Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
Public media is in peril and facing many challenges. Social media platforms are presenting an existential crisis to public service media. Governments are trying to extend their control and influence on the editorial output of the broadcasters. Funding systems for many are up in the air. Journalists are facing threats, attacks and harassment, both online and in-person. But it’s also an exciting time for public service media – digital platforms provide new opportunities to reach audiences, technology means public broadcasters can be innovative in how they provide a public service.
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BENIN: RSF’s ten recommendations to Benin’s new president for strengthening press freedom
Reporters Without Borders: …As the political heir to outgoing President Patrice Talon, whose years in power were marked by a worrying decline in press freedom, the new president arrives at the Palais de la Marina without having made any firm commitment to media independence and the protection of journalists.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Drones strike radio station in rebel-held DRC, with threat to kill next time
Committee to Protect Journalists: The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has joined a growing number of conflicts where drones are being used to target journalists, as two strikes hit a community radio station, followed by calls and messages threatening further attacks over its reporting on militia abuses.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Rising emergency support requests from trans journalists in eastern DRC
Free Press Unlimited: In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), violence against journalists and violence against LGBTQI+ communities are colliding in devastating ways.
ETHIOPIA: Global media networks simplify Ethiopia’s conflicts: insights from 5 years of data
The Conversation: When conflicts break out, most people around the world rely on international media to understand what is happening. These reports do more than inform. They shape how crises are interpreted, which actors are seen as responsible and where global attention is directed.
ETHIOPIA: In Ethiopia, fact-checking can be a matter of life and death
Reuters: How factcheckers at HaqCheck tackle potentially deadly misinformation amid political and infrastructural challenges
Modern Ghana: In a historic advancement for civic transparency, Ghana’s legislature has taken total control of its narrative by establishing GH Parliament TV.
GHANA: MFWA decries wanton and discriminatory use of ‘false news’ laws
MFWA: The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) condemns the increasing spate of what appears to be the weaponisation of Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), and Section 208 (sometimes paired with Section 207) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) to criminalise speech in Ghana.
GHANA: Private broadcasters strengthen democracy, accountability, and national development – GIBA President
MyJoyOnline: Private broadcasters have become central actors in Ghana’s democratic and development process, significantly expanding public participation, accountability, and access to information.
GUINEA BISSAU: Concerns grow over Guinea-Bissau’s new misinformation law
Channel Africa: The approval of a new law aimed at combating the spread of false information in Guinea-Bissau has triggered widespread debate over the balance between tackling disinformation and protecting freedom of expression.
KENYA: KBC calls for regional collaboration in digital broadcasting shift
KBC: The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) has underscored the need for African broadcasters to embrace honesty, collaboration and innovation as the media industry undergoes digital transformation.
KENYA: Kenya Seeks $20.8 Million for AI-Powered Social Media Monitoring
Innovation Village: Kenya is seeking parliamentary approval for a KES 2.7 billion ($20.8 million) budget allocation to deploy artificial intelligence tools for social media monitoring, online sentiment analysis, and government communications management.
KENYA: Micropayments for news have failed everywhere. Can they succeed in Kenya?
RISJ: Two big newspapers are leveraging mobile payments to offer day passes and access to articles for small prices. Maurice Oniang’o examines if it’s working
MALAWI: Malawi Investigates Poor Pay and Working Conditions for Junior Journalists
Al Jazeera: Malawi’s investigation into poor pay for junior journalists exposes a deeper crisis where economic hardship is eroding media independence and forcing reporters to choose between ethical integrity and survival.
MALAWI: Malawi Parliamentary Committee moves MBC DG’s hearing to Salima amid transparency questions
Malawi 24: The Parliamentary Public Appointments Committee in Malawi has summoned the board of directors of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation over the recruitment.
Broadcast Media Africa: In Nigeria, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) has written formally to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), raising serious concerns about the Commission’s proposed “Digital Switchover” (DSO), which BON contends is not a genuine digital switchover at all.
Somali Guardian: A high-stakes digital proxy war has broken out in the Horn of Africa, as independent media houses and high-profile political analysts in Somalia launch formal appeals to Western embassies over an unprecedented, state-sponsored electronic warfare campaign designed to systematically erase political dissent from the global internet.
SOUTH AFRICA: ‘Final notice’: South Africans warned of debt collectors over unpaid TV licence fees
IOL: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is intensifying its efforts to recover unpaid TV licence fees by sending SMS reminders to households, warning of potential action from debt collectors.
ZAMBIA: Zambia’s media freedom under scrutiny ahead of 2026 election
DW: Ahead of Zambia’s August ballot, rights groups say pressure on journalists is growing. Critics warn legal restrictions and unequal media access could undermine fair coverage.
AFGHANISTAN: Taliban Closes Radio Stations In Ongoing Media Clampdown
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have closed down three local radio stations in the latest move in an ongoing crackdown that has seen the country’s media landscape decimated since the militant group seized power for a second time in 2021.
AZERBAIJAN: The new general director of ITV has been appointed
Medianews: The new CEO of the Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (İTV) has been determined. Medianews.az reports, citing APA, that Balakişi Qasımov was re-elected as the CEO of İTV by unanimous vote of the 8 members of the Broadcasting Council.
BANGLADESH: Bangladesh Betar revokes controversial news presenter dress code order
The Financial Express: Bangladesh Betar has scrapped a contentious directive that mandated a strict dress code for news presenters during Facebook Live broadcasts.
BANGLADESH: Global study reveals high level of workplace harassment among women journalists in Bangladesh
IANS Live: As Bangladesh confronts workplace safety concerns, a new international study revealed that female journalists across the country are nearly six times more likely than their male counterparts to experience sexual harassment, with most incidents remaining unreported due to fears of career repercussions, local media reported.
CAMBODIA & VIETNAM: Cambodia, Vietnam discuss expanding media and digital cooperation
Khmer Times: Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy on Tuesday held talks on expanding bilateral cooperation in media, digital technology, broadcasting and journalism training between Cambodia and Vietnam.
JAPAN: Netflix Expands Japan Slate With Deals for 19 NHK Dramas, Nippon TV’s ‘Monday Late Show’
The Hollywood Reporter: The streamer’s deal with Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, marks a notable expansion of its Japanese drama lineup, with six titles launching this week spanning period dramas, “asadora” and Drama 10 formats.
MALDIVES: Maldives Journalists Jailed in First Criminal Media Crackdown Since 2008 Democratic Reforms
Kashmir Life: Two journalists in the Maldives were arrested and jailed in the second week of May 2026, marking the first time journalists have been imprisoned on criminal charges since the country adopted its democratic constitution in 2008, according to Human Rights Watch.
NEPAL: Nepal’s Independent Media Sector Expands With Launch Of Hindi News Platform
Eurasia Review: A Nepal-based independent digital newsroom has expanded its multilingual publishing operations with the launch of a dedicated Hindi-language news platform, reflecting broader shifts taking place across South Asia’s evolving digital media landscape.
PAKISTAN: Pakistani journalists defy state censorship, slam “draconian” media gag laws
The Tribune: Journalists at a national convention unanimously rejected recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), labelling them “draconian” laws aimed at silencing dissent.
TAIWAN & UKRAINE: Rti delegation visits Ukrainian national public broadcaster
Rti: The visit provided firsthand insights into how Ukraine maintains nationwide news broadcasting and public information services amid missile threats and information warfare.
THAILAND & TAIWAN: Thai PBS and PTS Taiwan sign a cooperation agreement for children’s and youth media, bringing “SMART BOY” to Taiwanese classrooms. (Press Release)
Thai PBS: Thai PBS and Taiwan’s Public Broadcasting Service (PTS) have signed a cooperation agreement on media exchange for children’s learning.
AUSTRALIA: ABC and SBS refuse to adopt antisemitism definition used by royal commission
The Guardian: Public broadcasts won’t use International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition, which some claim conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism
AUSTRALIA: Deloitte report finds ABC commissioned productions deliver $772m to the Australian economy (Press release)
ABC: A new Deloitte Access Economics report has found that between July 2022 and June 2025, ABC commissioned screen productions generated an additional $772 million in value for the Australian economy, supporting more than 7,700 full‑time equivalent jobs and driving critical economic activity across Australia’s screen sector.
AUSTRALIA: One Nation’s attacks on the media are straight from the Donald Trump playbook. We must call them out (Opinion)
The Conversation: The day before the Farrer byelection on May 9 in which Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party delivered a seismic shock to the Australian political landscape, her party apparatchiks banned the ABC from attending its election-eve press conference.
AUSTRALIA: Why Australia’s public broadcasters were right not to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism (Opinion)
ABC: Last week the ABC and SBS informed the federal government they would not adopt the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
FIJI: FCCC moves to reshape Fiji’s broadcasting industry
The Fiji Times: The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission is seeking consultants to help review and develop a new regulatory framework for Fiji’s broadcasting industry, including the regulation of Digital Terrestrial Television services.
NEW ZEALAND: Departure of RNZ CEO may not be politically driven, but politicians’ hostility is troubling (Opinion – Paywall)
The Post: The RNZ board announcement that Paul Thompson would be resigning as chief executive at the end of 2026 has inevitably invited speculation about whether the decision may have been influenced by recent comments by Deputy Prime Minister, David Seymour.
NEW ZEALAND: Deputy PM says he did not know RNZ chief executive planned to resign
RNZ: Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour says he did not know RNZ’s chief executive had plans to resign when he earlier suggested changes were coming for its leadership.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ Chief Executive and Editor-in Chief Paul Thompson to leave RNZ end of 2026 (Press release)
RNZ: Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief Paul Thompson has tendered his resignation and will leave RNZ on 31 December 2026.
NEW ZEALAND: TVNZ confirms closure of Re: News youth platform, top journalist loses role after winning top video award (Paywall)
The NZ Herald: TVNZ’s decision to close its youth news brand follows similar moves by RNZ and NZME. TVNZ is closing its youth news brand Re: News, just as one of its reporters was crowned New Zealand’s best video journalist for the second year in a row.
NEW ZEALAND: What does the exit of RNZ’s boss mean for the organisation? (Paywall)
The Post: RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson has announced he will leave the organisation at the end of this year, leaving a gaping hole at the top of the public broadcaster.
TONGA: Pacific Freedom Forum solidarity statement on threat against Tongan journalist
PFF (via IFEX): Pacific media colleagues stand in full solidarity with the Tongan journalist who was recently threatened at gunpoint for carrying out her professional duty to inform the public.
AUSTRIA: ORF management is reportedly planning job cuts and the integration of subsidiaries under pressure to save money. (German)
Der Standard: The government plans to cut the ORF’s budget by €70 million annually. The chairman of the board of trustees is having subsidiaries evaluated to see if savings can be made more easily there.
BELARUS: Belarus world’s toughest place for journalists for five years, press freedom advocate says
Pozirk: “Based on our population, it is obvious that the Łukašenka regime more than anyone else in the world deprives journalists of their freedom.” Ahiejeŭ said that 21 journalists remain behind bars in Belarus, sentenced or prosecuted on politically motivated charges.
BELGIUM: RTBF, ULB, Radio Nova, France Télévisions: Georges-Louis Bouchez targets “the self-proclaimed intellectual left” (French)
21 News: Speaking at a press conference held by the MR party, Georges-Louis Bouchez strongly criticized what he called the “self-proclaimed intellectual left,” which he claimed was present at RTBF, ULB, and certain other French media outlets. The liberal party leader denounced a lack of ideological pluralism and a “double standard” in public debate.
BELGIUM: The Photo of Flanders: relevant and accurate research (Press release – Dutch)
VRT: The Photo of Flanders is a study commissioned by VRT. The goal is to give journalists and other media professionals better insight into societal themes relevant to our society.
CZECH REPUBLIC: A proposal to limit fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio is also being submitted by MPs (Czech)
Media Guru: The parliamentary proposal, in addition to the government proposal to limit fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio, is being submitted by coalition MPs led by Patrik Nacher. In addition to the restrictions, the government proposal changes the method of financing public service media.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech Television’s statement on the parliamentary proposal regarding the financing of public media (Press release – Czech)
CT: The proposed parliamentary initiative makes predictable and stable financing of public media impossible and is completely unacceptable for Czech Television. Its impact on the further management of Czech Television cannot be clearly and precisely defined.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Protests in Prague against media law and for the preservation of public broadcasting. (German)
Radio Prague International: Once again, several thousand people took to the streets to demonstrate for the preservation of broadcasting fees and against the planned new media law. On Sunday, they marched to the government building and demanded the resignation of Culture Minister Oto Klempíř (independent).
CZECH REPUBLIC: The MPs and the government have their own proposals to reduce the revenues of Czech Television and Czech Radio. What is planned? (Czech)
Media Guru: Czech Television and Czech Radio warn of billions in revenue shortfalls, loss of predictability of financing, and possible conflict with the European EMFA act in connection with the newly submitted parliamentary proposal by coalition deputies to limit the payment of television and radio fees.
DENMARK: Bjarne Corydon: ‘Public service must be the rallying point of democracy – not a mirror of fragmentation’ (Press release – Danish)
DR: Bjarne Corydon emphasizes that the public service of the future must continue to span a broad spectrum – from culture and entertainment to news, facts and information – but with a clear overall purpose: to strengthen democracy.
ESTONIA: Liina Kersna: We must take special care to ensure the independence of the national broadcaster (Estonian)
ERR: We have opened a debate in the Riigikogu on an amendment that would state at the level of law that the National Broadcasting Council would have more recognized experts in the field than representatives of political parties.
ESTONIA: Purga is not aspiring to be the head of ERR (Estonian)
ERR: Isamaa leader Urmas Reinsalu claims that the Reform Party wants to secure a situation where the next head of ERR will be Culture Minister Heidy Purga, who belongs to the Reform Party, by urgently changing the composition of the Broadcasting Council.
FINLAND: Technological upheaval revolutionized the media house – Yle has been in constant change for the last 30 years (Finnish)
Yle: The third volume of the Yle 100 research program examines Yle’s development from the perspectives of politics, economics, technology and program production over the past 30 years.
GERMANY: 18.36 euros per month: Bundestag debates relief proposal (German)
Ifun: The broadcasting fee remains a persistent political issue. On Thursday, the Bundestag debated for the first time a motion that aims to provide tax relief for citizens paying the broadcasting fee.
GERMANY: Alliance “Media for Diversity” – “Diversity between aspiration and reality” (Press release – German)
ARD: A specialist discussion in Berlin highlights progress, challenges and concrete areas of action for greater diversity in media.
GERMANY: Brandenburg is planning a citizens’ council on public broadcasting. (German)
Deutschlandfunk Kultur: A citizens’ council on the “future of public broadcasting” is to be established in Brandenburg. The governing coalition of the SPD and CDU explained to the Evangelical Press Service that the aim is to incorporate the perspectives of citizens.
HUNGARY: Hacked Off: How Should ‘Journalists’ at Hungary’s State Media Be Treated? (19 May)
Balkan Insight: Orban turned Hungary’s public service media into a propaganda machine after taking office in 2010. Now out of power, questions are being raised about what to do with the state media and the journalists who supported the system.
ITALY: CEO Rossi: “RAI returns to profit after eight years.” (Press release – Italian)
Rai: “The company has regained strength, vision, and a capacity for the future. Thanks to the employees who are supporting the relaunch with professionalism and commitment.”
ITALY: RAI, Muscarella (FNC UGL Communications): “The 2025 budget is good, now we need to change direction.” (Italian)
Il Giornale: Muscarella talks about a change of pace in management, but calls for interventions on properties, technologies, salaries and new hires.
ITALY: Ranucci and Rai exchanged blows: “Four episodes of Report were cut.” The company responded: “It’s not just that program, it’s budget containment.” (Italian)
Il Giornale: The host attacks from the stage at the presentation of Barbara Floridia’s book and denounces the cuts to episodes of Rai3’s investigative program: “Independence must be defended.” The Rai Approfondimento management responded with a statement: “The rescheduling is due to budget cuts ordered by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.”
LITHUANIA: Juozas Olekas: LRT law should be adopted next week without major changes (Lithuanian)
LRT: Social Democrat Juozas Olekas, Speaker of the Seimas, says that amendments to the law changing the governance of Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT) should be adopted next week without major changes.
LITHUANIA: The most important proposals regarding the governance of Lithuanian Radio and Television (Lithuanian)
LRT: As the Seimas prepares to consider amendments to the law on Thursday that will change the governance of Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT), the BNS news agency provides information on the main proposed changes.
NORWAY & CANADA: The creators of “Vikings” will create a new comedy series for NRK (Press release – Norwegian)
NRK: Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas Torgersen are teaming up with NRK and the Canadian CBC to create the comedy series “The Posse” – an absurd western comedy set in the USA in the 1880s.
POLAND: Ewa Wolniewicz, head of TVP Wrocław, resigns. This is a result of the scandal involving censorship of material about Jacek Sutryk. (Paywall – Polish)
Gazeta Wyborcza: For several weeks, media outlets, including “Wyborcza,” have been covering the scandal surrounding the blocking of a report by TVP journalist Robert Jałocha detailing the indictment of Jacek Sutryk in the Collegium Humanum scandal.
PORTUGAL: The challenges of journalism in the age of algorithms. (Opinion – Portuguese)
RTP: Technology today decisively structures the production and consumption processes of journalistic information, but it is not (yet) a priority on the news agenda. When this happens, we realize that this issue is central in several fields: political, social, defense, economic…
SLOVAKIA: STVR is a servant of government power (Slovak)
SME: The leadership consciously leaves politicians feeling that the shows are their property.
SLOVENIA: The President is concerned about the coalition’s plans regarding RTVS and KPK and the clash with unions (Slovenian)
24Ur: Following Friday’s election of Prime Minister-designate Janez Janša, President Nataša Pirc Musar is concerned about the announced changes related to RTV Slovenia (RTVS) and the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (KPK), as well as a direct clash with trade unions, Radio Slovenia reported.
SLOVENIA: What would the abolition of the RTV licence fee mean for the public service? (Slovenian)
Dnevnik: The proposal to abolish the RTV licence fee would not leave RTV Slovenia without money overnight, but it would change the source of its funding and thus the question of who would decide on the financial stability of the public service in the future.
SLOVENIA: Will the new government raise the RTV contribution? (Slovenian)
Delo: RTV General Director Anton Guzej once again warned that the public broadcaster RTV is facing significant cost pressures. The uproar surrounding the character of reporter Surla in the Hri-bar show has still not subsided.
UNESCO: Through its Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, UNESCO has strengthened knowledge-sharing, fostered international collaboration and supported initiatives that amplify the Indigenous voices in the media.
SWEDEN: Image storytelling in a new era (Blog)
SVT: Now we are building on SVT’s fantastic heritage and developing moving image storytelling based on the needs of the audience, our mission and new opportunities. Both in-depth reports and completely new formats are important for SVT News going forward.
SWEDEN: Sveriges Radio breakfast: Is the media ready to face disinformation in this year’s election campaign? (Press release – Swedish)
SR: Deepfakes, voice cloning and AI-manipulated content are on the rise and it can be difficult to know what is true and what is false. How do Swedish media ensure their credibility when the pressure from disinformation, misinformation and manipulation increases?
SWITZERLAND: Culture is a central component of the SRG’s offerings. (Press release – German)
SRG SSR: For the first time, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) commissioned a systematic analysis of cultural content within its editorial offerings. The study examined contributions from television, audio/podcasts, online articles, and social media.
UK: Channel 4 Annual Report 2025: Stable revenues, financial discipline and continued investment in British content in a challenging market (Press release)
Channel 4
UK: Reality TV risks sinking ‘into the gutter’, warns ex-Channel 4 and Ofcom boss Michael Grade
BBC: The TV industry faces “a watershed moment” and must not “sink into the gutter” in the name of ratings, a former boss of Channel 4 and Ofcom has warned in the wake of sexual abuse allegations made by three participants on Married at First Sight.
UK: Why local elections matter – and why local journalism matters more than ever after record breaking coverage (Press release)
BBC: Elections are a bit like Christmas for political reporters – and as someone who’s covered many I can say it rings true – the intense build up, the adrenaline needed for the final push and of course the excitement of the anticipation of gifts (or in our case, news) that you have some idea of, but can’t quite fully envisage.
UK, HUNGARY, MOLDOVA & ROMANIA: BBC World Service to launch new language offers in Hungarian and Romanian (Press release)
BBC: They will serve people across Hungary, Romania, Moldova and beyond with independent and impartial coverage of key global and regional developments.
UKRAINE: Angelina Kariakina at LMF 2026: Pluralistic media environment and mature discussions on public demand (Press release)
Suspilne: During the full-scale war, Ukrainians are ready for difficult and open conversations about democracy, mobilization, freedom of speech, and the limits of acceptable wartime restrictions, while media outlets need to learn how to cover sensitive topics without polarization or emotional pressure.
UKRAINE: Technical assistance for Ukrainian media: “Voices of Ukraine” by The Fix Foundation and ECPMF
The Fix: The Fix Foundation, in partnership with the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), is continuing technical assistance for Ukrainian media outlets and journalists through the “Voices of Ukraine” programme.
UKRAINE & GERMANY: Kyiv: DW bureau damaged in Russian attacks (Press release)
DW: Last night’s extensive attacks on Kyiv also affected DW: the shock waves damaged windows and ceilings of the DW bureau. DW journalists were not harmed.
UKRAINE & JAPAN: Japan to provide Ukraine with new US$40m grant, partly for public broadcasting
Ukrainska Pravda: Ukraine and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed a grant agreement under the emergency recovery programme.
BFMI: One of the last major independent media networks in the Western Balkans may be about to change hands. This is not just a business story. It is part of a wider shift in media ownership across Southeast Europe, and the first real moment when the European Media Freedom Act will have to prove its worth.
ARGENTINA; Azcué’s administration is moving forward with the privatization of the former Radio Ciudadana, and rumors are growing about the arrival of the “Somos” group in Concordia. (Spanish)
Diario Junio: Even before the public broadcaster’s closure in July 2025, the municipality has been working on awarding the 89.7 MHz frequency and the infrastructure of the former municipal radio station.
ARGENTINA: Milei targets Roads Authority, INTA, ANSES and public media to continue shrinking (Spanish)
El Patagonico: The Government is moving forward with downsizing decentralized agencies and accelerating a voluntary retirement plan.
BOLIVIA: Political and social crisis in Bolivia: 14 attacks against the press in seven days
RSF: These abuses took place between 12 and 18 May 2026, across four different zones of the country, while covering social protests. Attempted arbitrary arrests, beatings, attacks involving stones and slingshots, dynamite and tear gas, damage to professional equipment and vehicles, and threats of lynching…
BRAZIL: As Brazil’s Supreme Court rose to prominence, journalists had to reinvent themselves
LatAm Journalism Review: Felipe Recondo followed shifting news habits beyond print, turning Supreme Court coverage into newsletters, podcasts and YouTube.
BRAZIL: In Rio de Janeiro, the Ministry of Communications highlights the importance of Digital Brazil in strengthening public communication in the country. (Portuguese)
Ministry of Communications: “The partnership with RNCP is fundamental to the actions of Brasil Digital to democratize access to EBC programming and that of local partners, through the installation and donation of transmission and digital television equipment,” stated Daniela Schettino, director of the Department of Public, Community and State Broadcasting at the Ministry of Communications.
COLOMBIA: Colombian president ends term with projects for safeguarding press freedom still unfinished
RSF: On the eve of the 2026 presidential election, Gustavo Petro’s government enters the final stage of its term with a largely unfinished agenda regarding press freedom.
CUBA: Frances Robles, veteran Cuba correspondent, on how she reports from the margins
LatAm Journalism Review: Robles has long chronicled Cuba’s recurring cycles of hope, repression and promised change. She talks to LatAm Journalism review about a story that never quite stops repeating itself.
HONDURAS: More than 50 attacks on freedom of expression against journalists in Honduras in 2025 and 2026 (Spanish)
Infobae: According to CONADEH, 16 risk cases have been addressed; most reported ongoing threats and attributed them to intimidation, attempted murders, and events related to the electoral dispute.
HONDURAS: Nasry Asfura promises to defend press freedom and guarantee the safety of journalists in Honduras (Spanish)
Infobae: Asfura argued that “ethical and professional” journalism is key to transparency and the democratic functioning of the country. He also stated that debate and criticism must take place within a framework of respect.
PERU: More than 90% of Peruvians perceive TVPerú as the educational, cultural, informative and reliable channel (Press release – Spanish)
IRTP: According to a survey conducted by CPI in 25 urban cities across the country, state television is one of the media outlets with the best positioning and image.
PERU: Six things you should know about the Quechua and Aymara information website (Press release – Spanish)
IRTP: The platform, a pioneer in the country, was developed entirely by the specialists of that media outlet.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Climate mischief and our media
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian: There is an important requirement not to lose sight of the urgency with which the matter is to be addressed, especially since some narratives are being skewed by compliant political agendas, brittle science, and the conscientious work of propagandists.
VENEZUELA: The Country Brand Institute and public media promoted a national strategic alliance (Spanish)
Radio del Sur: The Country Brand Institute and representatives of the public media system forged a strategic alliance to enhance the promotion of the country’s national and international image. Authorities designed a dynamic information agenda that prioritized trade, business success stories, export offerings, and tourism potential.
REGIONAL: How community media tend ‘digital gardens’ to reduce dependence on Big Tech
LatAm Journalism Review: From Argentina to Costa Rica and Mexico, small media outlets are building their own digital infrastructure in search of autonomy, security and survival.
REGIONAL: How solutions journalism reshapes reporting in Latin America
DW Akademie: Journalists across Latin America are embracing solutions-focused reporting, moving beyond negative news cycles to foster more nuanced and participatory conversations.
IRAN: Could Iran be building a Chinese-style internet system?
Iran International: Iran may be moving beyond temporary internet blackouts toward something more durable: a Chinese-style system of digital control.
IRAN: Iranian State Media’s Foster Child Story Lands Editor In Court — Over A Head Scarf
RFE/RL: Iran’s official state news agency published a human-interest story about love, war, and a baby no one wanted. Within hours, it had deleted part of its own report. Days later, the agency’s boss was summoned to court.
ISRAEL: High Court to hear petitions against Galatz closure as A-G warns of wider threat to free press
The Jerusalem Post: The hearing will be held before Justices Dafna Barak-Erez, Alex Stein, and Yechiel Kasher, after a court ordered the government to brief why its decision to shutter the station shouldn’t be canceled.
ISRAEL: Israel risks possible Eurovision expulsion over Kan budget bill
YNet: European Broadcasting Union warns that placing Kan’s budget under government control could undermine its independence, damage Israel’s democratic image and threaten its place in international events
ISRAEL: Knesset panel advances bill allowing government to control budget of Kan public broadcaster
The Times of Israel: The Knesset Finance Committee votes to advance legislation giving the government the power to determine the budget of the Kan public broadcaster for its first reading in the Knesset, despite opposition from the Knesset legal department, the Economics Affairs Committee’s legal advisers, and the deputy attorney general, who all say that the legislation does not meet constitutional standards.
JORDAN: Jordan Media Commission Denies Sending Payment Texts to Content Creators
JNA: Jordan Media Commission (JMC) spokesperson Omar Homsi on Wednesday denied reports circulated on social media alleging the commission has sent text messages to content creators demanding payments.
JORDAN: Royal Decree appoints chairman, board of public broadcasting service channel
JNA: A Royal Decree was issued on Sunday appointing the chairman and board members of the public broadcasting service channel Al Mamlaka TV, following a recommendation by the prime minister, according to a royal court statement.
TURKEY: Turkey blocks 93 social media accounts for alleged ‘provocative’ posts after CHP court ruling
Turkish Minute:Turkish authorities have blocked access to 93 social media accounts accused of making “provocative” posts and attempting to create “social chaos” following a controversial court decision last week that removed the leadership of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), according to Turkish media reports.
REGIONAL: Dubai maps out new vision for future-ready media industry
Gulf News: Dubai has unveiled an ambitious vision to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading media hubs, as the Dubai Media Council convened top executives, creatives and investors at the Dubai Media Retreat to chart the future of the industry.
CANADA: Backlash over satire series in early production for CBC, APTN
APTN: There is continuing controversy over an Indigenous-led, unscripted comedy series in early production for CBC Entertainment and APTN, as the future of the show looks murky.
CANADA: CBC pausing production on satirical Indigenous show
CBC: CBC is pausing production on a prank comedy series after the broadcaster was called out when two women who have expressed controversial opinions about Canada’s residential schools claimed they were targeted by the show.
CANADA: Outrage over Northland Tales program hypocritical
Winnipeg Free Press: Progressive Conservative MLA Wayne Ewasko was suspended from the Manitoba legislature earlier this month for yelling at Premier Wab Kinew: “You’re drunk, you’re drunk. I thought you quit drinking.”…
CANADA: TVO Opens Its Doors for Doors Open Toronto 2026 (Press release)
TVO: TVO will welcome the public behind the scenes as part of Doors Open Toronto 2026, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore how public-interest media is created and shared with audiences across Ontario.
US: Bill enshrines editorial independence for university-licensed public media in Illinois
IPM News: Illinois is poised to become the first state in the nation to explicitly protect the editorial independence of employees at public radio and television stations that are licensed to or affiliated with state colleges and universities.
US: How the Library of Congress is using both AI and volunteers to unlock public broadcasting history
Nextgov FCW: The FixIt+ platform uses AI-generated transcripts as a starting point, then relies on volunteers to refine them so historic public media becomes easier to search, study and understand.
US: Four full-timers, 14 part-timers laid off at WFIU/WTIU amid funding crunch
IPM: Indiana Public Media and WFIU/WTIU announced layoffs of four full-time staff and 14 part-timers Thursday, the latest cuts in public media nationally after state and federal governments ended funding.
Nieman Lab: This is May 2026 in digital media: Arguably the two most prominent digital media startups of the 2010s are both being sold — one to the former host of NBC reality show “Real People” (1979-84) and one to the primary inspiration for Kendall Roy (2018-23).
US: Reimagining and Reconstructing U.S. Public Media
Knight First Amendment Institute: Modern democracies have long recognized that commercial media are incapable of providing for all of society’s informational, cultural, and educational needs.
US: WEIU-TV ends over-the-air broadcasting
Current: The Illinois TV station lost nearly 80% of its revenue with the rescission of federal funding for public broadcasting.
AI-writing scandals are becoming common. Proving them is another matter.
Poynter: Organizers of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize and British literary magazine Granta faced sharp backlash this week after social media users questioned whether the winning entry and two of the finalists were generated by artificial intelligence.
As goes CBS Radio News, so goes the idea that news media should serve the public interest
The Conversation: The once-bipartisan idea that the nation’s media should exist to serve democracy continues to fade with it, too.
Deutsche Welle’s blueprint to testing and scaling a TikTok news account
JournalismUK: Audience development manager Erika Marzano shares her test-and-tweak strategy that has led to 37 accounts and 3 billion views last year on the vertical video platform
Five things we learned at Newsrewired 2026 about the future of news
RISJ: Speakers from the UK and beyond shared how journalism is evolving in response to challenges including AI and influencers
Hannah Natanson’s Advice to Journalists
CJR: A lecture to the Columbia Journalism School class of 2026.
How The Economist captures the young generation in the age of AI
JournalismUK: The Economist is one of the world’s most respected news brands, founded in 1843 and renowned for its high-quality, byline-free journalism. Now, as the media industry changes, it is working to keep up with the times.
Preparing for the second act of AI: agents, liquid content and AI deals
JournalismUK: People are spending less time with news, and the way they consume it is changing rapidly. So what should publishers do about it?
WhatsApp, TikTok and truth: The voices journalism misses
DW Akademie: Public dialogue in Zimbabwe is no longer shaped by newsrooms alone. Informal networks and digital platforms are creating new spaces where information is shared, contested and understood.
You couldn’t create a more anti-news internet if you tried
Nieman Lab: If there were a dictator of the internet who intentionally set out to destroy your ability to get accurate information, the result would look a lot like what’s already on your screen.
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Header image: Satellite dishes on the NBC compound in Windhoek, Namibia. Credit: Harry Lock / PMA
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