AFGHANISTAN: Exiled Afghan journalists launch “Future Afghanistan” online media platform

IFEX: A group of Afghan journalists in exile has officially launched “Future Afghanistan,” an online media platform aimed at providing independent reporting on the situation in Afghanistan. Founded and led by Shafi Karimi, the outlet seeks to deliver comprehensive multimedia content that adheres to journalistic integrity.

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BANGLADESH: The future of Bangladesh’s fragile media freedom

Himāl: Under Mohammad Yunus’s interim government, a Media Reform Commission has set out to address long-standing problems facing journalists in Bangladesh – but old threats and patterns of control remain

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CHINA: Television in Crisis

China Media Project: Every morning at 8 o’clock, as she steps through the television station’s doors, the previous day’s ratings for all programs across the entire network appear before Chen Jiaqi’s eyes… 

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INDIA: Why mental health is a leading concern for freelance journalists in India

IJNet: As freelancers step into this shoes, reporting on issues affecting their communities—violence, financial insecurity, and more—they also face a  growing mental health crisis  fueled by physical and online attacks, government censorship, and legal harassment.

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INDONESIA: Indonesian police regulation on foreign journalists sparks press freedom concerns

The Phnom Penh Post: A new National Police regulation outlining procedures surrounding permits for foreign journalists has sparked criticism from press and law organizations, which say the policies could harm press freedom and restrict foreign media coverage of the country.

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JAPAN: NHK’s Nobuo Inaba (Interview)

WorldScreen: The country’s public-service broadcaster has transformed with the times, but its remit to serve its citizens with trustworthy, reliable information remains at the heart of the organization, Nobuo Inaba, its president, tells World Screen.

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MACAU: Journalists association concerned over media work restrictions

Macau Business: The Macau Journalists Association (AJM) has expressed concern over the growing number of official events being held without media presence and what it describes as “discriminatory practices” against the sector, calling for greater respect for press freedom.

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MONGOLIA: UNESCO Supports the Reform of the Media Freedom Law in Mongolia (Press release)

UNESCO: UNESCO continues to support Mongolia in its efforts to create a robust and enabling environment for media freedom, recognizing the latter’s vital role in democratic societies.

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PAKISTAN: Ministry of Information abolishes over 1,900 posts at PTV in rightsizing effort

Profit: 1,232 positions eliminated from PTV’s total approved posts; 729 posts declared “dying” positions; abolished roles span various levels, including high-ranking designations

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PAKISTAN: State registers case against newspaper and staff

IFJ: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has lodged a case against prominent local newspaper The Daily Jammu & Kashmir on April 6, including Chief Editor Aamir Mehboob and management staff, for allegedly spreading ‘fake news’ and ‘propaganda’ regarding a Parliamentary Ranger Force.

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SOUTH KOREA: Korean Broadcasting Actors’ Union: “KBS, situation worsens… need for combined collection of subscription fees” (Korean)

IS Plus: The Korean Broadcasting Actors’ Union has demanded the combined collection of KBS reception fees.

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SOUTH KOREA: LX, KBS Disaster Surveillance CCTV System Operation Project (Korean)

Digital Daily: KBS is collecting CCTV information nationwide and using it to produce disaster broadcasts.

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TAIWAN: Language activists urge more efforts to rejuvenate Hoklo

Taipei Times: The slashing of funds for the ministry’s initiatives and language programs has harmed people’s linguistic rights, a legislator said.

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THAILAND: NBTC allows two radio stations to test digital broadcasting in DAB+

Radioinfo: Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), said that after it announced the criteria for granting permission to use radio frequencies for temporary testing and experimentation, many interested operators applied for permission. 

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THAILAND: Thai PBS joins Help You, Help Me 2025 to unite influencers to communicate and create social change. (Press release – Thai) 

Thai PBS: The Active Thai PBS joins the Help You, Help Me 2025 event, joining forces to drive society towards change through communication of the new generation, and jointly creating an influencer network and online community for society.

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VIETNAM: Vietnamese, Chinese media giants announce strategic cooperation

Vietnam Plus: Vietnam Television (VTV) and China Media Group (CMG) will collaborate on producing programmes on technology development, AI, and urban infrastructure as well as those reflecting significant political, cultural, and social milestones of both countries.

AUSTRALIA: ‘Game on’: Kim Williams has ‘no doubt’ a Coalition government would initiate a review of the ABC (3 April) 

The Guardian: ABC chair backs public broadcaster after Peter Dutton’s comments warning it would need to demonstrate ‘excellence’.

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AUSTRALIA: SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduction targets validated by the SBTi (Press release)

SBS: National broadcaster SBS has had its carbon reduction trajectory, both near-term and long-term Net Zero targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

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AUSTRALIA: SBS News’ Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key issues of the Federal Election campaign (Press release) 

SBS: SBSNews Presenter and Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves and journalist Peggy Giakoumelos uncover more ways you can save as the cost of living becomes a hot topic in the upcoming Federal Election.

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AUSTRALIA: What would – and should – happen to the ABC under the next federal government?

The Conversation: Who could possibly argue with the idea that the ABC should be efficiently run and produce excellent programs?

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AUSTRALIA & EUROPE: SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering (Press release)

SBS: SBS is expanding its international news offering with the launch today (9 April) of the Euronews English language channel on streaming platform SBS On Demand.

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FIJI: Discrimination against women journalists normalised in Fiji – Baselala

Fijivillage: Discrimination against women journalists in Fiji has become normalised by many, leaving journalists silenced as they continue their work.

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NEW ZEALAND: RNZ turns 100 – a proud century of keeping Kiwis connected, informed and entertained (Press release)

RNZ: RNZ is marking the milestone of its 100th birthday with the launch today of its Centenary Scholarships – five scholarships worth up to $8000 each to support the journalists of tomorrow. 

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NEW ZEALAND: The future of RNZ as it celebrates 100 years, according to its boss

The Post: One hundred years ago New Zealanders had their first chance to connect with a revolutionary form of mass communication – a national radio service.

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NEW ZEALAND: Whakaata Māori Statement on Misleading Media Coverage (Statement)

Whakaata Māori: Whakaata Māori is aware of a recent media article containing misleading and inaccurate statements regarding a private whānau event held at our production, training and conference facility, Hawaikirangi, by our Kaihautū, Shane Taurima.

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TONGA & UK: Met Office supports Tonga to make history with first ever presented television weather broadcast (Press release)

Met Office: The Pacific Island of Tonga has broadcast its first fully presented weather forecast on television, with support from the Met Office.

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REGIONAL: ABC’s Pacific journalism goes from strength to strength (Press release)

ABC: The ABC’s dynamic network of Pacific-based correspondents, known as the Pacific Local Journalism Network (PLJN), continues to expand as it celebrates its second-year anniversary.

AUSTRIA: ORF strongly rejects alleged breach of law (Press release – German)

ORF: The ORF strongly rejects the alleged violation of the ORF Act based on an “investigation” by the “Oberösterreichische Nachrichten” and protests against the dissemination of untruths and deliberate disinformation.

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BELGIUM: VRT’s commitment to fact-checking and combatting disinformation (Press release)

VRT: Research shows that eight out of ten Flemings are concerned about disinformation.

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BELGIUM & SLOVENIA: Anti-bullying campaign STIP IT! takes over RTV Slovenia (Press release)

VRT: For more than 10 years, VRT’s STIP IT campaign has called on people to stand up against bullying. With four dots on a hand as a powerful symbol, STIP IT aims to connect, unite and engage young and old.

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BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: BHRT marked 80 Years of Work and Existence with a Solemn Ceremony

Sarajevo Times: Tonight, the 80th birthday of Radiotelevision of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT) was marked with a ceremonial academy at the National Theater in Sarajevo.

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CZECH REPUBLIC: IPI welcomes progress on securing public media funding

IPI: The government of Prime Minister Peter Fiala has taken a crucial step towards the realisation of its manifesto pledge to increase the licence fee, long called for by IPI, which will provide much needed and long overdue support to help bolster the finances of the two broadcasters moving forward.

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CZECH REPUBLIC: Television and radio fees will likely increase from May, approved by the Senate (Czech)

ČT: The Senate approved on Wednesday that fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio will probably increase from May.

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FRANCE: France’s contested public broadcasting reform halted after dispute in parliament

Rfi: The controversial plan to merge French public broadcasting companies faced a new setback Tuesday when its parliamentary committee review was suspended following an incident involving Culture Minister Rachida Dati.

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GEORGIA: Parliament approves Law on Broadcasting banning foreign funding for media outlets (Georgian)

1TV: The Georgian Parliament has approved the bill “On Broadcasting” in its third reading, which prohibits media broadcasters from receiving funding from foreign sources.

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GEORGIA: Public Broadcaster Statement (Press release – Georgian)

1TV: Georgian First Channel is disseminating information about the decision made based on the results of disciplinary proceedings initiated against employees involved in the recent ongoing proceedings against the Public Broadcaster.

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GERMANY: ARD Acceptance Study 2025: Digital strategy pays off: ARD reaches significantly more young people (Press release – German)

ARD: The ARD acceptance study is conducted every two years. Among other things, it examines the social value people attribute to ARD and the level of acceptance of ARD products.

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GERMANY: Attacks on Journalists Double, Middle East Reporting Polarizes & Media Policy Initiatives Stalled

RSF: They were beaten, kicked, and hit with bottles: in 2024, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) documented 89 attacks on media professionals and media organizations, as revealed in the newly published “Close-Up 2025: RSF Report on Press Freedom in Germany”.

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GERMANY: ZDF Administrative Board publishes potential analysis of ZDF’s future digital infrastructure (Press release – German) 

ZDF: Experts see ZDF as enabling a counterweight to market-dominant platforms

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IRELAND: RTÉ Launches new Clarity Mark to help counter Misinformation & Disinformation (Press release)

RTÉ: RTÉ has today launched Clarity, a new strand of coverage in which its journalism will work to counter the deliberate manipulation of facts and challenge false and fake news.

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THE NETHERLANDS: Response of NPO and College of Broadcasters to the reform plans for public broadcasting (Press release – Dutch)

NPO: The NPO and the College of Broadcasters are pleased that the Minister recognises the importance of a strong public broadcaster as an indispensable pillar of the democratic constitutional state. We see positive elements in the plans for the reform of the public system.

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SERBIA: Press freedom in Serbia reached ‘critical’ situation, international media monitoring group says

Jurist: An international media monitoring group said on Wednesday that press freedom in Serbia is facing a “critical” situation, with an increased level of attacks and threats against journalists.

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SLOVENIA: New RTV-matura website (Press release – Slovenian)

RTV SLO: On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the reintroduction of the high school diploma in Slovenia, a new portal on RTV Slovenia.

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SPAIN & ISRAEL: RTVE statement on the participation of Israeli public television KAN in Eurovision (Press release – Spanish)

RTVE: In accordance with the agreements reached by the Board of Directors, the president of RTVE Corporation has written to the director general of EBU, Noel Curran, requesting the opening of a debate within the organization on the participation of Israel’s public television (KAN) in the next Eurovision Song Contest, to be held in Basel in May.

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SWEDEN: Sveriges Radio starts paid training for aspiring journalists (Press release – Swedish)

SR: Sveriges Radio is investing in long-term skills supply by launching a new trainee program for aspiring journalists in the fall of 2025. The program is aimed at editorial offices and regions where we have had recruitment difficulties in recent years.

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SWITZERLAND: Radio usage figures: Data for the first quarter of 2025 are in line with expectations (Press release – German)

SRG SSR: The first market figures following the FM switch-off of SRG radio on December 31, 2024, confirm what the usage surveys commissioned by the Federal Office of Communications for the Swiss radio industry have shown for years: the vast majority of radio listeners in Switzerland listen digitally.

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SWITZERLAND: SRG with balanced annual result in 2024 (Press release – German)

SRG SSR: Use of SRG content remains very high and is increasingly shifting to digital channels. The challenges ahead remain significant, which is why SRG has initiated a company-wide transformation process.

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UK: Ofcom proposes to give green light to three new BBC DAB+ stations, but not Radio 2 spin-off or expanded Radio 5 Sports Extra (Press release)

Ofcom: Ofcom has today published the provisional conclusions of its assessments of the BBC’s plans to launch four new DAB+ stations and extend the hours of Radio 5 Sports Extra.

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REGIONAL: Decreasing Support for Journalists’ Protection will Undermine Media Freedom in Germany and Europe (Press release)

ECPMF: In times when public interest journalism and democratic discourse are under severe pressure – facing economic constraints, pressures, disinformation campaigns, a reduced readership, and attacks from the far-right – a strong protection mechanism and unwavering support for press and media freedom in Saxony, Germany, and Europe is more important than ever.

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REGIONAL: If the EU is to support media freedom, its members must lead by example

Politico: If the bloc hopes to influence the aspiring autocrats in candidate countries, it must establish a strong culture of independent media within its own borders.

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REGIONAL: NGOs under attack: EFJ joins call for a strong and independent civil society in Europe

EFJ: n the face of attacks on European civil society organisations by certain Members of the European Parliament, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins Civil Society Europe and more than 570 other organisations from 40 countries, in denouncing these misleading narratives and calling to defend the vital role of civil society in European decision-making processes.

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REGIONAL: Protecting media freedom is crucial to our democracies, says OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in first report to OSCE Permanent Council

OSCE: Protecting media freedom is crucial to our democracies and comprehensive security: this was a core message from the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Jan Braathu, during his first report to the OSCE Permanent Council today.

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REGIONAL & US: Big Tech squares off with EU regulators

Semafor: The Trump administration has reportedly made clear that it wants Europe to drop content moderation requirements for US tech giants.

IRAQ: Press freedom watchdog condemns brutal attack on Kurdish journalist over corruption coverage

Kurdistan24: The organization reported that Abdul-Khaliq was targeted after publishing an investigative report exposing corruption in the Sulaimani region.

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ISRAEL: Urgent call to protect media workers

ARTICLE 19: ARTICLE 19 strongly condemns Israel’s recent airstrike on a journalists’ tent near Nasser Hospital in the Palestinian refugee camp in Khan Younis, which resulted in the death of two journalists and at least seven others being injured.

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ISRAEL & PALESTINE: MADA: Ninety-Eight (98) Israeli Violations Against Media Freedoms in Palestine During March

MADA Center: The crimes and violations against media freedoms in Palestine continued at high and alarming rates during the past month of March, marking a significant increase compared to February.

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TURKEY: Turkey detains two investigative journalists

DW: The journalists work for opposition newspapers, Birgun and Cumhuriyet. Their newspapers said they were facing false charges stemming from their work covering the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

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TURKEY: Turkey seeks three-year jail terms for journalists covering Imamoglu protests

Middle East Eye: A Turkish public prosecutor is seeking three-year jail terms for seven journalists arrested while covering protests against the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

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REGIONAL: US-funded Arabic news outlet Alhurra shuts down TV broadcasts after funding freeze

Middle East Monitor: Alhurra, the US-funded Arabic-language news network with a weekly audience of over 30 million across 22 countries, has ceased most television programming and laid off the majority of its staff, following a funding freeze by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

CANADA: Canadian PM Mark Carney unveils plan to increase CBC/Radio-Canada funding by $150m annually

C21Media: Canadian prime minister Mark Carney says he will increase CBC/Radio-Canada’s annual funding by C$150m (US$105m) if his Liberal Party is re-elected at the end of the month, as part of a plan that could see the pubcaster’s funding almost double in the coming years.

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CANADA: Carney, Singh pledge support for CBC/Radio-Canada amid U.S. threats

Global News: Liberal Leader Mark Carney and the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh expressed support Friday for federal spending to ensure a strong national public broadcaster, a notion Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre dismissed as something Canada simply can’t afford.

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CANADA: CBC AND SOCAN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE THE 2025 EDITION OF REVERIE: THE INDIGENOUS MUSIC RESIDENCY (Press release)

CBC: CBC and SOCAN Foundation are proud to announce the return of Reverie: The Indigenous Music Residency, a songwriting and artist development program designed to support emerging Indigenous musicians.

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CANADA: Indigenous perspectives front and center in APTN News’ federal election coverage (Press release)

APTN: As Canadians prepare to head to the polls for Canada’s 45th federal election, APTN News is committed to delivering comprehensive and insightful coverage that places Indigenous issues and perspectives at the forefront.

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US: Bill extends press protections to university-based public media

NPR Illinois: The Illinois Senate passed legislation Thursday that would extend press protections to public media outlets, including NPR and PBS affiliates, that are operated by Illinois colleges and universities.

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US: CPB Names Kathy Merritt as Chief Operating Officer and Debra Sanchez as Executive Vice President, Government and External Affairs and Acting Corporate Secretary (Press release)

CPB: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has promoted Kathy Merritt to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Debra Sanchez to Executive Vice President, Government and External Affairs and Acting Corporate Secretary.

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US: Entry: Denied

CJR: The “intolerable risk to press freedom” posed by device searches at the border.

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US: Federal funding reinstated for Peoria’s public broadcasting station

CI Proud: After months of anticipation, Peoria’s public broadcasting station had all of its federal funding restored.

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US: For station drives, discussing funding threat appears to boost giving

Current: “It’s not that you can’t talk about something that hasn’t happened yet. It’s how you talk about it if you decide to go there.”

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US: How federal funding for public media works — and why it’s essential

KSUT: Recently, the need for and value of public media has become a topic of conversation, nationally and locally. KSUT Public Radio assembled this guide to answer your questions about how public media funding works and why it’s an essential part of our existence.

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US: RFE/RL Files New Request for Emergency Relief in US District Court (Press release)

RFE/RL: New oversight demands from USAGM contravene federal law and require more bureaucracy

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US: Study finds conservatives and liberals want similar things from public media

Current: When asked about news attributes they value, people from opposite ends of the political spectrum aren’t that far apart, according to new audience research.

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US: The Trump White House is now sitting on any reporters’ pool reports it finds unflattering

Nieman Lab: Perhaps it’s surprising, perhaps not, but one thing has become clear about Donald Trump’s bizarre war with the Associated Press: The White House cares about it.

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US: What’s next for engagement in public media? Beyond America Amplified

Current: “As America Amplified steps back, it is now up to newsrooms and station leadership to pick up the baton and carry it around the track.”

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US: White House Must Allow The Associated Press Full Access to Trump, Judge Rules

The New York Times: The Trump administration has barred the news outlet from certain events for its use of the term “Gulf of Mexico,” which a federal judge agreed amounted to a violation of the First Amendment.

Americans are really not into news chatbots, a study finds

Nieman Lab: According to a new Poynter/University of Minnesota study about how the American public feels about generative AI in journalism, 49% of respondents said they aren’t at all interested in using chatbots to find information from news organizations, while 39% said they’d only use it if the responses were verified by the newsroom’s editors for accuracy.

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BBC journalists slam World Service restructure (Paywall)

Broadcast Now: Group urges pause on rejigged international model plans which could ‘fracture’ division and make it easier to ‘close down’

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Guide to The Times Newsroom: Breaking News

The New York Times: Our mission is to help you understand the world. Here, we want to help you understand us, and how we work.

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International Fact-Checking Day: DW counters disinformation (Press release)

DW: To mark International Fact-Checking Day, DW emphasizes the urgent need to combat disinformation and presents its initiatives to promote media literacy and news verification.

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International Journalism Festival 2025: what we learnt in Perugia about the future of news

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Here are a few highlights from the festival on journalism in exile, local news, reader revenue, news avoidance and AI and the future of news

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IPI Executive Board stands united in support of journalists, press freedom across the globe (Statement)

IPI: Members of the International Press Institute (IPI) Executive Board, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, today issued a joint statement expressing their solidarity with journalists and members of the media community across the globe, as freedom of the press faces unprecedented assault and pressure by governments and powerful actors in every part of the world.

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Press freedom linked to greater financial stability, finds global study

The Conversation: Press freedom is widely considered to be a cornerstone of democracy. It brings accountability, transparency and access to reliable information.

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To counter anti-democratic propaganda, step up funding for ABC International

ASPI Strategist: A global contest of ideas is underway, and democracy as an ideal is at stake. Democracies must respond by lifting support for public service media with an international footprint.

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We need to hold broadcasters to account for their international content

International Broadcasting Trust: A new report commissioned by IBT tracks international public service content broadcast in 2023 and 2024. The report’s author, Martin Scott, argues that transparent and accountable public service media is vital in an age of misinformation.

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What Can a Journalist Do?

CJR: The world we inhabit is the result of a chain of decisions, none of them inevitable. Journalism can help inform those decisions and how people think about them.

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Who Wants Impartial News? Investigating Determinants of Preferences for Impartiality in 40 Countries (Journal Article)

International Journal of Communication: Despite the centrality of impartiality for many journalistic cultures, and widespread support across audiences, there is still limited research about which aspects influence people’s preferences for impartial news.