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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Our PSM Research and Resources page brings together all the latest academic studies looking into the world of public media.
What we're watching...
How Journalists Can Use Artificial Intelligence
NBCU Academy: While debates rage over the use of artificial intelligence in newsrooms, many journalists have already started using AI in their work. AI can easily automate time-consuming tasks, like manually transcribing audio or video. Alex Golden, NBCU News Group’s senior director of news product and strategy, shares ground rules for how journalists can use AI as “assistance technology.”
What we're listening to...
Social issues as told by a new generation of journalists in Africa (French)
RFI: How can the younger generation of journalists tell the story of civil society in their country? In the absence of participatory democracy, how can we highlight community initiatives far removed from centralised institutions?
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BENIN: BloLab, a digital centre for young people in Benin (Listen – French)
RFI: Raphaëlle Constant headed to Cotonou for L’atelier des médias to visit BloLab, a centre for innovation and training in digital tools. Its founder Médard Agbayazon explained its aim: to find solutions to the challenges facing Benin today.
CAMEROON: Journalist Bruno Bidjang of the l’Anecdote group detained (French)
RFI: Journalist Bruno Bidjang, general manager of media for the L’Anecdote group, has been charged with “spreading false news” and detained in Yaoundé’s main prison since Friday evening.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: DRC journalist Lucien Lyenda attacked by armed forces while covering protest
CPJ: On Sunday, three DRC armed forces soldiers attacked Lyenda, a reporter for the privately owned news website Moba Actualités Médias, as he reported on a demonstration against worsening security in the town of Kirungu in the Moba Territory of Tanganyika province, Lyenda and local journalist Matthias Makolovera told CPJ via messaging app and phone.
ETHIOPIA: Ethiopia Arrests French Journalist
VOA: Antoine Galindo, who works for the Paris-based media outlet Africa Intelligence, was arrested at a hotel while interviewing Bate Urgessa, a spokesperson for the opposition Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) party.
GHANA: Absence of docket on Ahmed Suale’s murder case shows government indifference
MFWA: The disclosure by Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister of justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, that his office has received no docket on the murder of Ahmed Suale, is the utmost proof of the state’s lack of commitment to solving the case.
GHANA: Electronic Communications Act 2008, National Media Commission Act 1993 should be reviewed’ — MFWA
Modern Ghana: The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is calling for a review of Ghana’s key broadcast regulatory laws in the wake of a shutdown of radio stations in conflict-stricken Bawku.
GHANA: Regulator’s closure of radio stations wrong approach to do the right thing – MFWA
MFWA: The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) welcomes as a step in the right direction the decision to shut down four radio stations in the conflict-stricken Bawku Municipality, in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
GUINEA: Journalist Sékou Jamal Pendessa sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, including three months’ hard labour (French)
RFI: This was the sentence handed down on Friday 23 February by the Dixinn court against the secretary general of the Guinean Press Professionals’ Union, who was prosecuted for having called for a demonstration against Internet and media censorship in Guinea.
KENYA: Dialing Down: Kenyans Radio Consumption Declining as TV and Online Boom
TechWeez: Unsurprisingly, Radio consumption in Kenya is in decline. According to a Kenya Media Landscape Report, in the last decade, radio has lost 13% of it’s audience.
KENYA: Most popular radio & TV stations in Kenya in 2024 – Report
Pulse: A comprehensive study conducted by Infotrak has revealed Kenya’s most popular radio and television stations.
NAMIBIA: Namibia leads in media freedom with new police training module
Windhoek Observer: In a move to maintain media freedom and journalist safety, the Namibian Police (NAMPOL), in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has taken a significant step forward by introducing a new training module focused on freedom of expression and the safety of journalists.
NIGERIA: Media Professional Advocates Increased Funding Of African Radio Stations
Voice of Nigeria: African governments have been urged to adequately fund public Radio broadcasting stations for them to effectively adapt to emerging trends in Mass Communication and maintain their relevance in the digital age.
NIGERIA: Mobilise Public Support For Economic Reforms, FG Urges Media
Independent: Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has appealed to the media to rally public support for the economic reforms being undertaken by the Tinubu Administration, which are aimed at opening opportunities for employment, sustainable economic growth, and prosperity for Nigerians.
SENEGAL: Supreme Court: verdict against the State of Senegal on internet blackouts
SeneNews: The Supreme Court’s decision was unequivocal: the suspension of mobile data was deemed contrary to fundamental freedoms and disproportionate.
SOMALIA: RSF deplores the expulsion of two journalists by the Puntland authorities (French)
RSF: The authorities in the autonomous region of Puntland, in north-east Somalia, have expelled two journalists from Somalia who had come to report on the crisis in the Red Sea.
SOUTH AFRICA: THE SABC SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT (Press release)
SABC: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has noted with concern the incorrect reports in the media, which claim that veteran broadcaster Mr Thuso Motaung has been dismissed from Lesedi FM. The reports further claim that Mrs Mamontha Motaung is suspended or dismissed from the SABC.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC striving to ensure every voice heard in 2024 elections: Monare
SABC: SABC’s Group Executive for News and Current Affairs, Moshoeshoe Monare says although it’s nearly impossible to ensure that every political party is given a platform ahead of the elections, the public broadcaster has plans in place to ensure equitable coverage.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC’s TV licence nightmare
My Broadband: The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC’s) financial situation is deteriorating, and its failed TV licence scheme is one of the biggest contributors to its decline.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC will never threaten arrest for TV licence non-payment
My Broadband: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) says it will never threaten non-paying TV licence holders with a warrant of arrest.
ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe Army Accused of Forcing Investigative Outlet to Self-Censor
VOA: Press freedom monitor groups in Africa are worried after an online investigative publication in Zimbabwe said it will halt its coverage of corruption in the army after receiving “threats and direct pressure” from state security agents.
REGIONAL: How should African media tackle the digital transition? (French)
RFI: More than 650 media professionals from across the continent discussed their practices and the challenges they face. The media sector is still very weak economically in Africa, which is slowing down its digital transition.
REGIONAL: Using sign language to combat the spread of health misinformation in Africa
IJNet: Recognizing the alarming trend, multimedia journalist Zainab Oyiza Sanni and freelance reporter Olakunle Mohammed founded a fact-checking outlet, News Verifier Africa, to verify information being circulated.
AFGHANISTAN: Afghan Girls Banned From Contacting Media In Eastern Province
RFE/RL: The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has reported that Taliban police authorities in the eastern Khost Province have banned girls from contacting local radio and television channels and warned local media outlets not to accept phone calls from girls.
AFGHANISTAN: How radio is making women’s voices heard in Afghanistan
BBC: As women’s rights are severely curtailed, a group of brave female radio producers and presenters remain on air to bring critical health information.
BANGLADESH: Arafat praises Betar’s role in delivering reliable information (13 February)
The Dhaka Tribune: State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat praised Bangladesh Betar for disseminating reliable information among people, saying the role of the state-run media is crucial when false and fabricated news as well as rumours have grasped social media.
INDIA: Government temporarily blocks 170-plus social media accounts, here is MHA’s request to Meity
Times of India: According to the report, these orders were made to maintain law and order by temporarily suspending certain social media account and web links at the behest of the Ministry of Home Affairs
INDIA: News channels run doctored video of farmer leader Dallewal’s statement on Modi, question movement’s agenda (20 February)
ALTNEWS: A video related to the farmers’ movement is viral on social media in which farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal states that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity graph has skyrocketed after the Ram Mandir inauguration and reached an all-time high. He appears to call on the listeners to think about how it can be brought down in a few days.
INDONESIA: Indonesian media outlets expect to conclude deals with digital platforms by August
The Straits Times
INDONESIA: Meta believes it is not required to pay for Indonesia news content posted voluntarily
Reuters: Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab on Thursday said it believes that a new Indonesia law does not require it to pay news publishers for content they voluntarily post to its platforms.
JAPAN: Japan’s tabloids fill a gap in the fact-focused media industry (French – Paywall)
Le Monde: Sensationalism-driven general-interest weeklies exercise great freedom of expression when dealing with the powerful, escalating scoops and revealing the other side of a polite society.
JAPAN: NHK measuring gender ratios of shows since 2021, enacting changes
The Asahi Shimbun: Changes are being made at Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) in the wake of joining a global effort to create diverse content that mirrors the world.
MALAYSIA: Establishment of the Media Council must not violate media freedom
Article 19: On Wednesday, 21 February, the Communications Minister of Malaysia, Fahmi Fadzil, announced that the Cabinet had approved the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Bill, which could be tabled in Parliament as soon as June 2024.
MALAYSIA: Malaysia govt’s new media ethics code raises questions about press freedom
The Straits Times: Malaysia’s updated code of ethics for journalists has raised concerns that it may curb media freedom, given that it was developed by Malaysia’s Information Department (Japen).
MYANMAR: Cover Jobs Offer Some Protection for Myanmar’s Lone Reporters
VOA: One works as a teacher. Others pretend to be students and shopkeepers. In Myanmar, their day jobs help mask their real profession as journalists.
PAKISTAN: Deepfakes, Internet Access Cuts Make Election Coverage Hard, Journalists Say
VOA: In the run-up to Pakistan’s general elections this month, the country’s 128 million voters were exposed to disinformation, including through artificial intelligence and deepfake videos.
PAKISTAN: Pakistan Arrests Two Journalists as X Remains Restricted for 10 Days
VOA: Authorities in Pakistan detained a journalist Monday, the second within a week, while domestic access to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, remained disrupted for a 10th consecutive day.
PAKISTAN: Social media platform ‘X’ shutdown continues for eighth day in Pakistan
Times of India: After eight consecutive days, social media users in Pakistan continue to face a blackout of services from platform X (former Twitter), as reported by Pakistan-based Geo News.
SOUTH KOREA: KBS producers urge documentary of Sewol tragedy to be aired
The Korea Herald: South Korean public broadcaster KBS’ recent decision to pull a documentary about the 2014 sinking of the Sewol ferry has been sparking criticism from within the company’s ranks.
TAIWAN: Public television has been concerned about human rights issues for many years, and hopes to use the power of media to help promote human rights (Press release)
PTS: Rejecting school bullying has become a daily human rights board game for students to cultivate young people to “respect differences”. Visited the Child Welfare Alliance, the ultimate school-based service provider in Taiwan.
THAILAND: Thai PBS joins hands with partners to reveal 5 future research perspectives on mental health in Thai society. Get ready together to find innovation that drives “mental health” (Press Release)
THAI PBS: Thai PBS and The Active join hands with various organizations from the public and private sectors to open a space to create understanding. “Mental Wellness System” jointly developed a mechanism Search for innovations to drive society towards greater cooperation in promoting and preventing mental health.
REGIONAL: AESF renews partnership with ABU
ABU: The Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) has renewed its partnership with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), reaffirming both organisations’ commitment to strengthen engagement and optimise mutual benefits in fostering and developing broadcast and Esports initiatives.
AUSTRALIA: Antoinette Lattouf escalates legal battle against ABC with new federal court claim
The Guardian: The journalist Antoinette Lattouf has escalated her fight against the ABC to the federal court, suing the public broadcaster for allegedly breaching its employee enterprise agreement by “sacking her without a proper basis and without due process”.
AUSTRALIA: Business trailblazer Ming Long AM delivers 2024 Wang Gungwu Lecture celebrating Chinese Australians’ contributions to Australian life (Press release)
ABC: The third annual Wang Gungwu Lecture premieres on ABC Australia, ABC Asia and iview on Friday 1 March at 11pm AEDT, featuring business leader Ms Ming Long AM as keynote speaker.
AUSTRALIA: Facing facts: ABC pulls the plug on RMIT factchecking collaboration
The Guardian: The ABC is getting out of the business of factchecking politicians, and who can blame them? A seven-year collaboration between RMIT and the broadcaster has ended abruptly, with the ABC telling the university it was withdrawing the $350,000 a year it contributed to the RMIT ABC Fact Check unit.
NEW ZEALAND: Above the Fold: Inside the mystery of Stuff Circuit’s controversial final project
The Spinoff: One of the last great investigative teams in NZ journalism is no more. In the second installment of his new media column Above the Fold, Duncan Greive examines the end of Stuff Circuit, and the multi-year investigation which will be its last work – if it ever makes it out at all.
NEW ZEALAND: A lifeboat to keep news afloat? (Listen)
RNZ: Last week, the great and good of New Zealand’s news media urged MPs to back a law change to make Google and Facebook pay them for their news. They say the income could be critical to the survival of journalism here. But the lobby group campaigning for better public media says there’s a better way to ‘send a lifeboat’.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ and Mediaworks to collaborate (Press release)
RNZ: A content sharing agreement between RNZ and MediaWorks comes into effect this week, with RNZ news stories available to run on MediaWorks radio stations and MediaWorks sports content soon to be available for use on RNZ’s channels.
ALBANIA & TURKEY: Turkey-Albania Media Deal Risks ‘Exporting Erdogan’s Propaganda’ – Experts
Balkan Insight: New media cooperation agreement signed on Tuesday may well strengthen Turkish government propaganda in the Albanian media, experts warn.
AUSTRIA: ORF 3 boss Schöber: ORF contribution “significantly better” than budget funding (German)
Der Standard: “We are not the highest censorship authority”: The ORF manager on “cancel culture”, Westenthaler’s expertise, career plans and salary.
AUSTRIA: “ORF has to cater to an audience that has to pay,” warns Foundation Councilor Lederer (German)
Der Standard: All-round attack from the SPÖ representative on the ORF committee on the program – resistance if Westenthaler wanted to “destroy” ORF.
BELGIUM: Benjamin Dalle: “There is a lack of sense of urgency around tackling transgressive behavior in the Flemish media” (Paywall – Dutch)
De Standaard: Following the staggering figures about inappropriate behavior in the Dutch media and the news that Erik Van Looy had to follow a “metoo awareness” course in the Netherlands, Media Minister Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) is calling the Flemish audiovisual sector to task.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: Four Million BAM were secured for BiH Public Broadcaster
Sarajevo Times: The Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Forto, and the Director General of BHRT, Belmin Karamehmedović, signed today in Sarajevo the Agreement which, based on the decision of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, secures 4 million BAM for the Public Broadcasting System of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech pensioners add to Wikipedia in their spare time (French)
RTBF: Jirina Kadnerova, 80, doesn’t exactly fit the image of the technology-savvy Internet user. However, she writes articles for the free encyclopedia Wikipedia, after taking a course to train older people as part of a Czech project launched in 2013.
DENMARK: Apple reported to police by Danish press publishers and journalists
DCPMO: After continuous attempts to get Apple to pay for using content from Danish publishers and journalists in its news widget, the Danish rights holders see no other way than to report Apple to the police.
FRANCE: “In France, as elsewhere, media pluralism is not the result of market forces; it is built up”. (French – Paywall)
Le Monde: In an article published in Le Monde, Camille Broyelle, a law professor and media specialist, argues that the Council of State’s 13 February decision on the diversity of viewpoints on television is not contrary to freedom of expression, but in keeping with the spirit of our laws.
FRANCE: Israel-Hamas war: Arcom says journalist Mohamed Kaci was not at fault (French)
RFI: The Autorité de Régulation de la Communication Audiovisuelle et Numérique (Arcom), France’s media regulatory body, has issued its opinion on a controversial segment broadcast on TV5 Monde.
FRANCE: RSF wants to use the ACPM to certify the reliability of the French media (French)
Mind Media: According to our information, the ACPM is to become the reference body in France for certifying media applying for the Journalism Trust Initiative programme run by Reporters Without Borders.
GERMANY: DW Sustainability Report: Climate protection and social diversity (Press release)
DW: Since 2019, DW has cut CO2 emissions by 60 percent and strategically aligned its sustainability management. DW’s environmental and social initiatives are detailed in its third sustainability report.
GERMANY: Farmers’ blockade of media disrupted newspaper deliveries
EFJ: Germany is facing a major nationwide media blockade, led mainly by farmers who have demonstrated fervently against the government’s proposed subsidy cuts.
GERMANY: KEF recommends moderate increases (German)
ZDF: The KEF has recalculated the amount of the broadcasting fee for ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio. She recommends a moderate increase of 58 cents to 18.94 euros per month.
GERMANY: ZDF reaction to the KEF report (Press release – German)
ZDF: “The KEF’s findings are a challenge for us. They mean a real minus, because we had already reported moderate and significantly below the inflation rate. The Commission has made further, very significant cuts.”
IRELAND: Martin to face Oireachtas cttee questions over ex-RTÉ chair’s resignation
RTÉ: Minister for Media Catherine Martin will face questions this evening at an Oireachtas committee about her handling of events that led to the resignation of Siún Ní Raghallaigh as chair of the RTÉ Board.
IRELAND: Minister contradicts RTÉ Board claim over exit package information
RTÉ: Minister for Media Catherine Martin has reiterated her position that led to the resignation of RTÉ chairperson Siún Ní Raghallaigh.
IRELAND: Statement by Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General of RTÉ: Siún Ní Raghallaigh (Statement)
RTÉ: “It is with deep regret that I share with you the announcement by Siún Ní Raghallaigh of her decision to resign as the Chair of the Board of RTÉ tonight. Her statement is included below.
ITALY: Italy’s public broadcaster RAI caught in controversies over Gaza war
Le Monde: On-air statements about the war in the enclave have revealed political tensions in the public broadcasting sector, at a time when both majority and opposition parties have agreed on calling for an immediate ceasefire.
ITALY: Natale, director of Rai For Sustainability-ESG: three-year plan to transform Rai (Press release – Italian)
Rai: “The three-year Sustainability Plan approved yesterday by the Rai Board of Directors is an important milestone for the Management created in mid-2022”, declares Roberto Natale, director of Rai For Sustainability-ESG
ITALY: Rai license fee , for how long must it be paid: the requirements for obtaining the exemption (Italian)
Il Giornale: The Rai license fee is one of the most disliked taxes among Italian citizens, so much so that there are even those who directly decide to avoid it
KOSOVO: Kosovo Press Council Updates Code of Ethics to Combat AI Risks
Balkan Insight: Kosovo’s Press Council has added new rules to its code of ethics for journalists that aim to promote the responsible use of artificial intelligence by the media, while also warning of the risks of AI-driven disinformation.
MOLDOVA: Moldova’s Gagauzia Urged to Drop Legislation to Control Online Media
Balkan Insight: Nine media organisations urged the authorities in the autonomous Moldovan region of Gagauzia to withdraw draft legislation stipulating that online media based in the area will need authorisation to operate.
POLAND: “Politicians: you will come to us, for sure.” Marek Czyż about the situation on TVP (Polish)
Onet: “For now, we are carefully ignored by a certain part of Polish political life, which results in the impression that we are tilted to one side. This is not true, says Marek Czyż.”
POLAND: The liquidation of the management of the thematic channels has started at TVP. This is the result of cuts (Paywall – Polish)
Onet: TVP started liquidating the management of most thematic antennas. They are to be moved to the program office. International channels and TVP Sport will continue to operate independently
POLAND: TVN and Polsat have a problem with employees. All via TVP (Paywall – Polish)
Business Insider: The new version of TVP has become an attractive place to work for journalists from other stations. To such an extent that both TVN and the Polsat Group have to deal with further departures to the public broadcaster.
RUSSIA: Court Rejects RFE/RL Journalist Kurmasheva’s Request For House Arrest
RFE/RL: The Supreme Court of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan ruled on February 20 that RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who has been held in Russian custody for more than four months on charges that she, her employer, and her supporters reject, will remain in pretrial detention.
RUSSIA: Increased repression from Russia: DW stands in solidarity with Radio Liberty
DW: Russia’s declaration of US foreign broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) as an “undesirable organization” marks another severe blow to press freedom. DW expresses solidarity with RFE/RL.
RUSSIA: Russian Journalists Detained While Covering Navalny Memorials
VOA: At least four journalists were detained in Russia last week while reporting on gatherings to mourn the unexpected death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, according to reports.
RUSSIA & UKRAINE: Ukrainian journalists in captivity: Holding out hope for freedom
IPI: At least 17 Ukrainian journalists in occupied regions held hostage by Russia
IPI: Six years since murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová, IPI honours their memory and calls for greater safeguards for journalists
SLOVAKIA: RTVS is dealing with a reduced budget: The radio gallery is ending! Artists rage (Slovakian)
Novy Cas: Culture pays again. Compared to last year, the budget of Slovak Television and Radio (RTVS) was reduced by 11 million euros.
SLOVENIA: RTV Slovenia’s response to writing about dr. Marko Milosavljević (Press release – Slovenian)
RTVSLO: At RTV Slovenija, we condemn the verbal attacks of some employees on Prof. dr. Marko Milosavljević, who is an outstanding expert in media issues and journalism.
SPAIN: The UPM and RTVE maintain the alliance to develop new technological projects in the audiovisual sector (Press release – Spanish)
RTVE: Both institutions have renewed their collaboration through the RTVE Chair at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, created in 2015
SWEDEN: Three important focuses for SVT Nyheter in the spring of 2024 (Press release – Swedish)
SVT: Big fire, snow chaos and the latest about the security situation in Sweden and the wars in the world. The year’s opening news events have caused millions of Swedes to turn to SVT. Based on their needs, SVT’s newsrooms are particularly investing in developing journalism in three areas this spring.
UK: British Judges to Rule on US Extradition of WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange
VOA: British judges are set to rule whether Julian Assange, the founder of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, will be extradited to the United States after he launched a last-ditch legal bid this week to block the order, the latest chapter in a legal battle stretching back nearly 14 years.
UK: GB News is being allowed to break impartiality rules, say senior TV figures
The Guardian: Ofcom is accused of not treating all broadcasters the same and of dragging its feet with investigations into the rightwing channel
UK: Lindsay Salt outlines her vision for BBC Drama and announces a raft of new commissions (Speech)
BBC: Speech delivered by BBC Director of Drama Lindsay Salt on 21 February 2024
UK: Media Bill to be debated in the Lords
UK Parliament: The aim of the Media Bill is to update the existing legislative framework on broadcasting governance following the UK’s exit from the EU and to address technological changes, such as the rise of on-demand services.
UK: Protecting people from hate and terrorism under the online safety regime (Press release)
Ofcom: The use of online services to incite and radicalise vulnerable people, including children, towards hate and violence poses a major risk. It can have horrific consequences and in the severest of cases can lead to mass murder, often targeting minorities and protected groups.
UK: What is the Media Bill and what does it mean for Ofcom? (Press release)
Ofcom: The UK Government has introduced a new piece of legislation to make sure there’s an up-to-date framework in place to protect public service broadcasters (PSBs) while fostering innovation.
UKRAINE: Military command targeted by fake newspaper covers (Listen – French)
RFI: Almost two years after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the situation on the front line is bogged down. Ammunition shortages, personnel shortages, weakening Western aid: the new head of the Ukrainian army has a number of issues on his plate
EFJ
UKRAINE: War in Ukraine: the media face an ongoing conflict (Analysis – French)
RFI: Two years ago, the outbreak of war in Ukraine generated unprecedented media interest. Now that the fighting on the ground is getting bogged down, Ukrainians fear a drop in press interest and hence public support.
REGIONAL: ECPMF welcomes European Parliament adoption of the Anti-SLAPP Directive
ECPMF: Today, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom welcomes the Anti-SLAPP Directive – also known as Daphne’s Law – adopted today by the European Parliament in its first reading.
ARGENTINA: If they say there is no money for salaries, we want to see the companies’ balance sheets!
SiPreBA: Given the lack of joint response to our demand for recomposition and decent salaries, we sent document letters so that the media companies make known the numbers of their finances.
LatAm Journalism Review: There was the government takeover of public media for one year and talks of privatization, the plan to suspend official advertising in media for one year and, at the beginning of February, repression of members of the press during street demonstrations against austerity measures pushed by the government of new far-right President Javier Milei.
ARGENTINA: Paritarias written press: if there are no answers, we deepen the fight plan and return to the strike (Press release)
SiPreBA: We have salaries 30% below the poverty line. It is urgent to recompose our income to live with dignity and be able to inform.
BARBADOS: CBC criticised for lack of local content
Loop News: State-owned television station, Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), has been criticised for not offering enough opportunities to Barbadian producers.
BRAZIL: Finland and Denmark to support development of the Brazilian Strategy for Media Education
Gov.br: Next month, Brazil will initiate a cooperation program with Finland and Denmark focused on promoting exchanges of experiences and good practices among governmental specialists on the issue of “Media Education: Information integrity and democracy,” a common field of interest of the three countries.
COLOMBIA: Tensions between Hollman Morris and Nórida Rodríguez are revealed on RTVC: Is Wally coming? (Spanish)
RTVC: Tensions between Hollman Morris and Nórida Rodríguez at RTVC have come to light, generating a debate about Wally’s arrival to the opinion fringe in public media.
CUBA: Cuba Cuts Internet, Surveils Calls of Journalists, Report Finds
VOA: There was a time when activists and journalists who wanted to evade the ever-listening ear of the Cuban government spoke in code or had to meet in European embassies.
EL SALVADOR: FLIP: El Salvador, a country where everyone walks safely, but speaks with fear (Spanish)
elsalvador.com: The Foundation for Freedom of the Press (FLIP) developed a discussion to analyze the panorama that Salvadoran journalists could face after the re-election of the current president Nayib Bukele, a process in which at least 200 direct attacks against journalists from national and foreign.
HAITI & FRANCE: Rodly Saintiné, hunted by gangs in Haiti, joins RFI in Paris (French)
Loop News: Rodly Saintiné, a young Haitian journalist, was forced to leave his country for France due to persistent death threats from a gang operating in Cité Soleil, even after filing a complaint with the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) in November 2020.
GUATEMALA & US: The US continues with “deep concern” the legal process of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora (Spanish)
VOA: The US deputy undersecretary for Central America expressed his concern about the delay in the process faced by journalist José Rubén Zamora.
JAMAICA: ‘An Odyssey in Reggae and Journalism’
The Gleaner: Howard McGowan, former Entertainment Editor of The Gleaner Company (1989-1997) presents his recently published book, ‘An Odyssey in Reggae and Journalism’, to Simone Chanpong, a director at Tastee Ltd, sponsor of the publication, at the launch last week at Tastee Head Office in St Andrew.
JAMAICA: Radio Jamaica attributes low profits to soft advertising market
Loop News: Radio Jamaica Limited (RJRGleaner), the legacy media group with TV, radio, print and online media divisions, largely kept its revenue level at $1.41 billion for the quarter that ended on New Year’s Eve, but climbing costs hurt the group.
MEXICO: Mexican president under investigation for revealing TV journalist’s number (French)
RFI: Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has come under fire for publicly revealing the telephone number of a journalist. He is now the subject of an investigation by the Mexican body responsible for data protection.
MEXICO: Mexico Poll Favorite Faces ‘Hate Messages’ After Journalist’s Number Leaked
VOA: The New York Times described the incident as “a troubling and unacceptable tactic from a world leader at a time when threats against journalists are on the rise.”
PARAGUAY: Journalists from Paraguay denounce the “misuse” of a law that protects women (Spanish)
Efeminista: The Association of Graphic Reporters, the Union of Journalists and the Association of Communicators of Paraguay have denounced the censorship of those who uncover cases of corruption in public institutions and warn that to do so, they are based on a “misuse” of a law protecting the woman .
PERU: The risks faced by investigative journalism (Spanish)
La República: Four investigative journalists agree that this type of journalism is under threat from different fronts: both from the State and from criminal groups, which seek to continue acting with impunity. They also agree that in these circumstances it is when it is most necessary to unmask them and report the truth.
ST LUCIA: Radio Caribbean International marks 63 years of broadcasting
Loop News: Radio Caribbean International (RCI), a pioneering force in Saint Lucia’s broadcasting landscape, celebrated a remarkable milestone yesterday as it commemorated 63 years of continuous service since its establishment in 1961.
VENEZUELA: DGCIM, a torture and terror organization in Venezuela, gave a workshop to journalists to “destigmatize” the institution (Spanish)
NTN24: Targeted by dozens of victims of torture, accused of committing crimes against humanity, two security institutions of the regime seek to “wash their face” before a group of journalists.
REGIONAL: Latin American media use YouTube Shorts to increase views, monetize and reach new audiences
LatAm Journalism Review: Outlets such as El Universal and Excelsior from Mexico, Metrópoles from Brazil, La Nación from Argentina and El Tiempo from Colombia, which have millions of subscribers on YouTube, publish several short videos a day adding up to thousands of views.
IRAN: Iran Tries To Tighten Grip On Internet By Officially Outlawing VPN Use
RFE/RL: Iran has officially outlawed the use of tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs) designed to bypass Internet censorship following a directive from the country’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace that was endorsed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
IRAN: Scores Of Prominent Iranians Call For Boycott Of ‘Staged’ Elections
RFE/RL: […] These include the demand for freedom of speech, for the activities of opposition parties and associations, for the press and media, and the oversight of independent and impartial bodies on election procedures and outcomes.
ISRAEL: Israel threatens Eurovision pull-out if entry vetoed
RTÉ: Israel has warned it may withdraw from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest if organisers reject the lyrics from its entry as too political.
ISRAEL: Israeli journalist rails at West Bank ‘apartheid’ in Berlinale acceptance speech
The Times of Israel: Yuval Abraham says he ‘stands behind every word’ of his remarks after winning two major prizes for ‘No Other Land,’ which he co-directed with Palestinian activist.
ISRAEL & GAZA: UN experts condemn ‘disturbing’ attacks on journalists in Gaza
Al Jazeera: United Nations experts have condemned the deadly attacks on journalists and media workers in Gaza, calling on Israel to allow journalists to enter the besieged territory and to ensure their protection.
PALESTINE: Rima Hassan, a lawyer, denounces “this drive to undermine Palestinian words”. (French)
RFI: Elected last summer by Forbes as one of the 40 “most influential” women of 2023, Rima Hassan denounces the obstruction of freedom of expression for voices supporting the Palestinians.
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia Debuts AI Initiatives To Revolutionize Its Media Landscape
The Media Line: Saudi Arabia has inaugurated the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center for Media along with the Future Camp of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Media, marking a significant leap toward integrating advanced technology in the media sector.
CANADA: Canada introduces sweeping new online safety rules
BBC: Canada has introduced a new bill that aims to combat online abuse with steep penalties for hate crimes – including life in prison for inciting genocide.
CANADA: NCRA calls for reinstatement of Local Journalism Initiative (Opinion)
Broadcast Dialogue: In this pivotal moment for Canadian media, amid a storm of outrage over Bell Media’s drastic media cuts, the National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA) urges the Canadian government to enact swift and decisive measures to bolster the backbone of local information—community media.
CANADA: Sean Speer: The news industry won’t be fixed by a parliamentary committee
The Hub: Politicians need to butt out and let the market decide the future of the news industry
CANADA: TikTok is becoming a popular source for news. Can it help fill the gaps left by local TV news cuts?
CBC/Radio-Canada: Media experts say loss of news programming, journalism jobs not easily replaced.
CANADA: TVO Arts returns with new videos, study guides and interactive features (Press release)
TVO: Online resources support learning about iconic works from visionary Canadian artists.
CANADA: Vice, Bell Media, CBC: Here’s a look at recent media layoffs in Canada
The Toronto Star: After massive job cuts at Bell Media and CBC, Vice Media announced last week that it would also be laying off hundreds of its employees, joining other media companies in the U.S. that have recently announced cuts.
US: Biden’s Team Challenges How President Is Portrayed in Press
VOA: Occupants of the White House have grumbled over news coverage practically since the place was built. Now it’s U.S. President Joe Biden’s turn: With a reelection campaign underway, there are signs that those behind the president are starting to more aggressively and publicly challenge how he is portrayed.
US: California Students File Lawsuit Claiming High School Paper Censorship
VOA: Two students and a journalism adviser at a California high school on Thursday filed a lawsuit against their school, alleging censorship and retaliation against the campus newspaper.
Deadline: As he spoke at a Bay Area fundraiser today, Joe Biden spotted Katie Couric among the attendees.
US: Journalists in Training Delivering Local News to Community (Watch)
VOA: In Arlington, Virginia, a media initiative not only teaches students about journalism but also provides local news to the community.
US: The New York Times develops its own targeting tool based on generative AI (French – Paywall)
Mind Media
US: WAMU lays off staff, shuts down DCist (Paywall)
Current: Management shared a “new strategic framework” with staff Friday.
US: What do other countries know about public broadcasting that the US doesn’t? (Opinion)
Washington Examiner: President Trump has proposed eliminating funding for public broadcasting. Yet, compared with other western nations, the U.S. already provides less than anyone else.
US: WYPR And WTMD Form Baltimore Public Media
Inside Radio: Your Public Radio Corp., owner of news/talk WYPR (88.1) and adult alternative WTMD (89.7) will now operate the stations under the Baltimore Public Media umbrella using the slogan “Community Amplified.”
US & RUSSIA: US Journalist in ‘Good Spirits’ Despite Remaining in Russian Jail
VOA: Detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is in “good health and remains in good spirits,” despite his denied release appeal, according to a statement from U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy, who met with Gershkovich on Tuesday in the Lefortovo Prison in Moscow.
US & UKRAINE: RFE/RL President Capus Meets Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, Discusses Imprisoned Journalist in Crimea (Press release)
RFE/RL: During a meeting on Sunday between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) President Stephen Capus, the Ukrainian leader commended RFE/RL’s coverage of the Russian invasion as the war enters its third year this week.
15 free sources of data on the media industry
Journalism.co.uk: Understand the latest trends facing the news sector, social media and more – perfect for journalists, speakers and students alike.
4 biases that leave under-represented groups out of GenAI-assisted journalism
IJNet
An illustrated Poynter guide to using unnamed sources in your reporting
Poynter: The question of whether or not to grant a source anonymity can be a tricky one. There’s so much to consider, from the source’s safety, how precious the information at hand is, what your readers think, your newsroom’s sourcing policies and more.
Analysts Warn of Spread of AI-Generated News Sites
VOA: The spread of websites designed to look like news sites, but which trade in low quality or false information, could further damage media trust, some experts say.
Are tiktokeurs the new source of information? “Traditional journalism is changing (French)
RTBF: TikTok is very popular with teenagers and some young adults. We know all about it. Originally more for entertainment purposes, the social network is now becoming more of a means of getting information.
CJR: Samantha Stokes is a reporter at Business Insider, covering startups and venture capital firms.
Generative AI tools turning the media world upside down (French – Listen)
RFI: The latest artificial intelligence tools from Open AI and Google are turning the media world upside down.
News media job cuts 2024 tracked: At least 980 redundancies in January
The Press Gazette: Big losses at likes of The Messenger, Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated and Mediahuis Ireland start 2024.
Columbia Journalism Review: Are you a journalistic god? Do you believe that your piece is the truth—that, by arduous training and rigorous discipline, you see reality without the obfuscating subjectivity of mere mortals? Or are you a campaigning zealot, unapologetically and passionately in the arena?
Ranga Yogeshwar on AI and the media: ‘Credibility will be the unique selling point’ (Q&A)
DW: Science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar reflects on the impact of AI-generated narratives and disinformation on society, and the importance of strong, independent media
LatAm Journalism Review
Why journalists should learn “care ethics” to proactively engage with their audiences
IJNet
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Header image: Brasilia TV Tower at sunset – Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil. Credit: diegograndi/istock
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