Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
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PSM Innovations
Developing a website with public service at its core
“Nowadays, all media are moving towards digital transformation,” writes Ruthai Kritsanapraphan, Head of International Relations at Thai PBS. “Thai PBS has taken serious actions in both investment and technology development, especially the development of staff’s digital skills, digital mindset and working perspective.”
Thai PBS launched a new website on October 10, 2022, with the new concept of “click every day to keep up with current events”. The new website consolidates quality programs from 10 sub-sites in one place to provide users with access to comprehensive content.
It is a large content re-organization that comes with many modern features in the attempt to meet users’ demands in the digital era. Thai PBS website offers full new functions for viewing video content such as Skip Intro, Binge Watching, Continue Watching, Chromecast / Airplay, Picture in Picture – viewers can minimize videos while using other functions at the same time during viewing. Other services include Closed Caption (CC), Audio Description (AD), Original Soundtrack, and Big Sign (full screen sign language) to support our universality policy and equal accessibility which is one of the obligations of Thai PBS as a public broadcaster.
As a public media organisation, Thai PBS is committed to being a space that is easily accessible to all people. Accessibility was the main principle and a priority when Thai PBS planned to improve our online platforms. “We want Thai PBS online space to be User friendly and easily accessible. The search functions for various content must work efficiently. Essentially, we want users to enjoy spending time on the Thai PBS website as long as possible and as safely (free from spam and disinformation) as possible.”
Read more about Thai PBS’ new website
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Coronavirus: Resources & best practices
Essential resources for sourcing and reporting news about the coronavirus pandemic
What we're watching...
Media vs meddling: Dissecting the new ‘European Media Freedom Act’
France 24: Where do you get your news and how independent do you think it is? The age of everybody reading a newspaper is long gone, but consumption of news media is high and has a big impact on us and our societies. Reporters without Borders recently documented how social and political tensions are fuelled by social media and new opinion media in countries, including France. It also says that suppression of independent media is contributing to a sharp polarisation in so-called illiberal democracies, citing Poland as one example. The European Commission recently presented groundbreaking proposals for new laws that aim to protect editorial independence, boost transparency on media ownership and strengthen independent media regulation. We discuss them with two MEPs.
What we're listening to...
Crackdowns on Press Freedom in Congo
WNYC Studios: According to Reporters Without Borders, so far this year, 19 journalists had been “arrested arbitrarily” by Congolese authorities. Many of the detentions are extrajudicial, so journalists aren’t given a specific reason when they are taken by the police.
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GAMBIA: GPU says journalists still face threats in Gambia
The Point: “In the Gambia and elsewhere around the world, journalists continue to be harassed, attacked both physically and verbally, beaten, arrested, detained, threatened and killed for doing their job,” the Gambia Press Union (GPU) says in a statement as it joins the rest of the world yesterday 2 November 2022 to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes committed against Journalists.
KENYA: New report lashes state broadcaster KBC’s failings but how will things change?
Balancing Act: A small number of Africa’s state broadcasters have re-invented themselves for the digital age and as a consequence have sharpened their content offer. But in the main they have been the losers as the media landscape has changed.
KENYA: Protecting media freedom | Government commits to ensure safety for journalists (Watch)
KBC: Information, Communication, Technology and Digital Economy cabinet secretary, Eliud Owalo, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring safety of journalists and upholding media freedom in the country.
KENYA & PAKISTAN: Pakistan journalist killed in Kenya was ‘targeted’, says official
Al Jazeera: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah says the killing of Arshad Sharif in Kenya last month appears to be a targeted attack.
SOMALIA: The murder of Somalia’s brave journalists must stop
Al Jazeera: Africa’s most dangerous country for journalists, Somalia, must end the impunity for violence against media workers.
SOUTH AFRICA: South African Public Broadcasters (SABC) Prime-Time TV Audience Decline To Below A Third In 2021/2022
Broadcast Media Africa: The latest financial report from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has revealed that SABC TV viewership and ratings in prime time continue to tank and have now fallen below a third of the total audience share.
SOUTH AFRICA: Vetting of four SABC Board candidates still outstanding: Maneli
SABC News: Parliament Communications Committee Chairperson Boyce Maneli says there are four SABC Board candidates who still have to be vetted.
TUNISIA: Hundreds of public media workers face unemployment
Middle East Monitor: The head of the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists, Mehdi Jelassi, warned on Monday that 700 public sector employees who work for media institutions linked to the regime of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali face unemployment.
ZIMBABWE: Worrying increase in cases of impunity for crimes against journalists (Statement)
MISA: We therefore reiterate our earlier calls for the Government, through key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Zimbabwe Media Commission, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, to come up with concrete mechanisms to curb these worrying media freedom violations.
REGIONAL: 3rd OTT Streaming Platforms And Content Management Africa Summit Is Announced For February 2023 In Cape Town, South Africa! (Event)
Broadcast Media Africa: Broadcasters, media executives, telecoms operators and OTT platform operators from across Africa and beyond will assemble for the 3rd“OTT Streaming Platforms And Content Management – Africa 2023” on the 21st and 22nd of February 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa.
REGIONAL: A dark month for journalists’ safety and media freedom, CSOs push back against democratic rollbacks
IFEX: It was a grim month on the African continent with the death of five journalists in Chad, Kenya and Somalia.
Broadcast Media Africa: Convenors of the 6th Broadcast And Digital Media Convention – Africa, which took place at the Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, on the 25th – 27th of October 2022, have released to the general public the report, presentations and video materials covering the proceedings of the Convention.
AFGHANISTAN: ‘Press freedom violations on rise in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan’
La Prensa Latina: More than 200 media professionals have suffered abuses like arbitrary arrests in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, the United Nations said on Wednesday, noting a significant rise in press freedom violations in the Islamist-ruled country.
HONG KONG: Campaigners set up Hong Kong press freedom group to aid city’s embattled journalists
Radio Free Asia: The group is launched as former top editors of Stand News stand trial under colonial-era sedition laws.
HONG KONG: In Hong Kong, Media Trials Chill Press Freedom (Watch)
VOA News: On trial in Hong Kong, media mogul Jimmy Lai’s many legal cases come amid a steep decline for press freedom in the city, analysts say.
HONG KONG: Veteran journalist Bao Choy loses appeal, faces fine
IFJ: Former Radio Television Hong Kong media practitioner Bao Choy Luk Ying has lost her appeal against her 2021 conviction for improperly accessing public data.
INDIA: From Freedom Fighter To Covid Warrior: How Indian Journalists Fight To Change Social Landscape
Outlook India: Indian media has been passing through critical junctures since Colonial times. However, the new waves of attacks are redefining the meaning of press freedom.
KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyzstan freezes Radio Azattyk bank account under money laundering laws – Committee to Protect Journalists
CPJ: Kyrgyz authorities should immediately restore access to the bank account and website of Radio Azattyk, U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s local service, and cease all attempts to obstruct the outlet’s work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
MYANMAR: Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Vows to Keep Reporting Despite Junta Ban
VOA: Journalists at The Irrawaddy have vowed to keep reporting despite Myanmar’s junta last week announcing a ban on the media outlet.
MYANMAR: New report condemns junta’s silencing of independent media
IFJ: A new report released today by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on the international community to increase pressure on Myanmar’s military junta to guarantee the safety of all Burmese citizens and call for a return to democracy in the war-torn country.
NEPAL: Nepal’s Defiant Dalit Journalist (Watch)
Al Jazeera: A Dalit journalist explores the relationship between caste, land, and abuses of power in Nepal.
PAKISTAN: Climate journalism: Covering Pakistan’s flooding crisis (Watch)
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Hamid Mir is a Pakistani journalist, outspoken supporter of press freedom, news anchor, security analyst, columnist and reporter.
PHILIPPINES: For Local Reporters in Philippines, Radio Offers Opportunity and Risk
VOA News: Radio is a powerful medium in the Philippines, with local journalists able to easily buy up airtime to reach wide audiences. But with that reach comes risk.
PHILIPPINES: Philippines prison chief behind journalist killing, say police
BBC News: Police in the Philippines have accused the head of the country’s prison service of ordering the killing of a prominent radio journalist.
PHILIPPINES: Why Filipino journalist Maria Ressa is risking life in prison (Watch)
CBC: Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa has spent her life exposing the truth in the Philippines, and now she could spend the rest of it in prison. She speaks to The National’s Adrienne Arsenault about why she’s risking it all to return home and warns that the world is “in the last two minutes of democracy.”
THAILAND: Drop all the ongoing prosecutions under the Emergency Decree
ARTICLE 19: The implementation of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation as a Covid-19 response have concerning impacts in Thailand. ARTICLE 19 and its partners in civil society have called on ambassadors to urge Thai authorities to stop all persecution under the Emergency Decree.
AUSTRALIA: ABC boss David Anderson to restructure organisation, shift to BBC model
WAToday: ABC managing director David Anderson is planning to overhaul the way programs are commissioned in a review that could result in the most significant change to the public broadcaster’s structure since 2017.
AUSTRALIA: Australia lagging behind on press freedom: experts
Sydney Morning Herald: Australia is lagging behind other Western nations in protecting press freedom and the Albanese government should consider going further than the recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry in overhauling federal search warrant laws, legal experts say.
AUSTRALIA: SBS boosts international news line-up with additional programs added to its schedule across the network after successful SBS WorldWatch launch (Press release)
SBS: SBS is celebrating a successful six months since the launch of its dedicated multilingual news channel, SBS WorldWatch.
AUSTRALIA: SBS Radio continues evolution to become SBS Audio (Press release)
SBS: The new name reflects the broadcaster’s successful shift to a distinctive cross-platform audio offering across radio, live streaming and podcasting.
AUSTRALIA & PAPUA NEW GUINEA: ABC renews partnership with Papua New Guinea’s National Broadcasting Corporation
ABC: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) of Papua New Guinea (PNG) today exchanged their renewed Memorandum of Understanding on the grounds of NBC in Port Moresby.
NEW ZEALAND: Minister and media puts pressure on suppression | RNZ
RNZ Mediawatch: The new justice minister has said name suppression in our courts “is not working” because it’s granted too often to people with the means to make a strong bid for it. That puts Kiri Allan on the same page as the media, which wants greater freedom to report details of court cases of public interest. But would that also jeopardise the right to a fair trial?
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ-TVNZ bill does not do enough to specify how public funding is spent – academic
Stuff: A media expert says there is nothing in legislation for the TVNZ-RNZ merged entity to prevent it spending its funding on commercial activity, despite the Ministry for Culture and Heritage saying it will have to commission a broad range of content.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ-TVNZ merger promises to rectify Pasifika-Māori media neglect
Pacific Media Network: The merger of two major media outlets may see more Pasifika voices in the industry.
NEW ZEALAND: Who are New Zealand’s journalists today? (Listen)
RNZ Mediawatch: Journalists have long suffered the scorn of the public, rating as poorly as the politicians they report on – and used car sellers – when it comes to trustworthiness. But what are New Zealand journalists actually like?
REGIONAL: Push to combat misinformation in Pacific communities
Pacific Media Network: Experts are working to bring science to important community conversations.
AUSTRIA: ORF Editors’ Council Bornemann: Many colleagues “funny” (German)
Der Standard: ORF’s credibility suffers from affairs – editorial meeting on Thursday.
BELARUS: In Belarus, Journalism Being ‘Driven Underground’
VOA News: The space for independent media to work in Belarus is getting smaller, as authorities label news outlets as extremist organizations and imprison journalists.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Czechia moves closer to passing new public media legislation
bne IntelliNews: The Czech parliament has greenlighted government legislative proposals that are designed to strengthen the independence of public media and prevent the kind of pressure on them from parliament-appointed boards that has been criticised by international journalist organisations.
DENMARK: DR’s election coverage has been followed diligently – and the candidate test has now been taken 2.5 million times (Press release – 1 November – Danish)
DR: On Tuesday morning, candidate test number 2.5 million was taken, and overall there has been massive interest in following the election coverage on radio, TV, dr.dk and the news app from DR.
FINLAND: Merja Ylä-Anttila: “Ylen needs to dispel fears through discussion” – the themes of the Aurora event this year are equality and the climate (Event – Finnish)
Yle: More than 30 experts will participate in the event. You can send your questions to the experts in advance. You can follow the discussion on site at Levi or Yle Areena.
FRANCE: Despite an increase in its endowment, the public audiovisual industry expects new financial difficulties (French)
Le Monde: The budgetary boost granted for 2023 by the government will barely offset the effects of inflation. Savings on the editorial now seem inevitable.
GERMAN: Statement by ZDF director Dr. Norbert Himmler (German)
ZDF: We are open and ready for this fundamental debate and do not shy away from comparing the systems. As a national, centrally organized broadcaster, ZDF is set up efficiently and is capable of learning and change.
CPJ: Greek authorities must conduct a quick, transparent, and independent investigation into claims that investigative journalist Tasos Telloglou was stalked and that intelligence officials used cell phone data to surveil him and reporters Thodoris Chondrogiannos, Thanasis Koukakis, and Eliza Triantafillou, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
GREECE: Greece’s Surveillance Scandal Puts Rights At Risk
Human Rights Watch: A European Parliament committee that investigates spyware use by European Union governments soundly criticized the Greek government’s response to revelations it surveilled independent journalists and an opposition leader.
HUNGARY: Hungarians demand end to pro-government bias in public media
AP News: Around 1,500 demonstrators gathered at the headquarters of Hungary’s public media company Friday to protest what they say is biased news coverage and state-sponsored propaganda that favors the country’s populist government.
IRELAND: Technical group will ‘optimise’ future structure of RTÉ licence fee, says Taoiseach
The Irish Times: Martin says he will not support proposal for broadcaster to be funded by exchequer after RTÉ chair’s criticism emerges.
ITALY: Journalists brace for impact as Giorgia Meloni’s new government begins
IPI: Questions over how new administration will handle press freedom challenges.
NORTH MACEDONIA: A majority of female journalists face online harassment
EFJ: The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is worried by the results of a new study by the Platform for Investigative Journalism and Analysis (PINA). The results reveal an important issue when it comes to the protection and prosecution of online harassment against women journalists in North Macedonia.
NORWAY: NRK must cut 5 percent of the budget (Danish)
Nordvision: The cuts will mean staff reductions, says the company.
POLAND: TVP to launch youth channel
Broadband TV News: The Polish public broadcaster TVP plans to launch a channel aimed at viewers aged 10-16, reportedly as soon as the end of this year or in early 2023.
ROMANIA: Radio Romania, for 94 years together with you! (1 November – Romanian)
Radio România: It has been 94 years since, on November 1, 1928, the first words were heard on the air: “Hello, hello, here is Radio Bucharest…”, thanks to Professor Dragomir Hurmuzescu, the first president of the Board of Directors of the newly established Society of Radiotelephone broadcasting from Romania.
ROMANIA: The interference of parties in the media
OBCT: Money is increasingly affecting freedom of expression in Romania and it is now common practice for many newspapers to receive funds from political parties. This seriously undermines the credibility of the press.
RUSSIA: Russia to introduce restrictions on pay TV content
Digital TV Europe: Deputies from Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party in the Russian Duma have introduced a draft law proposing to impose the same age-appropriate content restrictions on pay TV channels that already apply to free-to-view over-the-air TV, according to local reports.
SERBIA: Column: Serbia’s pro-government media block reform (Opinion)
DW: Brussels and Belgrade have been negotiating Serbia’s accession to the European Union since 2012. But state-controlled media are demonizing the EU and talking up the country’s ties to Russia and China.
SLOVENIA: Concerns Remain Over Rtv Slovenia As The New Government Opens Up Dialogue With Civil Society
CIVICUS Monitor: After the legislative elections were held in April 2022, Slovenians voted to elect a new President on 23rd October 2022. Former foreign minister and conservative candidate Anže Logar and former information watchdog and lawyer centre-left candidate Natasa Pirc Musar will head to a run-off election on 13th November 2022.
SLOVENIA: Večer says democracy at stake in referendum on RTV Slovenija (Paywall)
STA: The upcoming referendum on the new act on RTV Slovenija will be about defending one of the foundations of democracy, says Večer in Thursday’s commentary, arguing that after losing the April general election the opposition Democrats (SDS) want to turn the public broadcaster into their new media mouthpiece.
SPAIN: Public broadcasting appeal remains in Spain
Broadband TV News: More than half (56%) of Spaniards view the public broadcaster RTVE’s channels.
SWEDEN: Lessons from the 2022 election (Blog – Swedish)
Sveriges Television: SVT has never reached so many young people digitally and was both the source that most people used to inform themselves about the election and the one with the highest level of trust. However, we missed the decline of the center, male issues dominated and we failed to make the audience perceive our increased local presence.
UK: BBC further reduces property footprint (Press release)
BBC: The BBC has today announced plans to reduce the size of its property portfolio as part of ongoing reforms to deliver a simpler, leaner and more efficient organisation.
UK: Channel 4 transforms brand to help viewers navigate crowded digital world (Press release)
Channel 4: Channel 4 today announced that from next year it will bring all its channels and services under one ‘Channel 4’ brand to help audiences better navigate the abundance of choice in the digital world and find their favourite Channel 4 shows wherever and whenever they choose to watch content.
UK: National Security Bill threatens to ‘criminalise’ public interest journalism and whistleblowing
Press Gazette: The UK’s National Security Bill threatens to “criminalise” public interest journalism and whistleblowing, news publishers and press freedom campaign groups have warned.
UK: Ofcom: BBC made significant editorial failings over antisemitism bus attack report
BBC: The BBC committed “significant editorial failings” in its reporting of an antisemitic attack on Jewish students, Ofcom has found.
UK: Rishi Sunak expected to shelve privatisation of Channel 4
The Guardian: Amid cabinet backlash, No 10 has signalled to insiders that sale will not be in media bill, says Financial Times.
UKRAINE: Ukraine: press freedom under attack from new media law (Opinion)
OpenDemocracy: The government’s attempt to take control of the media is anti-democratic and dangerous.
UKRAINE: Ukrainian law enforcement beat, damage equipment of journalists covering protest
CPJ: Ukrainian authorities should swiftly investigate law enforcement officers’ assault on four journalists covering a protest and ensure that members of the press can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.
ARGENTINA: Bahl and Rosario Lufrano discussed the role of the public media (Spanish)
El Once: The mayor and the president of Radio and Television Argentina, shared views on the role of the State and the media.
ARGENTINA: Public media workers repudiated JxC attacks (Spanish)
Infonews: The union commissions of the Buenos Aires Press Union (Sipreba) on National Radio, Public TV and the Télam news agency came out this Friday to question the statements of referents of Together for Change, who expressed their intention to reduce (again) or remove public media.
BOLIVIA: Press Unions denounce the “brutal aggression” against Bolivian journalist (Spanish)
ABC Color: Bolivia’s main journalists’ union denounced on Wednesday the “brutal aggression” against a communicator who was covering the clashes that took place the day before in Santa Cruz, the country’s largest region and economic engine, which since twelve days ago he has been on an indefinite strike to demand that the population census be carried out in 2023.
BRAZIL: Abraji records 37 attacks on the press after the second round (Portuguese)
Abraji: The Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism ( Abraji ) and other organizations that work to defend freedom of the press and expression have registered, in recent days, an unprecedented wave of attacks against communicators, photographers, cameramen and reporters.
BRAZIL: Lula must end hostile climate for Brazil’s media, hallmark of Bolsonaro years
RSF: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s presidential election victory is good news for press freedom in Brazil after Jair Bolsonaro’s nightmarish term as president, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF), calling on the future Lula administration to clearly and unequivocally demonstrate a commitment to restore a safe and healthy environment for journalism.
HAITI: RSF horrified by frequent murders of journalists in Haiti
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for urgent measures to ensure that media personnel are able to work safely without being targeted in Haiti, where no fewer than six journalists have been killed and many others attacked since the start of the year.
JAMAICA: Gary Allen | TVJ and digital switchover – expanding footprints (Commentary)
Jamaica Gleaner: Last week we looked into the transition of TVJ into the digital era and what value additions it is bringing to our viewers. Part 2 looks at the way forward as we embrace the new technology.
MEXICO: Connected by Grief, Mexico’s Media Families Find Solace in One Another (Watch)
VOA: In Mexico’s Veracruz state, a new generation of journalists is taking over from parents who lived and died for their reporting. In doing so, they must find new ways to stay safe — emotionally and physically.
MEXICO: Cybercrimes against press freedom are on the rise (Spanish)
El Sol de México: In Mexico, in the last two and a half years, a total of 562 cybercrimes have been registered under federal jurisdiction against freedom of expression, ranging from threats against journalists to computer attacks to “take down” Internet pages of media outlets.
VENEZUELA: A book prepared by journalists and students records how disinformation is experienced in Venezuela (Spanish)
Runrun.es: In the text, students recounted the experience of portraying how ordinary people living throughout the country get information amid censorship and media closures.
VENEZUELA: Closing of radio stations weakens conditions for practicing journalism in Venezuela
LatAm Journalism Review: In recent decades, Venezuela has been subjected to a dismantling of its media ecosystem.
REGIONAL: Latin America is experiencing a “very bad time” for freedom of expression (Spanish)
EFE Agency: Freedom of expression in Latin America is at risk, gripped by the murders of dozens of journalists each year, who go unpunished, according to the outgoing president of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA), Honduran Jorge Canahuati.
REGIONAL: RSF supports journalists from Venezuela, Cuba, El Salvador and Nicaragua in Spain (Spanish)
Swissinfo: Four journalists from Venezuela, Cuba, El Salvador and Nicaragua participate in the 5th Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Spain Temporary Shelter Program, which offers them three months away from their countries to “disconnect and recover physically and psychologically” from the threats and many other pressures they suffer.
IRAN: Iran Releases 8 Journalists Detained Amid Protests
VOA News: Iranian authorities said Tuesday they had released eight journalists detained amid protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last month.
IRAN: RSF launches new Iran Media Help Desk to support journalists and media at risk
RSF: In response to the rapid deterioration of press freedom since the start of the nationwide protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini on 16 September, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has launched a new Iran Media Help Desk, in collaboration with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr Shirin Ebadi. Immediate emphasis will be placed on providing digital security support to journalists and media facing risks for reporting on events in the country.
IRAN & UK: Iran Issues Death Threats to UK-Based Journalists: Broadcaster
VOA: Two British-Iranian journalists working in Britain for an independent Farsi-language channel have received “credible” death threats from Iran’s security forces, the channel’s broadcaster said Monday.
LEBANON: Lebanon Saw Alarming Decline in Press Freedom under Aoun
Asharq Al-Awsat: Lebanon witnessed an alarming drop in the “world press freedom rating” under the rule of former President Michel Aoun, whose term ended on Monday.
PALESTINE: Hamas cracks down on journalists, activists in Gaza
Al-Monitor: Hamas police forces continue to raid the homes of activists in the Gaza Strip who expose the corruption of Hamas figures and members.
ECPMF: A coalition of international journalism, press freedom and human rights groups will carry out a three-day mission to Turkey this week to investigate serious, continued threats to independent journalism in the country.
REGIONAL: #Endimpunity: New roadmap to reinforce safety of journalists in the Arab world
IFJ: UNESCO, international organisations, press freedom groups, media and journalists’ organisations have adopted a new safety roadmap for journalists. The IFJ welcomes the plan and the “determination to improve journalists’ safety and fight impunity” in the Arab world.
REGIONAL: Syria and Iraq at the fore: Over 860 journalists killed in MENA region in last decade
ReliefWeb: The last decade has seen a noticeable decline in press freedoms in the MENA region, with journalism being one of the most dangerous professions, particularly in areas of armed conflict, Euro-Med Monitor said in a statement.
CANADA: Canada’s public broadcaster should use Mastodon to provide a social media service
The Conversation: Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and ensuing confusion has driven many to look for alternatives to the platform. One popular option has been Mastodon, a social network distributed on many servers with no central ownership.
CANADA: CBC/Radio-Canada to engage with Canadians with disabilities on how it can become more accessible (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: CBC/Radio-Canada wants to hear from Canadians with disabilities to better understand their expectations of the public broadcaster. To that end, it has scheduled 20 engagement discussions across the country in English, French, ASL (American Sign Language) and LSQ (Quebec Sign Language), from November 2022 to January 2023.
CANADA: Strengthening Trust to Strengthen Our Democracy (Speech)
CBC/Radio-Canada: At the International Institute of Communications’ annual conference, Catherine Tait discussed why trust is vital for our democracy, and how the public broadcaster is building trust in Canada.
CANADA & CHINA: Why CBC News will close its China bureau (Editorial)
CBC/Radio-Canada: Closing the Beijing bureau is the last thing we want to do, but our hand has been forced. Our commitment to covering China and East Asia is steadfast.
CANADA & US: U.S. Streamers, Networks Dominate Canadian TV Production, Study Finds
The Hollywood Reporter: It’s lights, cameras and action for American series in Vancouver and Toronto as the Directors Guild of Canada found U.S. streamer and network production tops local series activity.
US: 2022 Local that Works Grand Finale (Event)
Current via Eventbrite: Join us for an online celebration of excellence in local public service media as five finalists compete for the $20,000 grand prize.
US: How NHPR and NPR Aim to Build Trust in Journalism
NHPR: NHPR takes pride in the rigor of our journalism. We’re committed to news reporting that’s “fair, unbiased, accurate, complete and honest,” the principles described in our Code of Ethics.
US: It’s no longer ‘digital first’; it’s ‘digital or die’ (Paywall)
Current: “Build it, and they will come.” That may have worked in Field of Dreams, but creating “digital first” content for public media stations isn’t enough. It’s certainly a good start. However, discovery and consumption are left to chance if audiences aren’t led to all the great content.
US: KOSU to host public radio project focusing on early-career Indigenous journalists
KOSU: Next Generation Radio, Native American Journalists Association and KOSU have announced the cohort for the 2022 NAJA-NPR NextGenRadio: Indigenous.
US: ‘Next generation of tote bags and mugs’: NPR launches ad-free podcast bundle for new station donors (Paywall)
Current: NPR debuted Tuesday its NPR+ podcast bundle, which allows listeners to access sponsorship-free podcasts with a donation to a participating member station.
US: Online Event Explores State’s Mental Health Resources (Event)
Nebraska Public Media: Nebraska Public Media Online Event Explores State’s Mental Health Resources.
US: TVN Webinar: Technology Predictions For 2023 (Event)
TV News Check: Tech executives from Sinclair, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Fox Television Stations, Imagine and TAG Video Systems will offer predictions for the most important trends in the coming year including building IP networks, cloud production and playout, cybersecurity and streaming technology in a TVNewsCheck Working Lunch webinar on Dec. 1.
Are journalism intermediaries getting too much foundation money?
Nieman Lab: More money should go to news organizations directly — even if that means making hard choices.
Broadcasters in UHF spectrum fight ahead of WRC-23
Broadband TV News: Broadcasters led by the EBU are fighting to hold on to spectrum used for free-to-air channels ahead of next year’s Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23).
IFEX: A coalition of civil society organisations that includes IFEX is calling on States to re-commit to the Plan of Action, and have worked together on a set of shared recommendations to strengthen it.
“Climate journalism is definitely a way to attract talent…”
EBU: Interview with Manuela Kasper-Claridge, Editor-in-Chief, Deutsche Welle by Dr Alexandra Borchardt, Lead Author, EBU News Report 2023: Climate Journalism That Works – Between Knowledge and Impact
Conference: Women in Unions: Building power, Fighting for justice (Event)
IFJ: The IFJ Gender Council conference on Women in Unions: Building power, Fighting for safety will take place online on 22 November from 10 am to 12 pm CET. How can journalists’ unions promote women’s rights and their safety at work, build strong gender friendly structures and fight gender-based violence?
Crimes against Journalists Are on the Rise and Are Seldom Punished
Freedom House: Members of the press risk their freedom and their lives in pursuit of the truth while their attackers, ranging from criminals to political leaders, target them with impunity. Protecting the press and respecting the valuable role it plays should be higher priorities.
Elon Musk’s Twitter: What does it mean for journalists?
CJR: “Elon Musk has bought Twitter. What are we going to do about it?” This is the question raised in many newsrooms, given the outsize role Twitter plays in journalism in the US and many other countries.
Freedom of expression is key to countering disinformation
OHCHR: Disinformation is by no means a new concern, yet a recent report of the UN Secretary-General aims to address the phenomenon of disinformation in the context of new and rapidly evolving communications landscape, due to innovative technologies, which have enabled the dissemination of unparalleled volumes of content at unprecedented speeds.
“Green journalists” weren’t targets in Egypt, but that could change with COP 27
RSF: As the climate is not one of its priorities, the Egyptian government has not harassed environmental journalists with any particular assiduity in the past, but they risk becoming targets now that Egypt is hosting the UN’s COP 27 climate change conference from 6 to 18 November, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns.
UNESCO: Ambassador Anna Brandt (Sweden), Chair of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), was speaking last Friday at a High-Level Conference to Mark 10th Anniversary of UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
The Conversation: Here are two common ways of thinking about democracy in the online era. First, the internet is a liberation technology and will usher in an era of global democracy. Second, you can have social media or democracy, but not both.
Journalistic superpowers: Curiosity, clarity and discomfort
Nieman Storyboard: Conversations with reporters reinforced the notion that we often go to impolite places, and that doing so can be a kindness
Majority of female journalists have been target of online violence – report
The Guardian: Chilling report highlights the link between gender-based digital threats and offline attacks.
Press Freedom In The Age Of Digital Surveillance
Outlook India: Acting on the demands of several journalists, activists and NGOs, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for an immediate moratorium on the development, export, sale and use of spyware until robust guarantees are implemented to safeguard journalists.
Protecting Journalists Is Protecting Freedom Of Expression For All
Forbes
The Inside Story-A Free Press Matters Episode 64 (Watch)
VOA News: “A Free Press Matters” is more than a tagline. Follow VOA Press Freedom Editor Jessica Jerreat to see how reporters around the world take great risks to bring you reliable, accurate, and comprehensive news and information on The Inside Story-A Free Press Matters.
There is no security without media freedom
OSCE: Can there be security without media freedom? That is the title of the report that Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro launched today, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the mandate of the OSCE RFoM.
EJO: People who consume a lot of news on social media are more likely to be skeptical of COVID-19 vaccines and also more hesitant about getting vaccinated, according to our newly published research.
What place for activism in journalism? (French)
Le Devoir: Can a journalist demonstrate for the environment or show his support for the Black Lives Matter movement on social networks? The journalistic community hotly debated the question at the annual congress of the Professional Federation of Journalists of Quebec (FPJQ) this weekend.
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