Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
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PSM Innovations
Discovering local music through public radio
At a time when it’s harder than ever to discover new local music, public radio stations across the United States and beyond continue to play a key role in bolstering local music economies.
Last month, a bipartisan resolution was introduced in the United States House and Senate to recognise 26 October as Public Radio Music Day (PRMD). The annual nationwide celebration, organised by the nomcomMUSIC Alliance, is designed to highlight the vital role and value of music in the public radio system. The resolution honoured public radio’s valuable contribution to the arts, education and culture, NPR reported.
“Overall local public radio music stations often provide the only platform for regional music and musicians, bolster the local music economy, and serve as cultural hubs with community service, education, and music discovery,” NPR Communications & Engagement Manager, Government & External Affairs, Shana Armstrong told PMA.
It comes at a time when audience behaviours and music discovery trends are being diluted by social media platforms like TikTok, sync placements on popular TV series and film, and curated playlists on streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. Discovering new local music is arguably harder now than ever before, impacting local artists, local music economies, and listeners.
Read more about the cultural value of US public radio
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As the coronavirus pandemic worsens, public media are rapidly adapting to best cover the crisis on a local level while also providing for educational needs and vulnerable groups as isolation policies are introduced.
We want to hear from our members about what you are doing to best cover the crisis on a local level. Email us using the link below.
Coronavirus: Resources & best practices
Essential resources for sourcing and reporting news about the coronavirus pandemic
What we're watching...
Putting Indigenous rights on the news agenda
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Isabella Higgins is a Europe correspondent for ABC News, based in London. Previously she covered Indigenous affairs for ABC News for online, radio and TV. She has also worked as a reporter in the Brisbane and Rockhampton newsrooms. She joined the ABC in 2014 working for News Digital in Brisbane.
What we're listening to...
Nic Haque on Climate Change: ‘I became a journalist because of this’
CJR: Just as Europeans prepare for winter amid rising gas prices—calling upon their old ties to gas-rich African countries—a colonial-era island off the coast of Senegal erodes into the rising sea. Both these stories, discussed on this week’s Kicker with Nic Haque, a reporter for Al Jazeera, underscore the urgency of the climate crises that journalists cover across the globe. […] In this episode, Haque talks with Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of CJR, on covering climate emergencies in West Africa and how climate change has touched his life, personally and professionally.
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Global Headlines
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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: CAR government proposes criminalising press offences again
RSF: Deploring an alarming decline in press freedom in the Central African Republic, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the government to abandon a bill that would make press offences punishable by imprisonment, and to do what is necessary to protect journalists, who are being subjected to a wave of arrests, physical attacks and threats.
LIBERIA & US: President Of Kansas Public Broadcasting Visits Liberia
Front Page Africa: Victor Hogstrom, the Liberian-born and bred media president and chief executive officer (CEO) based in the United States is visiting Liberia.
NAMIBIA: African Media Barometer report launched
The Namibian: THE Namibia 2022 African Media Barometer (AMB) report was launched in Windhoek on Thursday at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) offices in Windhoek.
NIGERIA: Shutdown of broadcast stations, threat to democracy —Editors
Vanguard: The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has expressed concern over the shutdown of four broadcast stations by Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle and asked him to immediately unseal the media houses.
SOUTH AFRICA: Delay in implementing Digital Migration Policy deny SA households universal access to information (Watch)
SABC News: Watchdog group, Media Monitoring Africa, says that the delay in implementing the Digital Migration policy is denying many households in South Africa universal access to information.
SOUTH AFRICA: Government should ensure poor households access free set-top box before analogue signal switch-off
SABC: The Public Media Alliance says the government should ensure poorer households have access to free set-top boxes before they can completely switch off analogue signal.
SOUTH AFRICA: Public Broadcaster Investigates Allegation Of Bribes In TV Content Production Commissioning
Broadcast Media Africa: According to media reports, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is investigating reports that programming officials in the past requested bribes from production companies in order to secure contracts.
TANZANIA: Building capacities of women journalists
IFJ: The Norwegian Journalists Union (NO) in collaboration with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) held a three- day refresher training of trainers (TOT) workshop on gender equality and safety in Dar es Salam, Tanzania from 17 – 19 October, 2022.
UGANDA: Computer Misuse Law will silence journalists
IFJ: On 13 October Ugandan President, Yoweri Musenvini, signed into law the Computer Misuse (Amendment) act containing provisions that will seriously hamper press freedom.
ZIMBABWE: Election Coverage Met With Violence in Zimbabwe
VOA: Godwin Mangudya was punched, slapped and burned with cigarettes. Assailants beat and kicked Toneo Rutsito so hard he lost a tooth. Their crime? Journalism.
REGIONAL: CPJ submits reports on Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco to United Nations Universal Periodic Review (18 October)
CPJ: The human rights records of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco are under review by the United Nations Human Rights Council through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
REGIONAL: How journalists can defend press freedom, democracy in West Africa – ECOWAS, CSOs
Premium Times: They spoke at a regional conference in Accra, Ghana, on the heels of recent coup in Burkina Faso.
REGIONAL: Newly released audience survey gives pointers to programming preferences across the continent
Balancing Act: Satellite operator Intelsat’s Media Market Watch 2022 gives broadcasters a peek into the programming preferences in six key African TV markets. Russell Southwood looks at what it discovered.
AFGHANISTAN: Anisa Shaheed: A voice for the people of Afghanistan
IJNet: Under Taliban rule in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, women were confined to their homes, not permitted to attend school or work most jobs.
RSF: As the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party has granted Chinese leader Xi Jinping with a third mandate as General Secretary, RSF unveils figures that show the extent of the crusade against journalism he has been leading over the past ten years.
CHINA & HONG KONG: China ‘gutted’ press freedom in Hong Kong, sparking exodus of journalists: report
RFA: As ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping lauded his government for bringing “order from chaos” with a citywide crackdown on dissent in the wake of the 2019 protest movement, an international journalists’ group said press freedom has been “gutted” in the former British colony.
INDIA: Government broadcasting to be done only through Prasar Bharati: Ministry
The New Indian Express: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Friday declared that ministries, departments of the central government, state governments, and union territory (UT) administrations or entities related to them would not be allowed to enter into broadcasting or distribution of broadcasting activities.
INDIA: India bars Kashmiri journalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo from flying
Al Jazeera: Kashmiri journalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo, who was prevented from flying to the United States by Indian authorities to collect her Pulitzer Prize, told Al Jazeera she is “heartbroken”.
JAPAN: High court upholds guilty sentence for anti-NHK party leader
NHK: A high court in Japan has upheld a lower court ruling that found the leader of a political party critical of NHK guilty of illegally acquiring viewer data and obstructing business of the public broadcaster.
KYRGYZSTAN: Arrests of activists, politicians occurred amid growing pressure on media
Eurasia Net: The government is planning on pushing through legislation that will make life much harder for independent media.
MYANMAR: Journalists and media workers threatened by junta
IFJ: Media workers from Myanmar news outlets BBC Burmese and The Irrawaddy have been forced into hiding after Myanmar’s military junta threatened legal action against them for allegedly misreporting on a conflict in Mon state.
PAKISTAN: Media continues to be on trial: Hamid Mir
Dawn: Award-winning journalist and columnist Hamid Mir said on Sunday the media in Pakistan continued to face oppression in one form or another.
PAKISTAN: Media watchdog official ‘detained’ at Lahore airport
Dawn: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Asia Programme Coordinator Steven Butler on Thursday faced inconvenience for the second time while entering Pakistan in the last few years after he was detained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for eight hours at the airport here.
PAKISTAN & KENYA: IPOA deploys rapid response team after shooting of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif
Nation: Kenya’s policing authority has deployed a rapid response team to Kajiado County following the shooting death of renowned Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif.
PAKISTAN & KENYA: Journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya, says wife
Dawn: Journalist Arshad Sharif died in Kenya reportedly after being shot, his wife Javeria Siddique confirmed early on Monday morning.
PHILIPPINES: Freedom of Expression Declines Further Under Marcos
The Diplomat: Three months after coming to power, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has failed to reassure the media community and the public that he will promote freedom of expression and reverse the impunity that worsened during the term of his predecessor.
TAJIKISTAN: Tajikistan Wages Renewed Crackdown On Independent Journalists, Bloggers
Radio Free Europe: Tajik authorities have handed down long prison terms to three independent journalists and bloggers in recent days on what media watchdogs say are trumped-up charges.
THAILAND: New website, Thai PBS, build quality, modern, equal. (Press release – Thai)
Thai PBS: It is auspicious to launch a new website on October 10, 2022 for online media in the Thai PBS group by raising the concept of “click every day, keep up with all events” and link quality content from 10 sub-sites in the group. to come together in one place It is considered to be a large content organization. that comes with many modern features to meet more users in the digital era.
REGIONAL: Citizen journalists face challenges in Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar
Global Voices: Citizen journalists have become credible sources of information and news reports, especially in communities where local conflicts and protests are not consistently covered by mainstream media.
REGIONAL: Counter-Disinformation Beyond Fact-Checking: Insights from the Philippines
Fulcrum: The Philippines is currently at the global cutting edge of fake news and political trolling online. Unfortunately, the country has yet to find firm footing in stemming disinformation’s unruly growth.
AUSTRALIA: ABC news staff hit back at Media Watch over coverage of trans issues
The Guardian: An episode of Media Watch which canvasses whether the ABC’s coverage of transgender issues has been influenced by the broadcaster’s corporate partnership with an LGBTQ+ community group has angered journalists in the broadcaster’s news division.
AUSTRALIA: BBC Studios ANZ, ABC renew multi-year agreement (Paywall)
Real Screen: BBC Studios Australia and Australia public service broadcaster ABC have signed a multi-year, multi-genre agreement.
AUSTRALIA: Judith Whelan appointed ABC Editorial Director (Press release)
ABC: Currently ABC Director of Regional and Local, Judith is one of Australian media’s most respected editorial leaders, bringing more than thirty years of journalism experience to the role.
FIJI: Sayed-Khaiyum blasts Fiji Times, CFL media – editor replies ‘doing our job’
Asia Pacific Report: FijiFirst party general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum claims they are fighting The Fiji Times and Communications Fiji Ltd — not political parties — in the lead up to the 2022 general election.
NEW ZEALAND: How the merger of TVNZ and RNZ might accidentally save comedy
The Spinoff: It began, as so many great New Zealand comedy successes do, at The Basement, an airless, windowless concrete bunker off Queen St in Auckland which has birthed an inordinate number of our recent comedy and stage stars.
NEW ZEALAND: National promises to reverse RNZ-TVNZ merger – but only if it’s not too tricky
Stuff: National Party broadcasting spokesperson Melissa Lee is promising to reverse the planned merger of state broadcasters RNZ and TVNZ – but there’s a catch.
NEW ZEALAND: TVNZ boss’ $2m exit – including $195k in holiday pay
Stuff: Former TVNZ boss Kevin Kenrick collected almost $200,000 in unused holiday as part of a $2 million exit from the state-owned broadcaster.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: PNG National Broadcasting Corporation looks to Advance Broadcasting capabilities with Indonesia
One PNG: Managing Director of NBC, Kora Nou met with executives of Indonesian government television and radio stations this week to start the process towards a Memorandum of Understanding.
TONGA: Crown Prince commissions new Tonga Broadcasting studio and Nationwide Early Warning System (28 September)
Matangi Tonga: A new studio building for Tonga Broadcasting Commission was commissioned by Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, on the completion of a Nationwide Early Warning System Project (NEWS) on Tuesday, at Fasi-moe-Afi.
REGIONAL: David Robie: Pacific lessons in climate crisis journalism and combating disinformation (Watch)
Asia Pacific Report: New Zealand journalist and academic David Robie has covered the Asia-Pacific region for international media for more than four decades.
REGIONAL: Pacific climate stories need to be ‘heard and told’, says USP award winner
Asia Pacific Report: Award-winning University of the South Pacific student journalist Sera Tikotikoivatu-Sefeti says Pacific voices on the climate fight need to be amplified for big nations to notice and be accountable for their actions.
AUSTRIA: Objective information required in the ORF: audience desire and reality (German)
Der Standard: STANDARD survey: What do people expect from the ORF, which they finance with the GIS? Most want independent information – they see far fewer in the ORF.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech Television has issued procedural and technical conditions for the programs of the candidates for the post of the President of the Republic (Press release – Czech)
Česká televize: Czech Television will start broadcasting the spots of the candidates who will run for the post of President of the Republic for the first round of the election from Wednesday, December 28. It will appear on the programs ČT1, ČT2 and ČT3.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Shoring Up Czech Tv’s Independence
Balkan Insight: The Czech government is mulling ways to get public media reforms past the opposition as part of a promised push to strengthen the independence of Czech Television (ČT).
FINLAND: The state of the Finnish discussion culture is still worrying – The Well-said project creates a framework for better encounters (Press release – Finnish)
Yle: The Well-said – Bra sagt project piloted by Yle and Erätauko Foundation continues its work to improve the Finnish discussion culture.
FINLAND: Yle Areena is operating normally again (Press release – Finnish)
Yle: Yle Areena was targeted by a denial of service attack. The arena restrictions and denial of service attack have ended.
FINLAND: Yle starts the world’s first podcast program in the Koltan Sámi language (Press release – Finnish)
Yle: Yle Saame starts on November 8. of the Koltan Sámi news and current affairs podcast program Mâʹst jiõm mainsteʹče ääkkain.
FRANCE: France Télévisions innovates by launching a first Immersive Social Space around Stade 2 (Press release – French)
France TV Pro: The Digital Innovation Department of France Télévisions is launching, with the sports department, a first test of Immersive Social Space (ESI) dedicated to sport and the world of Stade 2.
FRANCE: The renewal processes at the head of Radio France and France Médias Monde have been launched (French)
Le Monde: The contenders for the respective presidencies of the two public broadcasting companies had until 5 p.m., this Friday, October 21, to apply.
GEORGIA: Proposed amendments to Georgia’s broadcasting law raise censorship fears
CPJ: Georgian authorities should withdraw contested amendments to the country’s broadcasting law and work with stakeholders to devise a regulatory framework that enjoys broad industry support, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
GERMANY: ARD expands ARD Plus into stand-alone streaming service
Broadband TV News: German public broadcaster ARD is expanding the reach of its commercial, subscription-based streaming service ARD Plus.
GERMANY: Please no new hanging section (Opinion – German)
DJV: The new Media State Treaty was signed by the prime ministers on Friday. Hopefully, the approval of the state parliaments will not go the same as with the last increase in the broadcasting fee.
GERMANY: Streaming drives turnover of German media industry
Broadband TV News: The total turnover of the German audio-visual media is expected to exceed the €15 billion mark for the first time in the current year with a growth of 2.5% (2021: €14.8 billion).
GERMANY: ZDF makes audiovisual heritage from around 60 years of programming accessible (Press release – German)
ZDF: ZDF and Leipzig University Library will enable research in four million data sets in the coming year.
IRELAND: RTÉ announces the first ever TV series using manual sign language Lámh (Press release – 18 October)
RTÉ: RTÉjr will broadcast the first ever television series to use manual sign language Lámh, Dizzy Deliveries, this Wednesday 19th October. In a landmark day for children’s content, this live action series will be the first to give a platform to the thousands of kids that use Lámh daily.
ITALY: The risks of reporting on the Roman Mafia (18 October – Watch)
Swiss Info: For journalists covering the dark side of today’s Italy, the European Union member state remains a dangerous place, says Federica Angeli – the latest in our “Global Voices of Freedom” series.
KOSOVO: The government must improve media freedom and the safety of journalists
EFJ: The EFJ and its affiliate in Kosovo, AGK, call on the Kosovo authorities to implement without delay the recommendations made by Dunja Mijatovic to fight impunity and strengthen media freedom in Kosovo.
MALTA: Daphne Caruana Galizia murder: accountability and reforms “deficient” in Malta
IFJ: The International and European Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) welcome the resolution adopted on 20 October by the European Parliament to pay tribute to the murdered Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and to denounce the lack of political will of the Maltese authorities to fight corruption and guarantee press freedom.
MONTENEGRO & NORTH MACEDONIA: Eurovision: Montenegro and North Macedonia pull out of Liverpool contest (17 October)
BBC: Montenegro and North Macedonia will not compete in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest because of how much it will cost them to enter.
POLAND: TVP World widens reach
Broadband TV News: The Polish public broadcaster’s English language channel TVP World has significantly expanded its reach.
IPI: Case of Emilia Şercan shines light on a troubling issue that is not often discussed.
SLOVAKIA: Government pushes ahead with ambitious media reform program
IPI: New laws on source protection and media ownership transparency provide model for neighbouring countries.
SLOVAKIA: How Slovak politicians did not learn from the murder of a journalist
IPI: Recent legal reforms show promise, yet discrediting attacks on journalists continue.
SPAIN: RTVE awards contracts for 42 million for external content production (Paywall – Spanish)
El País: The board of directors of RTVE has authorized this Thursday, a month after the appointment of the journalist Elena Sánchez as interim president, a series of content contracts for a combined amount of 42 million euros.
SPAIN: RTVE presents a “balanced” budget for 2023 (Press release – Spanish)
RTVE: The interim president of the Board of Directors of RTVE, Elena Sánchez Caballero, presented this Wednesday in the Congress of Deputies the budget of the Corporation for 2023, “a balanced budget that allows us to continue with the recovery of the financing of the Corporation, assume the cost increases that we foresee for the coming year and advance in the transformation and modernization of the public service that we provide to citizens, this being a process that must be intensified over the coming years”.
SWEDEN: In this way, the TV house will become more efficient and sustainable (Blog – Swedish)
SVT: Reduced costs, less environmental impact and better working environment. These are some of the goals of the rebuilding and renovation that is currently underway in the TV house at Gärdet in Stockholm – work that SVT has previously told about.
SWITZERLAND: Annals Media quality: SSR products do well (Press release – French)
SRG SSR: The Research Center Public Sphere and Society (Forschungszentrum Öffentlichkeit und Gesellschaft – Fög) of the University of Zurich publishes this year again its “Annals of Media Quality”, a report in which it assesses the quality of the media in Switzerland. SSR’s business units and editorial offices are once again showered with praise.
UK: BBC and Disney Branded Television join forces on Doctor Who (Press release)
BBC: The BBC and Disney Branded Television – two giants of entertainment – have come together to transform Doctor Who into a global franchise for UK audiences and the rest of the world.
LSE: Jessica Berman of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, writes about the role of the BBC World Service as an international news source but also as a vehicle of soft power, stressing that we should insist on its independence.
UK: BBC boss addresses concerns it’s “leaving offline audiences behind”
Radio Times: Tim Davie reiterated that offline audiences wouldn’t be underestimated.
UK: C4 unveils Channel 4.0 digital-first brand
Advanced Television: UK public service broadcaster, Channel 4, is to launch an all new digital-first brand, Channel 4.0. The new content destination will be home to masses of fresh new social formats and returners, all rooted in youth culture.
UK: Gaelic broadcasting ‘needs better support’
BBC: The UK government says it is considering whether new legislation or funding would better support Gaelic broadcasting.
UK: Tackling It Together – BBC launches major new brand to help consumers with cost of living crisis (Press release)
BBC: From Rip Off Britain to The One Show/Watchdog, programmes across the BBC will be involved Cost of Living: Tackling it Together.
REGIONAL: EU plans new transparency laws on foreign media
Euractiv: The European Commission plans to bring forward to early next year new legislation targeting foreign actors and influence in the European media sphere, officials have indicated, as part of attempts to increase transparency.
REGIONAL: NEW POSITION PAPER CALLS FOR EUROPEAN MEDIA DATA SPACE
EBU: A new positioning paper authored by the EBU and its Members, arguing for the creation of dedicated dataspaces for the European media and creative industry, has now published by the Gaia-X consortium.
REGIONAL: States must better protect public watchdogs from legal abuse
Article 19: On the occasion of the first European Anti-SLAPP Conference, ARTICLE 19 and partners of the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) call on governments across Europe to take immediate legislative and practical action to protect journalists and other public watchdogs from the growing threat of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).
ARGENTINA: Public TV and National Radio will lose more than $14,000 million this year (Spanish)
Clarín: The Government approved the Plan of Action and Budget of Radio and Television Argentina (RTA), for 2022, with an operating loss of $14,347 million .
ARGENTINA & MEXICO: Violence against journalists, the big difference between Argentina and Mexico (Spanish)
Cimac Noticias: The presence of women in the news and the role of women in media companies, as central axes of the media and gender agenda, were discussed in the forum “A photo of equality in media”.
BRAZIL: Brazilian state assembly investigates journalists, outlets reporting on abortion case
CPJ: The state assembly in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina must immediately drop its investigation into independent investigative outlet The Intercept Brasil and independent online outlet Portal Catarinas and respect the confidentiality of journalistic sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.
BRAZIL: EBC celebrates 15 years (Press release – Portuguese)
EBC: Empresa Brasil de Comunicação ( EBC) celebrates its 15th anniversary this Monday (24) and consolidates its mission to bring knowledge, information and culture to the population of all ages, inside and outside Brazil.
BRAZIL: The press didn’t notice Bolsonaro’s strength. Here’s what went wrong and how to fix it
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Job cuts and political attacks have created a tough environment for journalists. Three experts discuss what can be done to improve coverage.
CHILE: Carabineros throw gas and dirty water against journalists in protests in Chile (Spanish)
SwissInfo: Several local and foreign journalists received first aid on Tuesday after the Carabineros fired tear gas and water with chemical agents at them when they were doing their job in the demonstrations for the third anniversary of the “social outbreak”. “, the wave of protests that Chile experienced in 2019.
COLOMBIA: It is increasingly dangerous to be a journalist in Colombia (Spanish)
DW: Rafael Moreno was a journalist and that cost him his life. On October 16, he was assassinated in Montelíbano, Colombia, where he lived and reported. He is the third journalist killed in Colombia this year for doing his job, for being a journalist.
COLOMBIA: “The podcast is an opportunity to consolidate the closeness between the audience and journalism”: this was the case on day 2 of the Festival Iberoamericano de Podcast al Oído (Press release – Spanish)
RTVC: With an agenda full of talks, exhibitions and workshops, the third edition of this annual sound festival organized by RTVC Sistema de Medios Públicos ended.
ECUADOR: Journalists in Ecuador denounce the growing harassment of drug trafficking (Watch – Spanish)
CNN: Journalistic work in Ecuador faces serious threats due to the increase in recent months in violence caused by organized crime and drug trafficking.
HONDURAS: Honduran journalist Edwin Josué Andino shot, killed in Comayagüela
CPJ: Honduran authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Edwin Josué Andino, determine if he was targeted for his work, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.
JAMAICA: Media owners slam BCJ over molly, gun music ban; claim no consultation done (14 October)
The Gleaner: The group representing media owners in Jamaica has accused the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) of an “overreach” with its recent ban on music glorifying criminality, as well as pursuing the measure without consultations.
MEXICO: For Mexican journalists, President López Obrador’s pledge to curb spyware rings hollow (13 October)
CPJ
MEXICO: They will denounce Mexico to the UN for missing journalists (Spanish)
Vanguardia: Organizations pointed out that 27 journalists have been disappeared in Mexico and none have been located
SURINAME: YouTube channel RBN Suriname hacked (Dutch)
Waterkant: The YouTube channel of Rapar Broadcasting Network (RBN) Suriname has been hacked. The media company reports that the channel was taken over by hackers around 09:45 this morning.
VENEZUELA: Venezuela closed 15 radio stations this week, according to journalists (Spanish)
Ultima Hora: The National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) of Venezuela ordered this week the closure of 15 radio stations that operated in three border states of the country, according to the balance of the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP), updated this Saturday.
REGIONAL: Press freedoms erode under Central America’s strongmen (Paywall)
The Financial Times
REGIONAL: International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction – Importance of the Media
CBU: Mami Mizutori, UN Assistant Secretary – General, UNDRR speaking on the importance of the media in early warning systems as part of this year’s theme for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction – “Early Warning For All” #EarlyWarningForAll #DRRDay
IRAN: Over 40 Journalists Arrested in Iran Since Protests Broke Out, Watchdog Says
VOA News: Forty-one journalists have been confirmed detained by Iran since protests broke out last month over the death of a woman in the custody of the country’s so-called morality police.
IRAN: Statement on BBC Persian and claims made by an Iranian judiciary official (Tweet)
BBC News Press Office
IRAN: Why is Iran designating UK-based TV channels as ‘terrorists’?
Al Jazeera: Tehran blames the channels and their hosts and backers for what it considers ‘inciting terrorist acts’ on Iranian soil.
JORDAN: Jordan rejects Dutch ambassador’s criticism on media freedom
The New Arab: Jordan has criticised what it called interference by the Dutch ambassador in the country’s internal affairs after he questioned the kingdom’s media freedoms.
PALESTINE & ISRAEL: Israeli soldiers attack TV journalists
IFJ: On Thursday 20 October, Israeli soldiers violently stopped a team of journalists from Palestine TV reporting live on the streets from entering the town of Azzun.
QATAR: Very restrictive accreditation for reporters covering Fifa World Cup
RSF: The new press accreditation that Qatar is providing for the 2022 FIFA World Cup continues to impose many restrictions on the media and to place vaguely-worded bureaucratic obstacles in their path.
TURKEY: Election disruptions loom as social media giants likely to resist Turkey’s new law (Paywall)
Reuters: Social media companies are unlikely to fully abide by Turkey’s new law requiring them to remove “disinformation” content and share user data with authorities, analysts say, raising the spectre of possible platform disruptions before elections next year.
TURKEY: Pro-government Turkish daily Sabah publishes locations of exiled journalists
CPJ: Turkish authorities and their allies at pro-government media outlets should take steps not to expose the physical locations of exiled journalists, which puts them at great risk, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.
TURKEY: Turkish Police Swoop on Kurdish Journalists in Dawn Raids
Balkan Insight: Police seized computers and notebooks as they raided the homes and offices of Kurdish news agency reporters in six cities, detaining at least ten journalists for unknown reasons.
CANADA: Additional support to strengthen local and diverse journalism
Newswire.ca: Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez today announced the rollout of two Budget 2022 commitments to support diverse and local stories in the news.
CANADA: Minister Pablo Rodriguez says he is open to amending online news bill
CBC News: Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez told a House of Commons committee Friday that he would be open to amendments on a bill he says would make Canada a world leader in supporting a modern free press.
US: A large portion of the Americans who will pay for news are rich
Nieman Lab: About a quarter of Americans have ever paid for news directly. Those who have are more likely to make over $150,000 a year.
US: BBC News and BBC Studios continue digital expansion with new leadership appointments in North America (Press release)
BBC: Jen Brown named SVP of Programming and Content Strategy, BBC Studios Global Digital News & Streaming whilst Saeed Ahmed appointed Head of Digital Journalism, U.S.
US: How public radio’s structure, growing resources are giving local journalism a boost (Paywall)
Current: As stations become more mature and financially sustainable, a new study says, they are building their capacity to deliver local journalism.
US: Journalists in US Moving Closer to Improved Legal Protections
VOA News: The legislation — the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying (PRESS) Act and a federal anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) bill — would, respectively, block federal law enforcement from subpoenaing journalist records and protect media against certain lawsuits.
US: PBS KIDS banks on civics & shorts
Kidscreen: PBS KIDS has greenlit a new series of animated shorts focused on teaching kids about civics.
US: Pubcasters ask FCC for help with boosting cable, satellite carriage (Paywall)
Current: PBS and America’s Public Television Stations asked the commission to take on obstacles reducing access to public TV channels.
US: Study documents expansion of public media journalism, collaborative news capacity (Paywall)
Current: Data show the growth of the system’s newsrooms and investments in new formats and partnerships.
US: Why journalists should be asking midterm candidates about foreign policy
Poynter: Reporters are letting politicians decide the topics they want to discuss. Here are ideas for how journalists can change that.
A one-stop shop of mental health resources for journalists
Journalism.co.uk: Access financial support, communities, self-help tips and more when you are going through your toughest moments
BBC World Service and British Council launch the International Radio Playwriting Competition 2023 (Opportunity)
BBC: Writers from around the world are invited to submit their scripts as the 28th International Radio Playwriting Competition opens for entries today, 24 October 2022.
Climate change journalism: Green shifting the news cycle
Science Norway: Journalists tend to focus on immediate events, yet climate change is an ongoing process. By covering the ‘green shift’ instead, journalists can drive the news cycle.
Curtailing media freedom in democracies
DW: Media freedom is under threat — not only in authoritarian states. Media scholar Erich de la Fuente has found that democratic governments use subtle instruments to put pressure on journalists and media outlets.
How to improve your coverage of working-class women
IJNet: While reporters talk with sources every day, it’s rare that conversation is about the practice of journalism itself. In September, the Center for Public Integrity and Tara Health Foundation hosted conversations about how to make news coverage of working-class women more community centered.
Gov.uk: Statement by Mungo Woodifield, UK Spokesperson to the UN, at the UN Fourth Committee, 12th meeting – General Assembly, 77th Session.
Journalistic responses to Internet surveillance: mapping fears, threats and infosec practices
LSE Blogs
Meet the Facts Man: BBC’s Ros Atkins on the rise of explainer journalism
Press Gazette: Over the past 11 months, Ros Atkins has been transformed from a semi-recognisable BBC presenter into a Twitter sensation.
Newly Green: A Course on the Green Recovery and Just Transition for Journalists (Resource)
Earth Journalism Network: Amidst a looming economic recession, war in Ukraine and a Covid-19 pandemic that hasn’t actually ended, it may be difficult for the public to imagine a global, environmentally focused economic recovery.
PAHO Launches Fact-checking Guide for Journalists
PAHO: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a guide that offers journalists tips for verifying information about COVID-19 vaccines. The guide can be applied to various health topics.
Safety of journalists for freedom of speech (Opinion)
The Korea Times: Among the many definitions of democracy and the rule of law, Maria Ressa’s version is a very compelling one, “Freedom of the press is the foundation of every single right we have as citizens.”
‘The survival right’: freedom of expression in armed conflicts
Article 19: ARTICLE 19 welcomes the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, on disinformation and freedom of opinion and expression during armed conflicts (the Report).
Tool for journalists: Omni Calculator, for fact-checking your maths
Journalism.co.uk: Next time you need to convert millions to billions or a distance into the number of chocolate bars, this website has you covered.
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Header image: An outdoor press conference with multiple cameras and journalists. Credit: Michael Fousert / Unsplash.com
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