL Media Platform TikTok bans 18 Malaysian news sites including the national news agency Bernama for violating the platform’s community guideline on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in their postings
MALAYSIA: What’s New 2025: Best of RTM (Malay – Press release)
RTM: Straight ahead in providing quality program content that crosses technology, thought challenges, as well as current trend changes, Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) organized the RTM… What’s New 2025 Council
MYANMAR: ‘We have nothing now’: Myanmar’s exiled media face existential crisis after Trump severs aid
The Guardian: Organisations that take extreme risks to document atrocities, corruption and war crimes fear for their future after USAid cuts.
NEPAL: CPJ: Nepal lawmakers should reject social media bill threatening press freedom
CPJ: The Nepalese government should withdraw a recently introduced social media bill that is expected to undermine press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: “We try to give context to young audiences so they can have both sides of the story,” says young journalist Talha Ahad, founder of The Centrum Media.
ANI: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has rejected the recently passed controversial amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, terming it a threat to freedom of expression, independent media and people’s right to know, and democracy.
The Straits Times: More than half of legitimate user complaints about content related to child abuse or cyber bullying, among other harms, were not addressed in the first instance by social media companies, Singapore’s media regulator has found.
SINGAPORE: TikTok cuts trust and safety jobs in Singapore as part of global layoffs
The Straits Times: At least a dozen TikTok employees in Singapore were let go with immediate effect, as the firm trimmed its back-end teams globally to better align operations with long-term growth plans, The Straits Times has learnt.
SOUTH KOREA: ‘Like a giant Squid Game’: soul searching in South Korea after latest celebrity suicide
The Guardian: Death of actor Kim Sae-ron sparks renewed calls for changes to ease pressure on celebrities who face intense scrutiny from media and fans alike.
THAILAND: Thai PBS upgrades the People’s Station program to “More than just a news program, with public service” (Press release – Thai)
Thai PBS: Thai PBS’s People’s Station program has been upgraded to “More than just a news program, with public service”, reaching out to the problems, reaching out to the people, and being a source of refuge for everyone, along with going down to the area to expand and create networks to energize communities, attacking 5 serious problems: “Creating immunity to online threats – Missing people can return home – Farmer debt – Consumer problems – Investigating local corruption”
AUSTRALIA: ABC audio on demand has a record-breaking summer (Press release)
ABC: December to February was the ABC’s strongest summer on record for listeners across our on demand audio content.
ABC: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and ABC Chair Kim Williams have officially opened the broadcaster’s new facilities in Parramatta, in western Sydney.
AUSTRALIA: Australian children able to bypass age limit set by social media platforms, report shows
Reuters: Children in Australia are able to easily bypass the minimum age limit imposed by social media platforms, a report by the country’s online safety regulator showed on Thursday, ahead of a landmark ban by the government on access for those under 16.
AUSTRALIA: Generative AI is already being used in journalism – here’s how people feel about it
The Conversation: A new report published today finds that news audiences and journalists alike are concerned about how news organisations are – and could be – using generative AI such as chatbots, image, audio and video generators, and similar tools.
The Guardian: Buttrose, the former ABC chair, sends explosive letter to broadcaster’s lawyers suggesting she could hand over ‘evidence’ disputing Anderson’s version of events to Lattouf’s legal team.
AUSTRALIA: On Mother Language Day This Place shares the stories behind Indigenous place names (Press release)
ABC: To celebrate UNESCO International Mother Language Day ABC News and First Languages Australia are relaunching This Place, a national project that shares the stories behind Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander place names.
NEW ZEALAND: NZME plans new video channel amid news cuts
RNZ: NZME confirmed yesterday that several senior reporters are among those who will leave the New Zealand Herald’s newsroom by April.
NEW ZEALAND: Will Australia and US set our media policy?
RNZ: The government’s new media plan does not do much to aid the ailing industry, and a law change that might help has stalled.
NIUE: BCN building renovations well underway
BCN: The project is expected to be completed in May of this year.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: UK supports effective media relations training for parliamentary officials
Solomon Star: A day’s training to equip parliamentary officials in Solomon Islands on effective media relations was held this week.
REGIONAL: France Télévisions antennas return to the Pacific (Press release – French)
France Télévisions: The territories of New Caledonia, Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna, located in the southern hemisphere, returned to broadcast between the end of January and February.
REGIONAL: US backing for Pacific disinformation media course casualty of Trump aid ‘freeze’
Pacific Media Watch: A New Zealand-based community education provider, Dark Times Academy, has had a US Embassy grant to deliver a course teaching Pacific Islands journalists about disinformation terminated after the new Trump administration took office.
AUSTRIA: New ORF action plan to improve accessibility (Press release – German)
ORF: The goal of 100 percent subtitling is getting closer; two thirds of all programs are already subtitled
AUSTRIA: “ORF 2032”: Initiative seeks ideas for an independent ORF (German)
Der Standard: Citizens should further develop public broadcasting in an online participation process
AUSTRIA: With a new government, the ORF Foundation Council can blush again (German)
Der Standard: Until the end of March, the ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos can still swap government mandates in the highest ORF body. This is what the foundation board could look like from April
CROATIA: HRT speaks out after some protective faces left it: ‘This ensures sustainability’ (Croatian)
Direktno: Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) reported on Friday, after the government adopted a plan to consolidate the work and operations of HRT, that this will “enable Croatian Radio and Television to respond more effectively to the challenges of the digital era and ensure sustainability in the long term.”
CROATIA: Tackling political pressure and legal hurdles to revive media freedom (Report)
Article 19: Outdated media laws, compromised public media independence, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), as well as mounting economic, political, and physical pressures, are undermining journalism and media freedom in Croatia, as outlined in the latest Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) report.
CROATIA: The most valuable collection of audiovisual materials from recent Croatian history is on the verge of decay (Croatian)
Glas Istre: The HRT archive, the most valuable collection of audiovisual materials from recent Croatian history, is seriously endangered and in danger of decay, and the restoration and digitalization of the materials requires as much as 38 million euros, according to the latest report on the state of the Prisava archive.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Completely new features and a more modern environment. ČT24 presents a new version of the mobile application (Press release – Czech)
ČT: The number one news channel in Europe presents a new version of the mobile application. It brings a modern user interface, a new short news section, the ability to add widgets with the main news to the home screen or dark mode.
CZECH REPUBLIC: RSF urges MPs to approve media license fee increase
RSF: The Czech Parliament has failed to vote on increased funding for public media, an initiative promoted by the government.
CZECH REPUBLIC: The Reporters at the Start competition inspires for the third time (Press release – Czech)
ČT: Czech Television’s educational portal ČT edu today launched the Reporters at the Start 2025 competition, which brings inspiration to schools on how to practically teach media education.
FINLAND: How can Yle be independent? (Watch – Finnish)
Yle: Yle’s budget of approximately 540 million euros is financed entirely by the Yle tax, which is a maximum of 160 euros per person. How can Yle be independent when its funding depends on the decisions of politicians?
FINLAND: Yle’s statement on the government’s proposal for legislation supplementing the European Media Freedom Regulation (Finnish)
Yle
FRANCE: POINT OF VIEW. “Public audiovisual media is a treasure, let’s preserve it!” (Opinion – French)
Ouest France: While the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, announced that the public broadcasting reform project would be completed “by the summer”, the inter-union of Radio-France, France TV, France Médias Monde and the INA explain in this point of view why it is opposed to the creation of a holding company that would manage the entire public broadcasting sector.
FRANCE: The reform of public broadcasting is a “false solution”, warn the unions and more than 1,800 elected officials in a column (French)
FranceInfo: The unions of the entire public audiovisual sector (Radio France, France Télévisions, France Médias Monde and the INA) denounced, Tuesday February 18, in a text co-signed by more than 1,800 elected officials, the “false solution” represented, according to them, by the project of reform of the sector supported by the government.
GERMANY: A German news outlet got rid of its comments section — and asks readers to debate instead
NiemanLab: Commenters get to engage in meaningful discussions, and Der Spiegel’s moderators have a more manageable workload.
ICELAND: Adventure Yoga (Press release – Icelandic)
RÚV: Adventure Yoga is a brand new series on KrakkaRÚV that introduces children to the fun and mental world of yoga. The series encourages children to move, relax, and create – all through play and adventure!
ITALY: Board of Directors approves editorial offer guidelines 2025-2027 (Press release – Italian)
Rai: The CEO illustrated the purposes of the process of redefining the general directions of the offering, aimed at identifying the mission, the characteristics of the individual channels and distribution platforms, taking into account the need to strengthen the identity of the networks while maintaining the quality standard of the Public Service.
ITALY: Meloni’s government targets press and tightens grip on public broadcasting (Paywall)
Le Monde: Italy’s government ministries and departments are stepping up complaints against the work of journalists. In the 2024 Reporters Without Borders freedom of the press index, the country dropped five places to 46th.
LITHUANIA: LRT ‘political neutrality’ audit raises concerns over editorial independence
LRT: The planned “political neutrality” audit of the LRT newsroom has raised concerns among Lithuania’s journalist community.
THE NETHERLANDS: The importance of reliable news media (Press release – Dutch) (Blog)
NPO: This month I want to emphasise the crucial importance of public broadcasting in our society. Recent research by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) underlines this, as does the call from Joop van den Ende earlier this week.
SLOVAKIA: New report highlights growing media freedom crisis (Report)
Article 19: Media freedom in Slovakia is facing a deep crisis, serving as a critical test case for the European Union’s commitment to safeguarding media freedom and democratic values, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner organisations warn today in a new report.
SWEDEN: Increased listening and increased knowledge of the emergency channel P4 in 2024 (Press release – Swedish)
SR: In 2024, 7.4 million listeners will listen to Sveriges Radio every week. This is a small increase compared to the previous year and the figures also show an increase for Sweden’s largest channel, the emergency channel P4, which is very important.
SWITZERLAND: No approval of the counterproposal to the SRG initiative (Press release – German)
Parlement: The Council of States’ Committee for Transport and Telecommunications (KVF-S) has decided by 10 votes to 2 not to approve the initiative of its sister committee.
UK: BBC Sounds – and BBC domestic music radio – going away internationally? (Blog)
James.Cridland: Back in November, I wondered aloud what the BBC was playing at when it came to its BBC Sounds app. It wasn’t promoted internationally, didn’t always work well, but the BBC were hard at work restricting access to its podcasts.
UKRAINE: Three Years of War: The Reality for Ukrainian Media
ECPMF: Three years into Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Ukrainian journalists and media organisations continue their relentless work. They report under daily bombardments, document war crimes, and provide critical information to both local and international audiences.
ARGENTINA: The media and advertiser landscape in Argentina: What metrics do the media look at? (Spanish)
iPro Up: Social platforms are part of the range of information consumption by public figures and, in fact, by any citizen.
BRAZIL: Agência Brasil provides free database with over 200,000 photos in its collection (Press release – Portuguese)
EBC: Agência Brasil, a media outlet of Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC) , offers the public an extensive free image bank with over 200,000 high-resolution photos on a variety of topics. Called Foto Agência , the collection has unlimited access and brings together images from news coverage conducted since 1964.
RTVC: #NocensurenRtvc is trending on X in support of the Public Media System , which has been the target of a series of attacks ranging from physical and digital assaults to smear campaigns against its journalists and its manager, Hollman Morris.
MEXICO: CDMX public radio reaches 10 million listeners, with Imer, IPN and Ibero at the head (13 February – Spanish)
El Economista: Mexico City’s public radio marked a milestone in 2024, reaching the mark of 10 million 78,013 listeners reached on average throughout the year, 2.67% more listeners compared to the result of 2023.
PERU: CPP asks the Attorney General’s Office to reverse investigation against journalists (Spanish)
CPP: The Peruvian Press Council is asking the Public Prosecutor’s Office to reverse the investigation it opened against journalists Rosana Cueva, news director of América Televisión and Canal N, Eduardo Quispe and Beto Ortiz, for alleged illegal trafficking of personal data and criminal organization.
PERU: IRTP obtains ISO 37001 certification for the Anti-Bribery Management System (Spanish)
Andina: For the first time in its history, the National Institute of Radio and Television of Peru (IRTP) has received ISO 37001 certification for its Anti-Bribery Management System from the Global Certification Bureau.
URUGUAY: If Uruguay follows the “same path” as the region, there will begin to be “murders of journalists, judges, police officers or politicians,” said Sanjurjo (Spanish)
El Observador: Interior Ministry advisor Diego Sanjurjo said that if Uruguay follows the “same path” as other countries in the region, the homicides will no longer be in the “periphery” of Montevideo, but rather “there will begin to be homicides of journalists, judges, police officers or politicians.”
VENEZUELA: Edgar Cárdenas warned about the use of hate law to censor journalists in Venezuela (Spanish)
VPItv: The secretary of the National College of Journalists (CNP) Caracas branch, Edgar Cárdenas, warned that the hate law has become a tool to “legitimize censorship” in the country, directly affecting journalists.
VENEZUELA: The discreet farewell of journalism in Venezuela (Opinion – Spanish)
The Objective: «Amidst these ashes, the right of ordinary people to be well informed and make their own decisions is being violated as never before»
LatAm Journalism Review: Days after President Donald Trump’s executive order to suspend US financial support to foreign organizations was announced, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele accused journalists and news outlets that have benefited from that aid of being part of “a global money laundering operation” and of promoting a globalist agenda.
GAZA: One month after ceasefire, journalists still work in horrific conditions
RSF: Despite the fragile ceasefire agreement, the humanitarian catastrophe continues in Gaza, hampering journalists’ work on a daily basis. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) expresses its support for these media professionals and calls on Israel to urgently lift the blockade on the territory.
IRAN: Analysis of Iran’s 2025 Budget Bill: Increased Spending and Disproportionate Allocations
Iran News Update: Notably, alongside a sharp increase in military spending, the budget for the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) alone surpasses the combined budgets of ten ministries.
OMAN: Celebrating 50 Golden Years of Times of Oman: Legacy of its founder Late Essa Al Zedjali’s continues
Times of Oman: What Times of Oman has achieved in the last 50 years of its publication, is unparalleled in modern history.
OMAN: Golden milestone marked by enthusiastic crowd
Times of Oman: Oman’s oldest English newspaper Times of Oman recently marked its 50th anniversary, celebrating a half-century of journalistic excellence and its enduring connection with the community in Oman.
OMAN: Transforming Broadcasting: Oman TV Upgrades Central Theatre With Lawo’s Cutting-Edge Technology
BMA: Oman’s Ministry of Information, known as Oman TV, has launched a project to transform its central theatre into a hybrid space combining live event capabilities with full broadcast functionality.
PALESTINE: Palestinian Journalists as Both Storytellers and Targets in the Israel-Gaza War
The Cairo Review of Global Affairs: For Palestinian journalists confronting physical and psychological threats online and on the ground, the perilous pursuit to document Israel’s war on Gaza embodies a deeper personal mission
SAUDI ARABIA: Media in Saudi Arabia gears up for ‘year of influence’
Agbi: The fourth Saudi Media Forum discussed how the kingdom can exploit its position as a news fulcrum
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Journalists Association Unveils New Brand Identity
Asharq Al-Awat: SJA Chairman of the Board of Directors Adhwan Al-Ahmari described the association as a cornerstone of promoting the national media identity and developing journalism in Saudi Arabia. He emphasized its role as a unified voice for journalists, protecting their rights and providing professional support.
SYRIA: CPJ urges Syrian authorities to protect journalists’ safety
Rûdaw: The new administration in Damascus must safeguard journalists and refrain from continuing the country’s legacy as one of the world’s deadliest areas for media workers, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Monday.
TURKEY: Criticized ‘Cyber Security Law Proposal’ in the General Assembly this week (Turkish)
Evrensel: The General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly will begin discussions on the Cyber Security Bill, which has been criticized for potentially causing serious restrictions and arbitrary practices on the protection of personal data, privacy, and freedom of expression.
UAE & INDIA: India Strengthens Media Ties with UAE Ahead of Global Entertainment Summit
Doordashan: A high-level Indian delegation, led by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Shri Sanjay Jaju and Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi, arrived in the UAE this week to bolster media partnerships ahead of the inaugural World Audio-Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025), set to take place in Mumbai this May.
CANADA: Canadians shift streaming habits and embrace short-form video (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: The MTM 18+ releases its Fall 2024 Sneak Peek and Adoption reports which highlight the evolving trends in Canadian media consumption, giving you a clearer understanding of Canadians’ habits.
CANADA: Heritage minister pitches CBC/Radio-Canada overhaul and a major funding hike
CBC: Pascale St-Onge says a CBC funding boost will protect Canada’s cultural ‘sovereignty’
CANADA: If Liberals truly want to save public broadcasting, CBC/Radio-Canada needs to go completely ad free (Opinion)
The Globe and Mail: With things the way they are in the United States of America, the case for a strong national public broadcaster creating and disseminating Canadian news and entertainment from Canadian perspectives should be clear to anyone of any political persuasion.
CANADA: Poilievre says he’d stop ‘wasteful spending’ on CBC and across government (Watch)
CBC: As Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge pitches her vision for CBC/Radio-Canada’s future, including a funding increase, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre says CBC Television has low ratings and he would cut what he calls wasteful spending across the government.
CANADA: Support Canadian media: Our culture and economy depend on it (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: We’re launching an initiative encouraging you to support homegrown media, creators and culture. Over 8 million francophones live in Canada, and we have countless stories to tell. Our media — your media — reflect what’s happening in the communities where we live. They share our perspectives and fuel our collective imagination. They’re a vital part of who we are.
US: America Needs a Working-Class Media
CJR: Catering to rich audiences is not serving us.
US: Associated Press Sues Trump Officials Over White House Ban
The New York Times: The wire service sued three of them for denying its reporters access to press events. The White House has objected to The A.P.’s references to the Gulf of Mexico in articles.
US: Elon Musk’s attack on public broadcasters is destroying Reagan’s Cold War legacy
Index on Censorship: Once lauded as bastions of American patriotism, media outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Voice of America are now being labelled enemies of the state
US: Fox News, CNN and Other News Outlets Urge White House to Drop Ban on The A.P.
The New York Times: Dozens of major news organizations, including some conservative outlets, urged the Trump administration to stop blocking The Associated Press from press events.
US: North Dakota House Votes To Defund Public Broadcasting.
Inside Radio: Members of North Dakota’s House have voted to defund Prairie Public Broadcasting, even after the House Appropriation Committee recommended $1.2 million to continue funding.
US: On Musk, Grok, and the Press
CJR: What sets Grok apart from other chatbots that allow users to query the Web in real time is that it integrates directly with X, the social platform that Musk owns, allowing it to generate responses based on content posted by X users, which Musk believes positions X as an authoritative source of news.
US: One month of Trump: Press freedom under siege
RSF: The first month of Donald Trump’s second term as president has been a tumultuous whirlwind for journalism. The newly-elected president, his administration, and his political allies have conducted a rapid series of attacks on press freedom that amount to a monumental assault on freedom of information.
US: Reporters launch new TikTok-like news platform
Semafor: A group of experienced foreign correspondents are launching a new premium news platform designed to bundle the work of top independent journalists.
US: The Gulf Between Trump and the Press
CJR: Trying to make the ‘Gulf of America’ happen.
US: Urgent Calls to Action from the Lenfest-Aspen Local News Summit
CJR: This is a moment of profound urgency for journalists as the Trump administration breaks long-standing norms, attacks major news organizations in the courts and from the briefing room, and blocks access to reporters.
US: Youth Power: How KALW put teens on stage to win the trust of this elusive audience
Current: The station’s Youth Power events consisted of public listening sessions that brought in youth activist groups from across the Bay Area so KALW and attendees could “learn about, from them, what they are concerned about for their communities.”
AI in journalism, a trust issue for journalists and audiences, says new report (Report)
Euractiv: A new study found that over 80 per cent of journalists surveyed use AI, with 42 per cent expressing optimism about its future role.
An App to Follow Freelancers in the Field
Columbia Journalism Review: Noosphere, a video-based platform for independent journalists, launches today.
ChatGPT referrals to top publishers up eight times in six months but still negligible
Press Gazette: The amount of referral traffic to top news sites from ChatGPT is increasing quickly, new data from Similarweb shows, but still accounts for a miniscule proportion of visits.
EBU chief: Truth at risk – defending facts in the ‘Intelligent Age’
World Economic Forum: Rapid advances in AI and policy shifts are compounding the issue of misinformation and disinformation, says the European Broadcasting Union’s Director-General, Noel Curran.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: The output from Musk’s chatbot and Perplexity.ai suggests that their quality depends on the work of professional journalists and public broadcasters
Large number of journalists killed in 2024 (Press release – Swedish)
SR: Today marks 500 days since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which marked the start of a bloody war that, despite a ceasefire, has no solution in sight. Gaza stands out as the area in the world where the most journalists have been killed, writes Cilla Benkö on the occasion of the International News Safety Institute’s annual report.
People are turning away from the news. Here’s why it may be happening
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Our research shows an important trend in the world of digital news: across countries, we are seeing stagnation or decline in online news engagement. People are turning away from the news – and this has a number of implications.
State department orders cancellation of media subscriptions around world
The Guardian: The state department has reportedly ordered its outposts around the world to cancel all subscriptions to news and media outlets that are supposedly “non-mission critical” in another extraordinary Trump administration crackdown on normal information channels.
Yes, public funding is needed for journalism (Italian)
Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso: The sudden cut in US support for foreign civil society organizations is also putting many media outlets in crisis, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Their voice is important for democracy, but there are not many viable alternatives for their sustainability
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