Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
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PSM Innovations
ARD and ZDF launch a joint streaming network
The shared network will bring together the streaming libraries of both Germany’s public broadcasters.
ARD and ZDF are expanding their media libraries into a common streaming network.
This agreement is the product of a year and a half’s work between ZDF and ARD working together, and is due to launch in the next few weeks. ZDF told PMA, “Above all, the streaming network is just a cost efficient means to enhance user experience without setting up an entire new infrastructure while not interfering with each broadcasters’ distinctive branding.” ZDF described it as, “the greatest possible networking that does not undermine journalistic competition.”
The network will first only feature recommendations in documentary and culture genres. Once first experiences have been assessed the network will look to expand to all other genres. Following this will be the provision of a joint search across both media libraries and a one-time login for both media libraries.
“In the future, all content will always be played where the user is, regardless of whether it is on ARD or ZDF,” said ZDF. “If you’re looking for the crime scene on ZDF, you’ve come to the right place on ARD. If you are looking for today’s show on ARD, you will be directly linked to the right place in the ZDF media library.”
ARD will contribute roughly 100,000 items of content to the network while ZDF will contribute about 35,000. However, this is not about merging ARD and ZDF but rather combining their strengths with both sides having agreed on rules to offer each other’s content in a balanced way.
Read more about the German public broadcasters’ upcoming innovative network
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Coronavirus: Resources & best practices
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What we're watching...
Delays in appointment of SABC board: Azola Dayile
SABC YouTube: The SABC is still without a board. It looks like it could still be a long way off. President Cyril Ramaphosa has written to National Assembly Speaker requesting for more clarity on the candidates. The public broadcaster’s highest decision-making body has yet to be replaced, as the State Security Agency continues to vet potential candidates. To unpack this we are joined by Media Monitoring Programme Manager, Azola Dayile.
What we're listening to...
How has streaming changed public media?
PMA: Video on demand has been around for barely longer than a decade, and yet it’s now impossible to imagine public broadcasting without it… let alone the wider media landscape. Its impact has been huge.
In this episode, we look at public broadcasting in a streaming world. How has public service media changed in a changing market to remain competitive, relevant, and valued by their audience? How has the rise of those global streamers affected national public media? And how are public broadcasters rising to the challenge?
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Botswana Unplugged: MultiChoice Botswana and The Government of the Republic of Botswana through the Department of Broadcasting Services made history by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the mutual cooperation between the two parties focusing on technical support and content development.
BURKINA FASO: Burkina Faso suspends France 24 for interview with jihadi
The Public’s Radio: Burkina Faso’s military junta has suspended French broadcaster, France 24, for interviewing a top jihadi rebel. Government spokesman Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo announced in a statement Monday that France 24’s programs will be blocked throughout Burkina Faso because of an interview the outlet did with the leader of an al-Qaida aligned group.
ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian authorities detain Gurage Media Network founder Beyene Wolde
CPJ: Ethiopian authorities should immediately release journalist Beyene Wolde and ensure that members of the press are not imprisoned for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.
EGYPT: Meet the new journalist union head who sent shockwaves through Egypt
Middle East Eye: The election of dissident journalist Khaled al-Balshy as the new head of the independent guild of Egypt’s journalists last week has been seen as a revolutionary development for the repressive media landscape in the country.
GHANA: Call to check fake news appropriate!
Ghanaian Times: The National Media Commissionis advocating more regulation of the media space, especially online and social media,to help curb fake news, misinformation and disinformation in the country.
KENYA: 6 media houses warned over coverage of Azimio mass action protest
Pulse.co.ke: The Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Ezra Chiloba, has accused six local TV stations of violating the Programming Code during their coverage of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition protests on March 20, 2023.
MALAWI: New guidance promotes ethical reporting of children’s issues in Malawi (20 March)
IJNet: The voices of children are largely absent from the media. They rarely feature as news sources, and as a result their individuality and humanity are often lost. Instead, media outlets often portray children negatively or stereotypically, for instance as teenagers behaving irresponsibly, children mired in poverty, and as victims of war and disaster.
NIGERIA: Court stops Gombe government, police from arresting journalist
Premium Times: The court says the threat to arrest the publisher is a breach of his human rights.
NIGERIA: Examining NBC’s sanctions on ‘erring’ broadcast stations
Vanguard: In the first quarter (Q1) of 2019, the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, wielded its big stick against 45 broadcast stations, including the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, African Independent Television, AIT, Channels Television and TVC News over alleged unethical conduct in their coverage of the 2019 general election.
NIGERIA: Society of Nigerian Broadcasters Want Practitioners To Adhere To Broadcasting Ethics
BMA: An industry workshop on Broadcast Ethics in Nigeria – A Review, organised by the newly formed Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB, has indicated that a broadcaster can only be recognised as professional when following and being guided by codes of ethics, rules of engagement and professional discipline on and off air.
SOUTH AFRICA: Radio signals interrupted by rolling blackouts
SABC: Radio broadcasters spend over a million rand per month on diesel to run backup power generators, according to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).
SOUTH AFRICA: Sanef condemns attack on SABC journalists covering EFF shutdown in Cape Town
News 24: The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) condemned attacks on SABC journalists earlier this week. The journalists were attacked while covering the EFF’s national shutdown in Nyanga, Cape Town.
SUDAN: Radio and TV workers strike across Sudan
Dabanga: The Committee for the Demands of Radio and Television Workers in the Various States of Sudan continued to schedule a strike, demanding their legitimate rights in the matter of subordination and the first chapter of salaries, while the North Darfur and Blue Nile regions did not implement the strike.
UGANDA: Broadcasters Protest Museveni Letter to Route All Govt Adverts Through UBC
Nile Post: The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has asked President Yoweri Museveni to reconsider his recent directive that all government advertising be routed only through Uganda Broadcasting Cooperation (UBC).
ZIMBABWE: Business mogul Rudland threatens to sue Al Jazeera, demands public apology
New Zimbabwe: MULTI-MILLIONAIRE businessman Simon Rudland, who was cited as the biggest funder of gold smuggling activities in Zimbabwe during an Al Jazeera investigation, has demanded an apology from the station and indicated he will be suing.
ZIMBABWE: Many rely on radio broadcasts in Zimbabwe and across Africa
VOA: Just the size of his hand, the radio set hung in the busy marketplace stall is essential to Mark Nyabanda…
REGIONAL: Africa is Beginning to hold Social Media Companies to Account (21 March)
New Internationalist: A court case shows the continent’s demand for social media companies to be accountable for their impact offline, columnist Resebell Kagumire writes.
REGIONAL: ‘How Sustainable Journalism is Crucial for Creating a Better Future’
All Africa: Today’s world is confronted with an unprecedented array of environmental, social, and economic challenges, that affect not only our local communities but also the global community.
AFGHANISTAN: Director-General condemns killing of journalists Sayed Hussain Naderi and Akmal Tabian in Afghanistan (Press release)
UNESCO: UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has condemned a terror attack on a meeting of journalists, which claimed the lives of journalists Sayed Hussain Naderi and Akmal Tabian in Mazar-e-Sharif, in the north of Afghanistan on 11 March.
BANGLADESH: Unidentified men attack brother of exiled Bangladeshi journalist Zulkarnain Saer Khan
CPJ: Bangladesh authorities must conduct an immediate and impartial investigation into the recent attack on Mahinur Khan, the brother of exiled journalist Zulkarnain Saer Khan, and ensure the safety of Zulkarnain Saer Khan’s family, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
CAMBODIA: Cambodian court charges activists with insulting king online
ABC News: Two anti-government activists in Cambodia have been formally charged with insulting the king and incitement to commit a felony for comments they made on social media about the long-serving autocratic prime minister
HONG KONG: CPJ submits evidence on Hong Kong media freedom to UK parliamentary group
CPJ: Hong Kong has seen a dramatic decline in media freedom since Beijing implemented a national security law on June 30, 2020, with a significant impact on the city’s freedom of expression and media pluralism, which saw journalists arrested, jailed, and threatened, according to evidence CPJ submitted earlier this month to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in Britain.
INDIA: BBC Punjabi Twitter Account Withheld Amid Crackdown On Amritpal Singh
NDTV: The official Twitter account of BBC News Punjabi has been withheld in India amid a massive police crackdown on radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh.
INDIA: US government report finds ‘significant human rights issues’ in India
The Independent: Violence or threats of violence against journalists, internet shutdowns and use of bulldozers are mentioned in this year’s report
KAZAKHSTAN: Despite president’s promises, reporters unable to cover Kazakh elections freely
RSF: After more than ten cases of reporters being obstructed while trying to cover last weekend’s parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the country’s president to end such obstacles to reporting freedom.
KYRGYZSTAN: ‘Inspired by Russia’: President Japarov’s targeting of Kyrgyzstan’s free press
IPI: IPI member Anna Kapushenko of media outlet Kloop on alarming trends in what was once Central Asia’s freest media environment
MYANMAR: Myanmar Journalists Describe Challenges of Reporting Under Military Rule
VOA: Two years after the military took control of Myanmar, widespread opposition to the junta has fueled an armed resistance and conflict across the country. Journalists trying to report on the situation are often forced to work underground or in exile to avoid arrest or retaliation.
NEPAL: Kurseong to be hub of Nepali radio broadcasting in India from Apr 1
The Print: The All India Radio (AIR) centre in the hill town will produce and broadcast all Nepali language programmes, including those of the external services division (ESD) which broadcasts Nepali news internationally, from April 1, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said in a statement.
PAKISTAN: DG Radio Pakistan directed to pay salaries, pension as deficit balloons to Rs2.25bn
PK Revenue: Radio Pakistan is facing a deficit of Rs2.25 billion and is still rising, causing non-payment of salaries and pension to its staff.
PAKISTAN: Geo News observes Earth Hour
Geo: Pakistan’s leading new organisation Geo News observed Earth Hour on Saturday night as countries across the globe also marked the event under the theme “Give an Hour for Earth”.
SOUTH KOREA: KBS to make Efforts to promote Korea-Rwanda Friendship and Collaboration in Media
KBS: KBS welcomed a visit by Ms. Dalila Yasmin Amri Sued, Ambassador of Rwanda to Korea, on 21 March, 2023.
TAIWAN: Disinformation and democratic resilience in Taiwan
East Asia Forum: Since 2000, Taiwan has been a top target of misinformation campaigns largely propagated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its proxies. China’s primary objective in spreading disinformation is to undermine trust in Taiwan’s democracy and governance.
UZBEKISTAN: Free Speech Advocates Question Sincerity of Promised Uzbek Reforms
VOA: When Shavkat Mirziyoyev replaced longtime strongman Islam Karimov as Uzbekistan’s president in 2016, he promised democratic reforms, openness and accountability. But a key element of those reforms — a proposed rewrite of the country’s 31-year-old constitution — has democracy advocates asking whether it is a step forward or back.
AUSTRALIA: ABC taps commercial exec to review radio as audience slumps
Sydney Morning Herald: Ex-commercial radio executive Cherie Romaro said the ABC’s radio ratings increased during national disasters, but that performance was “disguising” challenges.
AUSTRALIA & SOLOMON ISLANDS: Australia’s ABC and Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation sign historic new agreement (Press release)
ABC: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) today exchanged a new Memorandum of Understanding at SIBC headquarters in Honiara.
AUSTRALIA: First ABC strike in 17 years takes flagship programs off air
Sydney Morning Herald: Some of the ABC’s most prominent radio and television presenters suffered disruptions to their broadcasts on Wednesday as production and technical staff walked off the job for the first time in 17 years.
AUSTRALIA: News boss admits ABC has ‘a way to go’ on diversity after Stan Grant criticises election coverage
The Guardian: The ABC’s news director, Justin Stevens, admits the broadcaster has “a way to go” in achieving diversity after the host of Q+A, Stan Grant, criticised the “entire white panel” on the ABC’s New South Wales election panel.
FIJI: News media ‘not an enemy or nuisance’, Fiji editor tells police
Asia Pacific Report: “The most important thing from my perspective is a strategic partnership — a partnership where the media should not be seen as the enemy or a nuisance.”
FIJI: Repeal ‘draconian’ MIDA Act, urge Fiji media and journalism stakeholders
Asia Pacific Report: The Fiji government is signalling that it will not completely tear down the country’s controversial media law which, according to local newsrooms and journalism commentators, has stunted press freedom and development for more than a decade.
NEW ZEALAND: RNZ Targets NZ-Asian Audiences
Asia Media Centre: RNZ has announced it is hiring a team of journalists to produce news for the Chinese and Indian diaspora communities in New Zealand, with job ads already attracting attention.
ECPMF: Today, 27 March 2023, security guard Pal Kola, 60, was shot dead by unknown assailants on the premises of the leading national TV station Top Channel, where he was stationed in a booth outside the building. The heinous attack took place around one o’clock in the morning.
ARMENIA: Interview with Hovhannes Movsisyan, Director General of Armenia Public TV
EBU: Armenia Public TV’s Director General Hovhannes Movsisyan talks to our Head of Member Relations for Central and Eastern Europe Radka Betcheva.
AUSTRIA: “ORF contribution”: Director General Weißmann sees a “solidarity solution” – criticism of the private broadcasters (German)
Der Standard: ORF Director General Roland Weißmann welcomes the ORF funding that has been put on track by the black-green government: “An ORF contribution is a solidary solution for financing the ORF, which is used by 95 percent of all people in Austria”.
AUSTRIA: ORF Implements Bitmovin Player
IBC: Austria’s public broadcaster ORF has implemented the Bitmovin Player to allow it to stream content across a broad range of device types.
FRANCE: France Médias Monde is mobilizing on the occasion of the 34th Press and Media Week in the School (Press release – French)
France Médias Monde: Very committed throughout the year to Media and Information Education actions, the France Médias Monde group is mobilising, again this year, on the occasion of the Press and Media Week in the School organised from March 27 to April 1 by the CLEMI (Centre for Media and Information Education).
GERMANY: The German Journalists’ Association demands a higher broadcasting fee (German)
Welt: The German Association of Journalists (DJV) has appealed to the public broadcasters to take the inflation rate appropriately into account when registering their financial needs.
HUNGARY: Hungary public media opens bureau in Brussels
The Budapest Times: Hungary’s media service provider MTVA has opened a bureau in central Brussels to provide reporting about news and events involving Hungary, European political developments, European Union affairs and topics of public interest, MTVA’s press office said on Tuesday.
IRELAND: How the wealthy and powerful abuse legal system to silence reporting
IPI: Inside story of the impact on journalists in Ireland awaiting long-delayed SLAPPs reform
ITALY: Italy’s Govt is Attacking Media Freedom – But we Can Stop it (Opinion)
Balkan Insight: The police raid on my ‘Domani’ newspaper for an article about a member of her government has revealed the right-wing Meloni government’s true face – and its hostility to an independent media.
ITALY: “No Women No Panel – Without women we don’t talk about it” (Press release – Italian)
Rai: The “No Women No Panel – Without women we don’t talk about it” campaign is kicking off in Umbria, which aims to promote gender balance in panels and public events.
LITHUANIA: Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė, who is finishing her term, intends to participate in the LRT manager’s competition again (Lithuanian)
LRT: Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė, the outgoing head of the national broadcaster LRT, intends to participate in a new general director competition.
NETHERLANDS: Creating together with the blind and visually impaired (Press Release)
NOS: How do you stay informed of the latest news? Maybe you open a news app on your phone, watch the eight o’clock news at night or listen to the radio on your way to work. In any case, there is plenty of choice. But how do you do this if you have a visual impairment?
NETHERLANDS: Women journalists facing widespread online harassment
IPI: Despite positive initiatives, more action needed to tackle digital threats and harassment
POLAND: Government ramps up pressure on critical media as elections loom
IPI: Political attacks, regulatory investigations and bill to amplify state propaganda channels fire starting gun on pre-election pressure.
SPAIN: Appearance of Elena Sánchez Caballero in parliamentary commission: More than 10,000 people have already pre-registered in the RTVE competition call (Press release – Spanish)
RTVE: The interim president of RTVE and its Board of Directors, Elena Sánchez Caballero , has announced this Tuesday in the Senate that ” more than 10,000 people ” have already pre-registered in the different processes of the call for the coverage of staff jobs fixed in the Corporation and that the forecast is to reach 30,000 applications.
SWEDEN: High and stable trust in Swedish Radio (Press release – Swedish)
Swedish Radio: Confidence in Sweden’s Radio remains high and stable. In this year’s SOM survey, 72 percent of Swedes state that they have confidence in the content of Sveriges Radio.
SWEDEN: Therefore, SVT Nyheter closes the comments on Twitter (Press release – Swedish)
SVT: Contemptuous comments and bans often follow posts on Twitter. SVT Nyheter therefore closes the opportunity to comment. We prioritize presence on other platforms – primarily our own.
UK: Channel 4 launches period policy and partnership with WUKA
Channel 4: Channel 4 today announces the launch of its first ever period policy, alongside a brand-new partnership with pioneering sustainable period-proof underwear brand, WUKA.
UK: New, audience-focused BBC operating licence fit for digital future (Press release)
Ofcom: The changing needs of viewers and listeners and a demand for greater public accountability are enshrined in a new, modernised BBC operating licence announced by Ofcom today.
UK: Our single news channel operation (Press release)
BBC: At the beginning of next week we’ll start making the first changes to our news channels as we begin the single news channel operation. UK viewers of the BBC News Channel and overseas viewers of BBC World News will, from Monday 3 April, be tuning into BBC News.
UKRAINE: Reporters now barred from more than 50 municipalities in Ukraine
RSF: Journalists are now denied access to more than 50 municipalities in Ukraine for reporting purposes. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) regards these restrictions as excessive and calls for them to be lifted so that journalists can resume working normally.
REGIONAL: EBU Director General Noel Curran’s Welcome Address at Radiodays Europe
EBU
Cineuropa: Last week, the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) published a new report titled “Audiovisual Fiction Production in Europe – 2021 Figures”. The study, authored by Gilles Fontaine, focuses on the volume of TV/SVoD fiction films and series “produced in Europe, and of European origin according to main acting roles, the main commissioners and producers, and the crews of screenwriters and directors involved in their creation”.
BRAZIL: EBC denies connection with Janja and says that Lula was not the subject of a live on Women’s Day (Portuguese – Paywall)
Folha de S.Paulo: Company is sued by Rubinho Nunes (União); he claims that the first lady would have used the structure of TV Brasil to praise her husband’s ‘supposed goodness’.
Diario Financiero: The revenues of the public television channel increased 0.6% compared to the previous year.
COLOMBIA: RTVC News: two years connecting citizens with information from Colombia, its regions and the world (Press release – Spanish)
RTVC: In 2022 it was highlighted in the Digital News Report of the Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford, as the second medium in which Colombians trust the most.
COSTA RICA: ‘Scumbag press’: Costa Rica’s president employs populist rhetoric and uses institutions against journalism
LatAm Journalism Review: Often considered a haven of stability and democratic vigor in Central America, Costa Rica is not immune to contemporary forms of populism.
CUBA: The Cuban regional media want paid advertising and less “verticalism” (Spanish)
14ymedio: Although they want a change in editorial management, they also say that the press will continue to be governed by the political model of the Revolution.
ECUADOR: Ecuador officials have suspect in explosives sent to media
AP News: Authorities in Ecuador are investigating small explosives sent to journalists at several media outlets, one of which detonated but did not injure anyone, and they said Tuesday they have a suspect.
ECUADOR: Flash drive attacks in Ecuador: What did the journalists have in common? (Spanish)
RFI: In Ecuador, sending envelopes with explosives to the media is being investigated as a crime of terrorism. Up to five journalists received pen drives on Monday that were to explode when inserted into the computer. Only one of them worked, and there were no serious injuries in this new attack on press freedom.
CNN News: An investigative journalist who detailed allegations of sexual abuse and harassment against the former Haitian Football Federation (FHF) president is now facing a defamation lawsuit designed to gag him, his lawyer tells CNN Sport.
HONDURAS: Honduras registered 50 violations of freedom of expression and of the press in 2022 (Spanish)
Swissinfo: n Honduras, there were fifty violations of freedom of expression and of the press during 2022, including the murder of five people linked to the media, according to data released this Wednesday by the National Commissioner of Human Rights (CONADEH).
LatAm Journalism Review: This year’s Journalists’ Day will mark an important milestone: The presentation in the Paraguayan Congress of a bill for the safety of journalists. Organizations defending freedom of expression have been working on it for months, after several failed attempts to create legislation to provide protection to the journalistic profession.
IRAQ: My questions are turned into a weapon to kill me’: the deadly war against Iraq’s journalists
The Guardian: At least 282 journalists have been killed in Iraq in the past 20 years, with many only able to work in exile.
ISRAEL: Communications minister unveils plan to close TV watchdog, nix license requirement
The Times of Israel: Under Shlomo Karhi’s proposal, TV stations would no longer need a license to broadcast news, dozens of radio frequencies would be stripped from public broadcasters.
JORDAN: Freedom of the press in Jordan: Journalists and activists battle censorship
France 24: Following the return to state of emergency legislation imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the authorities issued new laws that can be used to silence journalists and citizens who dare to criticise the monarchy, this in a country often perceived as being one of the most moderate in the Middle East.
TURKEY: Turkey’s broadcasting watchdog fines 3 more stations for airing content critical of gov’t
SCF: Turkey’s broadcasting watchdog has imposed fines on three television stations for broadcasting content critical of the Turkish government, the T24 news website reported.
TURKEY: Turkish photojournalist charged with ‘insulting’ police over violent arrest at Pride march
The Independent: Thousands have been detained in Turkey since a crackdown after the attempted coup against Erdogan
TURKEY & GERMANY: Germany’s DW to Close Office in Turkey
VOA: Germany’s public broadcaster Deutsche Welle is set to close its Turkey office Tuesday after Ankara declined to extend its operating licence, a move condemned by media rights groups.
CBC/Radio-Canada: CBC/Radio-Canada will be the Canadian broadcast home of the Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and CBC/Radio-Canada announced on Wednesday.
CANADA: The history of the Hornby AM radio site, our oldest operational transmission site (Blog)
CBC/Radio-Canada: Did you know that one of our AM radio transmitter sites was also used as a possible bunker during the Cold War in the 1950s?Learn more about the Hornby AM radio site, located in Hornby, Ontario!
CANADA: The Press Council wants to appeal for donations to ensure its survival (French)
Le Devoir: Faced with growing financial difficulties, the Quebec Press Council (CPQ) is making a “major shift” by turning to public donations to ensure its survival and to deal with the growing number of complaints from citizens against the media.
CANADA: The words we choose (Editor’s Blog)
CBC News: Today we introduce a new feature of the editor’s blog as part of our ongoing efforts to increase transparency and understanding of our journalism. The “Standards Notebook” will take over this space on occasion to explain in greater detail some of the decisions we make around language, the application of our journalistic standards and practices and to answer common questions.
US: Georgia Senate approves $32.4B budget proposal with cuts to higher ed, GPB funding
Georgia Public Broadcasting: The Georgia Senate passed its version of next year’s $32.4 billion state budget Thursday that includes less money for teachers in higher education and slashes 26% of Georgia Public Broadcasting’s state funding.
US: In letter to staff, NPR CEO calls layoffs ‘gut-wrenching’ (Paywall)
Current: In addition to cutting 10% of its workforce, the network is eliminating more than 80 vacant positions.
US: Media Groups Warn Immigration Case Could Affect US Press Freedoms
VOA: The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear a case Monday that some First Amendment experts warn could affect how journalists cover immigration.
US: NPR cancels 4 podcasts amid major layoffs
NPR: NPR moved this week to cut 10% of its staff and stop production of a trio of acclaimed seasonal podcasts — Invisibilia, Louder Than a Riot and Rough Translation — as it seeks to close a yawning budget gap that stands in excess of $30 million.
US: Springfield public media company cuts 20% of its staff
WBUR News: Management at New England Public Media, an NPR and PBS affiliate in Western Mass., announced it is laying off roughly 20% of staff.
US: The FBI And DOJ Are Investigating ByteDance’s Use Of TikTok To Spy On Journalists
Forbes: The FBI and the Department of Justice are investigating the events that led TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to use the app to surveil American journalists, including this reporter, according to sources familiar with the departments’ actions.
Committing to media freedom ahead of Summit for Democracy
Article 19: Ahead of the Summit for Democracy 2023, more than 100 governments, businesses, and media support organisations are making official commitments to protecting media freedom worldwide.
Europe and Central Asia: Tackling the Erosion of Free Speech
Article 19: ARTICLE 19 is opening its new office in Amsterdam, strengthening our presence in Europe as we continue our work to promote and defend freedom of expression in Europe and Central Asia.
How journalists can use new visual techniques to create viral stories
ICFJ: Emojis, memes and gifs: you may text with them on a daily basis, but did you know you can also use them in your reporting to boost engagement? These newer forms of visual journalism can help amplify the truth and reach larger audiences in a media ecosystem today in which false information proliferates too easily.
Is ChatGPT a threat or an opportunity for journalism? Five AI experts weigh in
Reuters: Since OpenAI’s AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT was launched back in November, journalists have been discussing its potential impact on the news industry.
Martín Caparrós and journalism as a weapon to go out into the world (Spanish)
El País: Martín Caparrós assumed these days that receiving an award for his career implies, in a certain way, being called old.
Media Freedom Cohort Findings Report (Report)
IFEX: The Media Freedom Cohort – an international coalition established following the Summit for Democracy 2021, chaired by the Governments of Canada and the Netherlands, and facilitated by the international NGO Internews – have published their Findings Report, which includes commitments to protect media freedom worldwide from more than 100 governments, businesses, and media and civil society organisations.
Microsoft invests in the viability of newsrooms globally (Press release)
Microsoft: Today, Microsoft, USAID and Internews are announcing a new public-private partnership to develop a Media Viability Accelerator to help independent media outlets around the world become more financially sustainable through access to market insights and business solutions.
Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa discusses democracy and disinformation
The Observer: “Disinformatsia is like cocaine,” Maria Ressa said in this year’s Asia Leadership Forum, citing the former KGB chairman Yuri Andropov. “You take it once or twice, you’re okay. But if you take it all the time, you become a changed person. All of us on social media have become changed people because lies spread faster than facts right.
The Conversation: Since 2005, more than 2,500 local newspapers, most of them weeklies, have closed, with more closures on the way.
Solutions Journalism: Instead of Focusing on Problems, Focus on Fixes
VOA: In 2015, journalist Brie Zeltner investigated consequences of Cleveland, Ohio, having one of the highest child poverty rates in the United States. “One of the big impacts is infant deaths. We were looking at the rates of infant death across the city and then particularly in Black mothers, because there is a very big disparity between white infant deaths and Black infant deaths,” Zeltner told VOA.
Editor and Publisher: They’re not soldiers wielding swords, but they are warriors, wielding the pen and fighting with a particular brand of courage, commitment and tenacity. They are the journalists who gather the facts and report the truth about repressive governments, tyrants and dictators and unscrupulous corporations that would rather exploit than benefit their employees and communities.
The future of funding journalism
Editor and Publisher: Publishers report revenue diversification, philanthropy and public funding key to sustainability.
Tips for reporting on religion and why it matters
IJNet: The vast majority of people globally identify with a religious group. Religion may significantly dictate, influence and/or inform their behaviour and interactions with others, whether consciously or subconsciously. As a result, it is a necessary component for journalists to consider as they document and explain the world to readers.
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All PSM Weekly stories are provided for interest and their relevance to public service media issues, they do not necessarily reflect the views of the Public Media Alliance.
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Header image: An outdoor press conference with multiple cameras and journalists. Credit: Michael Fousert / Unsplash.com
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