Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, the need for community solidarity and mutual support has never been greater. But this support requires quality, fact-checked and evidence based news and information.

With this in mind, the Public Media Alliance has compiled an extensive and growing list of resources featuring recommended tools, advice and sources for journalists and the public alike. The resources can be found via the link below or in the Tools section of our website.

If you have any recommendations, please let us know.

PSM Innovations


“PSM Innovations” is a new feature for PSM Weekly. Every fortnight, PMA will highlight an innovation to demonstrate how public media are pushing boundaries, experimenting with new technologies, and coming up with solutions to new or existing challenges.

LRT RADIO’s multilingual programming

Over 10% of the Lithuanian population are minorities, with Russian and Polish-speaking people making up the largest groups. Over the past year, LRT RADIO has experimented with new ways to provide minority groups with trustworthy and reliable news and information.

LRT RADIO’s innovative response to confusion around the COVID-19 vaccine among ethnic minority groups materialised last April with a one-off multilingual programme. It featured listeners pitching in with their questions, and the answers from two medical experts were then simultaneously broadcast in Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian. While some may have thought it chaotic, it gave LRT RADIO the “opportunity to better reach ethnic minorities by broadcasting in a new way”, Dovilė Javinskaitė, Head of LRT RADIO Newsroom, explained.

LRT radio studio
Broadcasting “COVID-19 Vaccination: Myths and Facts” inside the LRT RADIO studio. Credit: Edvard Blaževič

Following this initial, successful experiment, LRT RADIO held another multilingual discussion about migration last year in light of the Belarus-EU border crisis, and plans to host at least four more this year. Ms Javinskaitė has noticed that radio shows in Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian have helped ethnic minorities feel more included in Lithuanian society.

The public radio station has other plans to involve ethnic minorities, including “radio hosts making trips around Lithuania in order to hear stories from people living on the smaller cities and on the outskirts”; involving them in more attractive formats such as visual radio; and creating more podcasts in languages other than Lithuanian.

If you have an innovation you think we’d be interested to hear about at your public media organisation, please get in touch with us at editor@publicmediaalliance.org.


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Coronavirus: Resources & best practices

Essential resources for sourcing and reporting news about the coronavirus pandemic

What we're watching...


NBC urged to produce relatable content for Namibians 

NBC News: The Chairperson of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has urged the corporation to produce relatable content for Namibians.

What we're listening to...


Media in Kashmir face growing crackdown

IPI: The current Indian government […] stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status by effectively revoking Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Days before the announcement, the region was subjected to internet shutdowns and media blackouts. Though India claimed at the time that the restrictions would be lifted shortly after the government regained control over the region, it turned out to be quite the opposite.

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BOTSWANA: Botswana Government Waters Down Phone Tapping Bill After Public Outcry

VOA: Following public outrage, Botswana’s government has revised a controversial spy bill which would have allowed investigators to intercept private communications without a court order. 


KENYA: KBC among 10 most watched TV channels by Kenyans

KBC: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) Television viewership has been rated to have improved to eight percent from last year’s two percent rating it among top 10 most watched stations. 


KENYA: KBC Hit With US$1.7 Million In Legal Fees Over Channel Court Case

Broadcast Media Africa: The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) will pay US$1.7million in legal fees for the fiscal year 2021-22 following a 13-year court battle that threatens to bankrupt the state broadcaster.


NAMIBIA: NBC urged to produce relatable content for Namibians (Watch)

NBC: The Chairperson of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has urged the corporation to produce relatable content for Namibians.


NIGERIA: NBC Suspends Popular FM/TV Programme, Idon Mikiya

Daily Trust: The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has suspended a popular current affairs programme of Vision FM, Idon Mikiya, for six months. 


SOMALIA: Journalists face arrest, police harassment to start 2021

IPI: IPI urges authorities to increase protection of journalists, stop newsroom raids


SOUTH AFRICA: ‘I deny that I failed to act in defence of Magopeni’ – SABC board chairperson

News24: SABC board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini denied having a hand in the dismissal of the national broadcaster’s head of news, Phathiswa Magopeni.


SOUTH AFRICA: Man accused of breaking into the SABC expected to appear in Court on Tuesday

SABC: Jafta Mofokeng, the 27-year-old accused of breaking into the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) premises in January, is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.


SOUTH AFRICA: ‘SABC Head of News’ dismissal due to political pressure’

SABC: The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa believes the firing of  South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Head of News Phathiswa Magopeni is due to political pressure.


SUDAN: The Sudanese Authorities Have Released The BBC Arabic Team Delegated To Khartoum (Arabic)

Baj News: The security authorities released the BBC Arabic team delegated to Sudan, hours after [they were] arrested on Monday while working in Khartoum.


ZIMBABWE: Media Freedom Violation Fears Mount Ahead Of Elections

New Zimbabwe: The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) regional director Tabani Moyo has bemoaned the worsening media freedom violations in Southern Africa saying Zimbabwe was the leading offender.

AFGHANISTAN: Afghan journalists increasingly harassed by Taliban intelligence and new ministry

RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the surge in threats, summonses for interrogation and arbitrary arrests to which journalists and media outlets have been subjected for the past two months in Afghanistan. 


AFGHANISTAN: Media Freedom Talks: Journalism in Afghanistan (Event)

Deutsche Welle: What is the state of media freedom in Afghanistan six months after the Taliban took power? In the next session of Media Freedom Talks, DW Akademie, in cooperation with Reporter ohne Grenzen, will discuss this topic.


CHINA: Can journalists covering Beijing Olympics get the real story? (Opinion)

Judith Neilson Institute: Both athletes and journalists will be subject to intense scrutiny and restrictions, unlike any seen in the history of the Olympic Games. For those covering the Games remotely, they have the daunting task of trying to report on a situation whose narrative is tightly controlled.


HONG KONG: Closure of media outlets in Hong Kong: Media Freedom Coalition statement

Gov.uk: The UK, along with its partners in the Media Freedom Coalition express deep concern at the closure of media outlets in Hong Kong.


INDIA: Journalists Acting Against National Security To Lose Government Accreditation

NDTV: The Central Media Accreditation Guidelines-2022, announced on Monday, also lays down guidelines for the accreditation of journalists working for online news platforms.


INDIA: Prasar Bharti’s ‘Rebuttal’ on Fewer Urdu News Bulletins Misleading, Say Staffers (18 January)

The Wire: While The Wire had reported about reduction of bulletins on the main Urdu channel, the public broadcaster has listed Urdu bulletins that are being broadcast on other channels of the network. 


KASHMIR: Kashmir journalist arrested amid widening crackdown

Al Jazeera: Police in Indian-administered Kashmir arrest Fahad Shah, the editor of news outlet Kashmir Walla, for ‘anti-national’ posts.


MALAYSIA: Candidates for Johor polls can use RTM to reach voters, says Annuar (29 January)

Free Malaysia Today: All candidates in the Johor state elections, including the opposition, can use the channels provided by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) to introduce themselves to the voters. 


MYANMAR: A catastrophic year for the media in Myanmar

CJR


MYANMAR: ‘We’ll keep reporting, whatever the risk from the junta,’ say Myanmar’s journalists

The Guardian: To avoid arrest, the staff of the 74 Media left their home city, only to face shellfire in their border refuge. The editor describes the risks faced by his media outlet


PAKISTAN: State of the media (Editorial)

The News International: The Pakistan Media Freedom Report — 2021′ released by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors on Monday paints a portrait of a media landscape that is unremittingly grim, with space for free expression having shrunk even further under the PTI government. 


PHILIPPINES: Philippines passes law to tackle anonymous social media abuse

Rappler: Philippines lawmakers have approved legislation requiring social media users to register their legal identities and phone numbers when creating new accounts, a senator said on Thursday, in an ambitious move to thwart online abuse and misinformation.


SINGAPORE: Many in Singapore confident they can spot fake news but may not actually be able to: Study

The Straits Times: There is a disconnect between how confident people here are in spotting fake news and their ability to actually do so amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to findings from a study released on Friday (Jan 28).


SOUTH KOREA: KBS’ Firm Commitment to Emergency Broadcasting Has Been Proved to Support the National COVID-19 Response (Press release – 24 January)

KBS: KBS’ unwavering commitment to emergency broadcasting on COVID-19 has been found to help the nation overcome the COVID-19 crisis. 


THAILAND: Thai PBS Podcast launches 3 new shows this Feb. Celebrate the month of love (Press release – Thai)

Thai PBS: The Public Broadcasting Organization of Thailand (SAT) or Thai PBS has launched 3 new podcasts starting from February 2022 to serve a wide and diverse audience.

AUSTRALIA: Coalition’s new ABC and SBS accountability measures could weaken independence, Labor warns

The Guardian: Opposition questions if the law allows Morrison government to demand statement of expectations from broadcasters.


AUSTRALIA: Federal government ends ABC funding freeze, accused of trying to neutralise political headache

ABC: The federal government will end a highly contentious decision to freeze millions of dollars of ABC funding as it pours billions of dollars into the national broadcaster over the next three years.


AUSTRALIA: Google hits out at Australian media code as US reviews laws

Sydney Morning Herald: Search advertising giant Google has hit out at Australia’s media bargaining laws, telling a US government department the legislation would be unworkable and harm democracy in the world’s largest economy.


AUSTRALIA: Lessons from The Signal as the ABC launches its new daily podcast, ABC News Daily

ABC: ABC News Daily’s Stephen Smiley reveals what a daily news podcast offers to its audience that breakfast radio and television and newspapers don’t.


AUSTRALIA: SBS supports multicultural communities with Rapid Antigen Test information in more than 50 languages (Press release)

SBS: SBS is continuing to support Australia’s multicultural communities through the COVID-19 pandemic, publishing a series of infographics explaining how to correctly use a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), which will be made available in more than 50 languages.


AUSTRALIA: Social media moderators are like the paramedics of the internet – and they’re right in the firing line of trolls (Watch)

ABC: Have you ever read the comments section on a news story on Facebook, a post on a politician’s Facebook page or on your favourite sports team’s page? 


AUSTRALIA: Statements on ABC funding 2022-25 from Chair Ita Buttrose and MD David Anderson

ABC


NEW ZEALAND: Publicly-funded boost for Māori media (Listen)

RNZ: For years Māori journalism leaders warned a lack of training, investment and opportunities meant Māori people and perspectives were mostly missing in our media. But more effort and money than ever before is now being put in.


PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Three PNG government agencies have power to censor Facebook 

Asia Pacific Report: Censoring of Facebook in Papua New Guinea can be addressed by three mandated government agencies, says Chief Censor Jim Abani.


TONGA: Covering Tonga’s volcano eruption – without communications

Asia Pacific Report: That epic undersea eruption in Tonga was heard around the region – and recorded and analysed in minute detail, even from space. But a comprehensive communications wipeout cut reporters off from sources for days. So how do they cover a story with almost no access?

AUSTRIA: ORF editors’ council calls for the end of party-political appointments (German)

Der Standard: “From our point of view, a clear breach of the constitution and the ORF law” – ORF Foundation Council Chairman Norbert Steger: “No illegality”.


BELARUS: Belarus: 18 months of media persecution

IPI: International community must keep focus on the continuing crackdown on independent media in Belarus


BELGIUM: Flemish Parliament approves reform of VRT Board of Directors (Dutch)

VRT: On February 2, the Flemish Parliament approved the announced reform of the Board of Directors of the VRT. The reform paves the way for the appointment of four independent directors. The decree also contains a number of reforms that should contribute to the good governance of public broadcasting.


CROATIA: Let’s stop the persecution of journalists (Croatian)

HND: The invalid verdict finding Novi list journalist Dražen Ciglenečki guilty on the basis of a private lawsuit filed by former Zagreb County Court President and now High Criminal Court Judge Ivan Turudić is another pressure on freedom of speech and the role of the media in democratic societies.


DENMARK: The government wants streaming services to pay extra for Danish films and series (Danish)

DR: The government proposes that streaming services such as Netflix must pay a so-called cultural contribution of five percent of the services’ turnover in Denmark.


DENMARK: Visiting DR in Trafiktårn Øst: ‘Traffic announcements are for us the core of public service’ (Danish – Press release)

DR: For five years now, DR Trafik has worked from Trafiktårn Øst close to Fisketorvet in Copenhagen, which functions as a center for traffic monitoring of the entire country. The unique location enables DR’s traffic hosts to provide more accurate information than ever before.


FINLAND: Does Yle have to show sports? What and how much? (Finnish – Editorial)

Yle: The Olympics will once again bring the Finns together for a common experience. Yle needs to – of course – show the Olympics, and sports in general. 


FRANCE: Always mobilized, the editorial staff of RFI defends its ethics (French – Paywall)

Le Monde: The “ethical errors” of an international radio journalist are at the origin of the motion of no confidence voted against the management last week, and of the demand for greater transparency and a requirement for the respect of rules.


FRANCE: Historic records for Radio France and its on-demand listening channels (Press release – French)

Radio France: Radio France continues to soar in terms of on-demand listening, with a historic record of more than 100 million on-demand listening (Médiamétrie eStat Podcast + AT Internet) .


GERMANY: Broadcasting Committee elects new chair (German)

Süddeutsche Zeitung: Every five years, a new term of office begins for the Finance Commission, which consists of 16 experts. The new chairman already has three major issues on his agenda.


GERMANY & RUSSIA: DW – Joint meeting of Broadcasting Council and Administrative Board on the withdrawal of accreditation in Russia

Deutsche Welle: In their joint meeting today, the governing bodies of DW dealt with the measures taken against DW by Russia.


MALTA: Government’s press freedom proposals ‘not enough’

The Shift News: The media experts committee appointed by Prime Minister Robert Abela as part of the recommendations of the public inquiry findings to implement press freedom reforms was not consulted on the drafting of the Bills the government presented to parliament.


MALTA: Media battle for access to public information (Statement)

IPI: The undersigned international media freedom organisations today express growing concern over the challenges that media outlets in Malta face in accessing public information through the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. 


NETHERLANDS: Dutch reporter cut off on-air by Chinese security called an isolated incident by IOC

CBC Sports: Journalist dragged away during Beijing 2022 opening ceremony on Friday


POLAND: Dismissal of SLAPP-targeted journalist Grzegorz Rzeczkowski sets concerning precedent

IPI: The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins its partners in the Media Freedom Rapid response (MFRR) is expressing solidarity with journalist Grzegorz Rzeczkowski who faces four SLAPPs and was recently dismissed by Polityka, one of the major independent weekly magazines in Poland, without a transparent reason.


POLAND: Poland’s free media is shrinking (Gazeta Wyborcza)

IPI: The authorities are doing everything they can to weaken the few remaining independent media outlets in Poland, writes Gazeta Wyborcza.


POLAND: TVN7 still without Polish licence

Broadband TV News: Poland’s TVN Discovery Group has warned that its popular entertainment channel TVN7 cannot remain a free terrestrial service without a licence extension from the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT).


RUSSIA: Critical journalists in Russia fall silent

DW: Many journalists in Russia practise self-censorship for fear of reprisals, and state pressure is commonplace. Fewer and fewer are willing to take the risk of reporting critically about the government.


RUSSIA & GERMANY: RT DE can continue broadcasting in Germany during legal case

Broadband TV News: Russian state broadcaster RT can continue distributing its German-language TV channel RT DE in Germany following the legal action taken by the broadcaster.


SWEDEN: Cilla Benkö: Increased legal protection for threatened journalists is a step in the right direction (Swedish – Press release)

Sveriges Radio: On Tuesday, Minister of Justice and Home Affairs Morgan Johansson and Minister of Culture Jeanette Gustafsdotter received the report “A sharpened view of crimes against journalists and practitioners of certain socially beneficial functions”. 


SWITZERLAND: Interview with Gilles Marchand, Director General of SRG SSR

EBU: Gilles Marchand, Director General of SRG SSR and member of the EBU Executive Board talks to Vanessa O’Connor, EBU Director of Member Relations & Communications.


UK: Channel 4 announces 100% disabled presenting team for Winter Paralympics (Press release)

Channel 4: It is a global first for a broadcaster to have an entire disabled presenting and punditry team for a world class sporting event.


UK: Grade still interested in Ofcom chair

Broadband TV News: Michael Grade, arguably the most experienced person in British broadcasting, has said he remains interested in the role of chair of the UK media regulator Ofcom.


UK: ITV rolls out eco-friendly news gathering vehicles

Broadcast: ITV is replacing its news gathering vehicles with a ‘world-class’ fleet of eco-friendly, plug-in hybrid vehicles.


UK: Privatising Channel 4 will harm UK ‘levelling-up’ plan, warn TV bosses

The Guardian: Selling channel would concentrate programming and investment in south-east England, say executives.


UK: This Is Our BBC (Press release)

BBC: BBC Three returned to TV screens last night with a promise to be more representative of all young people than ever before, telling their unfiltered, unapologetic and extraordinary stories from right across the UK.


UKRAINE: Ukraine journalists fight battle on all fronts

Index on Censorship: Journalists in Ukraine operate in a harsh environment. As tensions with Russia build, the grave situation demands attention.


REGIONAL: RSF receives visit from European Commission vice-president Vera Jourova, urges EU to make 2022 “year of right to information”

RSF: Receiving a visit from Vera Jourova, the European Commission vice-president for values and transparency on 7 February, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on Europe to elevate safeguards for the right to information to the highest level in 2022.

ARGENTINA: How Industry Controls Media Policy in Argentina (Spanish) 

CMDS: In Argentina, freedom of expression is officially guaranteed by the Constitution and the government has the upper hand in regulating the media. However, it is the country’s largest media groups that wield real influence in the political process, according to a new report released today by CMDS.


BOLIVIA: Bolivian media see that impunity and corruption risk freedom of the press (Spanish)

Swissinfo: The National Press Association (ANP), which brings together the main print media in Bolivia, warned this Sunday that the successive acts of corruption and judicial impunity recently uncovered in the country represent ” a high risk” for freedom of the press and expression.


BRAZIL: ​​EBC director says talking about Covid ‘is boring’ and presses for coverage reduction (Portuguese – paywall) 

Folha de S Paulo 


BRAZIL: ‘Editorial criteria could be rethought and strengthened,’ Folha’s diversity editor said after controversy over racism in Brazilian newspaper

LatAm Journalism Review: Folha de S.Paulo, one of the largest newspapers in Brazil and about to turn 101, is going through an “unprecedented crisis,” according to its own ombudsman. 


BRAZIL: Political actors instigated a third of online gender attacks against journalists in 2021 (Portuguese)

Abraji: According to the monitoring of gender violence against journalists , carried out by the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism ( Abraji ), 85 ( 71.4% ) of the 119 attacks recorded in 2021 had their origin or some repercussion in the digital environment. 


COSTA RICA: Elections 2022: Only in Costa Rica and Honduras do the media not give equal space to all political parties through “electoral bands” (Spanish)

Semanario Universidad: Costa Rica is one of the two countries in Latin America, along with Honduras, where the media do not give free space to all political parties equally to advertise through the “electoral strips”, as confirmed by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), and this is due to a lack of political will and opposition from the commercial media.


EL SALVADOR: The IAPA warned of serious implications for press freedom in El Salvador (Spanish)

Infobae: The Central American country’s Congress on Tuesday approved reforms to the Criminal Procedure Code to authorize digital undercover operations. Journalists and opponents consider that the measure opens the doors to legalize digital espionage.


HAITI: Attackers shoot at, firebomb offices of Haitian outlet Radio Télé Zenith 

CPJ: Haitian authorities should conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into an attack on the Radio Télé Zenith offices, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.


JAMAICA: TVJ switches on the World’s Third NextGen Digital Television Service (31 January)

CBU: Television Jamaica Limited (TVJ) on Monday joined only two other countries globally to start transmission of the most modern television standard available today, the Advanced Television Standards Committee, ATSC 3.0 digital standard.


MEXICO: ‘It is enough’: Amid series of murders, Mexico’s journalists demand change

IPI: Tijuana journalist Gabriela Martínez on Mexico’s nationwide protests against journalist killings.


MEXICO: What’s behind the spike in journalist murders in Mexico?

Al Jazeera: Four journalists were killed in January, highlighting a dangerous culture of impunity in the country, rights groups say.


MEXICO: They already control the public media, now they go by private editorial line (Spanish – Opinion)

El Economista: The Judiciary intends to revive two “audience rights” that are actually the pretext for the government to censor and restrict freedom of expression


URUGUAY: Prosecutor who requested a raid on Azul FM recognized that it was “unnecessary”, according to APU (Spanish) 

Montevideo Portal: The Uruguayan Press Association (APU) met at noon this Monday with the surrogate court prosecutor, Juan Gómez, after the workers expressed their concern about the raid carried out by the police on the radio station Azul FM.


VENEZUELA: Independent Venezuelan news sites blocked by state-controlled and private service providers

CPJ: Fresh blocks on a handful of Venezuela’s few remaining independent news websites are a troubling sign of escalating press censorship, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.


VENEZUELA: January: Internet failures and abuse of power violate freedom of expression (Spanish)

Espacio Público: The first month of 2022 ended with the registration of 24 cases totaling 57 violations of the right to freedom of expression; the most frequent acts were harassment, intimidation and censorship, and 70% of the victims turned out to be journalists and reporters. 

LEBANON: RSF refers violence against Lebanese journalists to UN, one year after Lokman Slim murder

RSF: One year after the murder of Lokman Slim, a Lebanese journalist and political analyst who had been threatened by Hezbollah activists for months, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has referred the decline in the security of journalists in Lebanon to the UN and has asked it to ensure that the authorities take all necessary measure to protect them and guarantee their safety.


SYRIA: Suspension of Rudaw Media Network ‘s licence

IFJ: The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has suspended Rudaw Media Network’s license and blocked its financial aid, claiming it is spreading hatred and misinformation. 


TURKEY: Six-Year Trial ‘a Burden,’ Says RSF’s Turkey Representative

VOA News: A media freedom advocate who supports journalists who are threatened, attacked or detained in Turkey was back in court this week as part of a yearslong trial.


YEMEN: Yemen: Help us save the lives of four journalists on death row for their reporting

IFJ: Four Yemeni journalists have been detained by the Ansar Allah in Sana’a, Yemen, since 2015, and are now on the death row after being condemned for their work as journalists.


YEMEN: Yemen Houthi forces raid, shutter radio broadcasters

CPJ: Yemen’s Houthi rebels must stop harassing and shuttering media outlets, and should allow all broadcasters to operate freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday.

CANADA: 42% of newcomers who consume news turn to social media as go-to source, MTM says (Paywall)

Cartt.ca: Social media is an important news source for newcomers to Canada, according to CBC’s Media Technology Monitor (MTM), which today released an exclusive report that focuses on how newcomers are using social media.


CANADA: If Canada wants to support local broadcasting, it should put its money where its mouth is (Opinion)

Canada’s National Observer: So, the question must be asked: If the federal government wants to support local broadcasters, why does it spend the majority of its own ad dollars on Google and Facebook? 


CANADA: Liberals re-introduce Broadcasting Act bill, pledge amendments will ensure individual social media users are exempt

The Globe and Mail: The Liberal government has introduced a new version of its controversial legislation aimed at regulating online broadcasts and said the updated bill would not apply to social-media users, individual content creators or influencers.


CANADA: No freedom for the media? (French – Opinion)

Le Journal de Montréal: I can’t believe that in Canada, journalists are forced to have bodyguards to cover a demonstration”. 


US: WNET Group Announces Plans to Bring NextGen TV to New York City

TV Tech: New York City Public Broadcaster WNET has revealed its plans to launch ATSC 3.0 (aka NextGen TV) in New York City, the largest television market in the United States, with approximately 7.45 million TV households. 


US: Beyond Broadcast: PBS’ Sylvia Bugg on multiplatforming Black History Month

RealScreen


US: Bill in legislature seeks to put Iowa PBS content in public domain (Paywall)

Current: A bill in the Iowa state legislature would put Iowa PBS content in the public domain, a move that the station argues would leave both it and the state open to lawsuits.


US: Crackdown in the statehouse: Lawmakers edge out press access

Freedom of the Press Foundation: In a growing number of state legislatures across the country, journalists are facing new rules and proposed legislation that breaks with traditions of public access to legislators.


US: New president of western Mass. public media stations wants to focus on people, not just platforms

WBUR: Matt Abramovitz has taken the helm of New England Public Media almost three years after a radio and television merger that brought Springfield’s public radio station into a partnership with Boston public media giant GBH.


US: Senate Confirms Three Members to Corp. for Public Broadcasting Board

TV Tech: The U.S. Senate has confirmed the nominations of Thomas E. Rothman and the renominations of Laura Gore Ross and Elizabeth M. Sembler to the board of directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).


US: Stations look to cryptocurrency as new option for donors (Paywall)

Current: By accepting the gifts, stations have the potential to draw younger donors who give more generously.

How can you judge the quality of a news outlet? Look at how politically diverse its audience is

Nieman Lab: A news site read only read by those on the left or the right isn’t likely to have high journalistic standards, a new study finds — so an algorithm that recommends sites with more politically diverse audiences can improve users’ information diets.


How journalists can build trust with their sources

IJNet: Journalism today is more necessary than ever, as countries’ politics become increasingly polarized, the COVID-19 pandemic lingers on, and the global climate crisis intensifies. Telling the stories of the communities affected by these global developments is vital.


UHD, immersive audio, 5G and virtualised OBs: all the broadcasting innovation at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games

IBC: Beijing 2022 will offer an exciting glimpse into the immersive and virtualised future of Olympic broadcasting, as revealed by tech leaders at host broadcaster OBS.


Kids are falling victim to disinformation and conspiracy theories. What’s the best way to fix that?

Nieman Lab: Although children are prime targets, educators cannot figure out how best to teach them to separate fact from fiction.


Media freedom conference: What to expect?

Deutsche Welle: Numerous government and civil society representatives are meeting in Estonia’s capital Tallinn this week for a global conference on media freedom. Can it pave the way towards urgently needed action?


One Free Press Coalition spotlights urgent radio journalists cases

DW: The One Free Press Coalition’s February list focuses on the ten most urgent cases of radio journalists globally, who have faced retaliation for their reporting.


Saving journalism: views on how to pay for reliable information

The Conversation: Journalism globally faces a sustainability crisis. It largely stems from declining advertising revenue, loss of revenue to technology giants, control of news media by political actors and individuals with business interests, disinformation and dwindling public trust.


Tech giants targeted in harmful content crackdown

BBC: Sending “genuinely threatening” or “knowingly false” messages are among new criminal offences being added to proposed online safety laws.


Want to Make Real Progress in Newsroom DEI? Audience Engagement is Essential

Nieman Reports: Most newsrooms think of diversity and inclusion work as an internal affair, but those efforts won’t succeed in a bubble


World Radio Day 2022 – it’s about trust

Red Tech: The theme for the 11th World Radio Day, which takes place on Feb. 13, is “Radio and Trust.” It’s a timely theme because radio has faced increasing competition from social media for listeners’ attention for the last 10 years. 


PSM Weekly is available via email. You can subscribe by signing up to our mailing list at the bottom of the page or email editor@publicmediaalliance.org.

All PSM Weekly stories are provided for interest and their relevance to public service media issues, they do not necessarily reflect the views of the Public Media Alliance.

All headlines are sourced from their original story.

If you have any suggestions for our weekly round-ups, please email PMA at editor@publicmediaalliance.org.


Header image: Behind the scene. Multiple camera setup. Female cameraman shooting the film scene with camera in film studio. Credit: guruXOOX/iStock

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