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

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Podcast: A war correspondent covers the climate crisis

CJR: Kadir Van Lohuizen reports on the climate crisis with the same techniques he brought to his work as a war correspondent.

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Dignity & Resistance: The struggle against impunity in Colombia

IFEX: To mark Colombia’s 2020 Day of the Journalist, we worked with our local member FLIP (Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa) to co-produce a short video about the crucial role played by journalists in defending freedom of expression and the right to information.

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GAMBIA: Anxiety in The Gambia Heightens as Barrow Reneges on Press Freedom Promise

MFWA: When Adama Barrow was inaugurated as president of The Gambia on February 18, 2020, it signalled a new dawn for its people after the 22-year rule of Yahya Jammeh, the former president with alleged ties to corrupt practices, including press freedom violations.


GHANA: Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament’s Threat to Bar Media from Covering Parliament Worrying

MFWA: The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) denounces the threat by Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, to ban journalists from covering  proceedings in the Parliament House, and calls on him to withdraw.


GHANA: Govt Calls For Broadcast Media Sector To Promote Cultural Values

Via Broadcast Media Africa: Ghana’s broadcast media sector has been urged to promote the nation’s cultural values over foreign ones because Ghanaian cultural values keep fading, as more citizens embrace foreign cultural practices, according to Mr Pius Enam Hadzide, Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Information.


MOZAMBIQUE: Rising attacks against journalists for reporting about the conflict in north Mozambique

Global Voices: The Mozambican state has been unable to stop the extremist attacks that have plagued the northern province of Cabo Delgado for more than two years already. In addition, there has been an increasing number of threats made against journalists who are covering the issue.


NAMIBIA: NBC management appears before Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts

NBC News: The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) management, lead by the Director-General (DG) Stanley Similo appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts this morning. NBC has obtained an adverse audit opinion from the Auditor-General (AG).


SOMALIA: Somali journalists speak up against proposed draconian media law

RFI: Journalists in Somalia are demanding that a draconian media law recently passed by the parliament’s Upper House not be signed into law by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, as it risks turning back the progress made in the fight for freedom of expression in the country.


SOUTH AFRICA: SABC board realised Hlaudi was ‘a dangerous man’ but their hands were tied, inquiry hears

News 24: The commission of inquiry into state capture has heard that there were two camps with differing views on the infamous SABC and MultiChoice agreement, which scored the public broadcaster R500m.


SOUTH AFRICA: SABC expects ZAR 1.1 bln remaining bail-out by end-March

Telecompaper: The South African Broadcasting Corporation is expected to receive the remaining ZAR 1.1 billion of its ZAR 3.2 billion bail-out by the end of next month, the National Treasury said, according to SANews reported.


TANZANIA: Journalist’s Imprisonment Highlights Free Press Erosion

Voice of America: Advocacy groups are asking questions about the future of Tanzania’s press freedom after the recent release from prison of a prominent Tanzanian journalist


TOGO: Togo Elections Pass Safety of Journalists’ Test, Fails That of Internet Rights

MFWA 


ZIMBABWE: ZBC appeals for Govt funding

The Herald: Government should restore grants that used to be extended to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) if the entity is to effectively discharge its public broadcaster mandate, legislators heard yesterday.

CHINA: China steps up visa threats against foreign reporters: Media group

The Straits Times: The Chinese government is threatening to remove visas from journalists as a weapon to intimidate foreign media “like never before”, a press group said on Monday (March 2), following the expulsion of three reporters last month.


CHINA: China Vows to Retaliate Against US Over Limits on Chinese State Media Personnel

Voice of America:  China is threatening to retaliate against the United States over its decision to limit the number of state media personnel allowed to work in the U.S.  


CHINA: Chinese journalist Chen Qiushi tops ‘10 Most Urgent’ list of press freedom cases (Paywall) 

Boston Globe: The One Free Press Coalition, a united group of pre-eminent editors and publishers using their global reach and social platforms to spotlight journalists under attack worldwide, issued its 13th “10 Most Urgent” list of journalists whose press freedoms are being suppressed or whose cases are seeking justice. Chinese journalist Chen Qiushi is at the top of the list


HONG KONG: Hong Kong Journalists Hit Out at Police After Weekend of Renewed Protests

Radio Free Asia: Journalists in Hong Kong have once more hit out at the city’s police force for their treatment of journalists during the ongoing protest movement that began as mass opposition to extradition to mainland China last June, and widened into calls for more democracy and accountability.


HONG KONG: Hong Kong police arrest pro-democracy media founder Jimmy Lai over illegal assembly

CPJ: Hong Kong police arrested Jimmy Lai , founder of Next Media Limited at his home on February 28 on suspicion of participating in illegal assembly and criminal intimidation, according to news reports. Next Media Limited owns the widely circulated pro-democracy Chinese-language newspaper Apple Daily.


INDIA: Latest Self-Regulation Code for Streaming Services in India Raises Troubling Questions (Opinion) 

The Wire: Not only does the new draft make the grounds for censorship vaguer, such codified structures essentially provide the government a parallel avenue to apply pressure on businesses to censor people’s views and beliefs.


INDIA: Newspaper Editorials Condemn Delhi Police, Worry About India’s International Image 

The Wire: As the Delhi riots continued in the northeast part of the city and resulted in the death of at least 20 people, the leading dailies came out with their stance on the issue on Wednesday morning. Multiple newspapers used editorials to make their point of view clear.


INDONESIA: AJI Says Govt Can Intervene Press via Omnibus Law

Tempo: The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) continued voicing its objection against the draft of the omnibus law on job creation set by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. To AJI, the bill tried to restore the government’s control over the press as it did during the New Order era.


JAPAN: NHK executive chairman criticizes program production, does it interfere with news coverage? (Japanese – Paywall)

Asahi Shimbun: Over the NHK’s “Close-up Gendai+” reporting on the issue of illegal sales of Japan Post Insurance, the NHK Management Committee gave a serious warning to then-Chairman Ryoichi Ueda in October 2018. It turned out that Shunzo Morishita, the acting chairman at that time, and others criticized the production method of the program at the meeting of the Management Committee. It was found out from interviews with related parties. It is suspected more that ‘serious warning’ corresponds to the interference to individual programs, which is prohibited by the Broadcasting Law.


JAPAN: NHK’s Internet simultaneous distribution has started: The challenge of receiving license reform (Japanese – Paywall)

Asahi Shimbun: NHK’s new Internet distribution service “NHK Plus” started on the 1st March. (…)  Application on the Internet started on this day, but the reception was temporarily stopped due to excessive concentration. It is a big move to spread program viewing habits from television only to the Internet, and there is a possibility that simultaneous broadcasting and private broadcasting will follow. On the other hand, NHK itself is waiting for the challenge of reforming the reception fee system in the Internet age.


JAPAN: NHK kicks off internet-based simulcast service 

The Japan Times: NHK started on Sunday simultaneous broadcasting of its television programs on the internet. The simulcast service, dubbed “NHK plus,” will be offered 17 hours a day from 7 a.m. to midnight in March, before expanding to 18 hours a day from 6 a.m. to midnight in April.


MALAYSIA: Msia’s reform commitment should continue with new leadership

The Malaysian Reserve: The appointment of the eighth Prime Minister (PM) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to be greeted mainly by the public’s pressure for the new administration to uphold its integrity, while continuing the country’s reform agenda with impartiality. Among the reform measures are limiting the PM’s tenure to two terms, as well as reviewing the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Sedition Act, along with the Prevention of Crime Act and the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act.


NEPAL: Civil liberty group calls for more changes in proposed Media Council Bill

The Kathmandu Post: In a statement, Freedom Forum has welcomed recent changes but points out a number of provisions that could jeopardise freedom of expression in the country.


PAKISTAN: Pakistan government suspends advertising in 2 independent media groups

CPJ: Since January, the country’s federal government and the provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab have suspended the normal practice of placing advertisements with the two independent media groups, according a report by Dawn and a statement from the All Pakistan Newspapers Society, a private organization representing publishers.


PHILIPPINES: New law gives ‘more teeth’ in anti-terror fight but lacks safeguards 

Pacific Media Watch: So it goes. Nineteen senators in the Philippines Senate have approved on the third and final reading of Senate Bill (SB) 1083 this week, effectively giving more teeth to the Human Security Act of 2007, which was a watered down version of the 1996 Anti-Terror Act of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.


PHILIPPINES: Philippine media groups celebrate as tech companies accused of cyber attacks pledge to promote press freedom

Global Voices: Several Philippine media groups settled a case with tech companies accused of providing infrastructure for cyberattacks. The companies have signed an agreement that includes a pledge to protect press freedom.


PHILIPPINES: ‘Silent majority’ in House favors ABS-CBN franchise renewal – Atienza

Rappler: Buhay party list representative Lito Atienza claimed that a “silent majority” in the House of Representatives is actually in favor of renewing the franchise of broadcast network ABS-CBN. In a statement on Sunday, March 1, Atienza said that many in this “silent majority” are not publicly vocal about their support and are “unwilling to speak out because they fear reprisals from the House leadership.”

AUSTRALIA: AAP to close after wire service tells staff it is no longer viable

The Guardian: The news agency Australian Associated Press will close in June after major shareholders Nine Entertainment and News Corp Australia said the 85-year-old institution was unsustainable.


AUSTRALIA: Bushfires add $3m to ABC emergency broadcasting costs as Coalition cuts funding

The Guardian: ABC boss says $105.9m annual budget cut will put ‘an extraordinary strain on our ability to meet community expectations’


AUSTRALIA: The ABC couldn’t litigate its way to law reform. Inside the appeal against the AFP raids

ABC News: It ended in a difficult meeting at Ultimo in Sydney between lawyers and ABC senior managers.


AUSTRALIA: The ABC warrant case shows the system is broken

MEAA: The ABC’s decision today to end the appeal process against the warrant used to raid its offices demonstrates that the system is broken. MEAA says the only way to fix it is to change the law to protect public interest journalism and whistleblowers.


AUSTRALIA: ABC Managing Director David Anderson makes the opening statement to Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee (Statement)

ABC Media Centre 


NEW ZEALAND: RNZ Board Welcomes FM Frequency Opportunity (Statement)

RNZ: The Board of RNZ today [17 February] welcomed the Government’s decision to look at freeing up an additional FM transmission frequency and to explore funding options for a multimedia music brand.


NEW ZEALAND: TVNZ’s gender pay gap revealed (Listen)

RNZ: Dr Kaisa Wilson joins The Panel to talk about the gender pay gap at TVNZ, which the organisation tried to hide. Figures showed that male presenters at TVNZ earn an average of 40K more a year than their female counterparts.


NEW ZEALAND: Whistleblowing law keeps media out of the loop (Listen)

RNZ: Some huge issues of public interest have been revealed down the years by employees tipping off reporters. Major wrongs have been righted by the media applying the fabled ‘disinfectant of sunlight’. But a review of the law to shield whistleblowers won’t protect anyone who lifts the lid with the media. 


NIUE: Climate change research aims to give back Pacific’s ‘sustainable voice’

Pacific Media Centre: A University of Waikato researcher says some of the current colonial representations of climate change in the Pacific are obscuring Pacific voices and failing to recognise the importance of Indigenous knowledge in the fight against the changing climate.

FINLAND: Biggest collective agreement achieved for the press

EFJ: The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes the adoption of the biggest collective agreement in Finland with Finnmedia, the body that represents the media industry in Finland, negotiated by the Union of Journalists in Finland (UJF). It will cover print newspapers, magazines, all web services and news agencies. The agreement is valid until 31 May 2022.


FRANCE: Radio France – Gender Equality Index 2019 (French)

Radio France: Radio France posts a clearly increasing result with an index of 93/100. As a public service company which reaches more than 15 million French people every day, Radio France is particularly attentive to respecting professional equality between women and men. It is committed to a process of continuous improvement in this area. 


GERMANY: ARD wants to stick to extended “daily topics” (German)

Deutschlandfunk: The ARD has defended itself against criticism from ZDF about the planned extension of the “daily topics”. You want to “give your viewers the best possible information,” said ARD editor-in-chief Rainald Becker in Dlf. In addition, ZDF had acted similarly in the past.


GREECE: Greek public broadcaster censors reports from islands about new migrant camps

RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns Greek public TV and radio broadcaster ERT’s censorship of reporting from islands where a new influx of migrants and the creation of new migrant camps has triggered protests. Coverage of such a crucial subject clearly serves the public interest, RSF said.


GREECE: “Violence against journalists in Greece is not a new phenomenon” (Listen – German)

Deutschlandfunk: Journalists have been attacked in the Greek-Turkish border region. “It’s just dangerous, you just have to say that,” said Panajotis Gavrilis about the situation on site. The situation on the island of Lesbos is particularly threatening.


HUNGARY: Oiling Orbán’s Propaganda Machine

OCCRP: An influential cheerleader for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has pumped over 3.2 million euros into his North Macedonian media network under the guise of questionable advertising purchases.


ICELAND: New director general takes the helm at RÚV

IBC: Stefán Eiríksson has this week taken over as director general of Icelandic public service broadcaster RÚV. He will now lead all RÚV content creation and is in charge of the day-to-day running of the national broadcaster, which said it received 41 applications for the role of DG.


IRELAND: Talks between RTÉ management, unions adjourned for week

RTÉ: Talks between RTÉ management and the RTÉ Trade Union Group over cost savings have been adjourned for a week at the request of management. In a joint statement, the two sides said that while some progress had been made, a number of issues remain to be resolved.


ITALY: Coronavirus, the dedicated programming (Italian)

Rai: Rai in the forefront with a program that involves all the networks to be at the service of citizens. Starting with the commercial with the Ministry of Health broadcast on all networks, with a decalogue on what to do to reduce the risks of infection and what measures to take in case of suspected illness. In this regard, the Company has set up a real internal task force with editorial and managerial coordination functions.


MOLDOVA: Moldova Law Change May Silence Most Western TV Channels

Balkan Insight: Businesses have condemned the adoption of an amendment to the code of audiovisual media services, which may mean Moldova can no longer rebroadcast most international TV Channels.


MONTENEGRO: SAPC on freedom of media in Montenegro: Attacks on journalists must be investigated

Safe Journalists: Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC) strongly condemned all types of attacks against and intimidation of journalists that should be effectively investigated and prosecuted as a matter of priority, especially when prosecution risks becoming time-barred.


NETHERLANDS: Dutch regulator opens applications for local DAB+ licences

Telecompaper: Dutch spectrum regulator Agentschap Telecom said local public or commercial broadcasters will be able to apply for licenses for local digital radio broadcasting (DAB +) from 10 March.


NORWAY & SWEDEN: Maybe publisher cooperation is a path forward for news, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of public media (Opinion)

Nieman Lab: In Norway and Sweden, a survey finds some people won’t pay for online news because the news from their free public broadcaster is good enough. That’s a feature, not a bug.


POLAND: TVP eyes documentary channel

Broadband TV News: The Polish public broadcaster TVP is revisiting the idea of launching a documentary channel.


SLOVENIA: New threats and attacks prompt a toxic environment for journalists in Slovenia

EFJ: A number of journalists reporting about alleged funding from Hungary of media close to the right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) has been facing attacks and threats to their life. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the Slovene Association of Journalists (DNS) in condemning in the strongest terms the “intensive attacks” and calling on the authorities to guarantee a safe environment for journalists. 


SPAIN: Pre-agreement for the signing of the III Collective Agreement of the RTVE Corporation (Spanish)

RTVE: The RTVE management and the majority of the social part have reached an agreement today for the signing of the III RTVE Collective Agreement. This agreement, the result of the effort carried out by the management of the company and the unions, will be very positive both for the interests of the RTVE Corporation and for the workers that make it up.


SPAIN: Spain urged to repeal gag law, complete state TV and radio reform, and stop obstructing reporters

RSF: As Spain’s new coalition government – formed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist Party (PSOE) and the left-wing party Podemos – begins implementing its first measures, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on it to urgently address years-old threats to press freedom in Spain.


SWEDEN: Now we are improving P2’s digital offering (Swedish – blog)

Sveriges Radio: Our vision is that P2 will be the largest public radio channel and the most important digital offering for classical music in Sweden. Now we are making a number of long-awaited improvements in our digital offering to take a few steps closer to the goal.


UK: The BBC has challenges but provides services the public values (Opinion)

The National


UK: The BBC is under scrutiny. Here’s what research tells us about its role in the UK

RISJ: The BBC is the most widely used source of news in the UK. It has lower reach among the young and the less formally educated


UK: UK public broadcasting under attack as BBC faces funding cuts (Listen) 

ABC: We discussed earlier the Home Affairs suggestion of a new committee to rule on police raids against journalists – it’s just part of the global struggle to protect the media’s right to keep governments honest. In the UK, the battle between government and accountability journalism is even more overt. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has dangled the prospect of weakening or scrapping its main funding source, the $7 billion television licence fee.


UK: Young viewers watching public service broadcasters less, say Ofcom

BBC News: Young people are watching public service broadcasters less, according to a report by Ofcom. The media watchdog published the results of its five-year review of public sector broadcasting on Thursday.


UKRAINE: New Ukraine media bills threaten press freedom

IPI: Despite assurances made by Ukraine’s recently elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to guarantee press freedom, this January the country’s culture minister introduced two bills that would seriously threaten it.


UKRAINE: The Work of the Ukrainian Public Broadcaster UA: PBC Blocked, all Accounts Arrested.

Council of Europe:


GENERAL: Rapid response mechanism marks a new start for press freedom

ECPMF: ECPMF and partners start Rapid Response Mechanism to support journalists under threat/ European Commission Co-funds the programme with 1.4 Million Euro


GENERAL: Resetting the relationship between police and press: new guidelines

EJO: The relationship between journalists and the police is a complex one. Although these two institutions should be able to cooperate in the interests of the public, relations between them are frequently tense and occasionally even descend into violence. In an effort to improve this situation, several bodies devoted to defending freedom of expression in Europe recently drew up the first code of conduct setting out guidelines for the police on how to interact with journalists. Sofia Verza takes a look at this “Press Freedom Police Codex”.

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: Premier stands by law denounced by free-speech groups

The BVI Beacon: Premier Andrew Fahie doubled down on his support for a controversial new cybercrime amendment this week, responding to criticisms from free-speech advocates for the first time since the law took effect on Feb. 12.


COLOMBIA: Journalists seek justice as attacks continue in Colombia (Watch)

Global Voices: Colombia is infamously known for the dire situation of its human rights defenders. For example, in 2019, more than 107 activists were killed. But the violent consequences of investigating corruption and other abuses also trickles down to journalists.


HAITI: Haitian outlet Radio Télévision Caraïbes targeted with arson attack during police protest

CPJ: On the afternoon of February 23, a group of masked individuals armed with guns claiming to be members of the Haitian National Police attacked the premises of Radio Télévision Caraïbes, a privately owned radio and television outlet, in Port-au-Prince…


NICARAGUA: Ortega Government Lifts Blockade Against La Prensa

Q Costa Rica: Earlier this month, the government of Daniel Ortega lifted the blockade of paper and ink, which has held illegally in the warehouses of the General Directorate of Customs (DGA) for more than a year, that was preventing Nicaragua’s oldest and most renowned newspaper, La Prensa, from normal publishing.


PERU: Journalist Daysi Lizeth Mina Huamán missing in Peru

CPJ: Daysi Mina, a reporter for the television broadcaster Cable VRAEM in the central Peruvian city of Ayacucho, has been missing since January 26, according to news reports


REGIONAL: Call for Entries – 2019 CBU Caribbean Media Awards (Opportunity)

CBU: The Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) is pleased to announce the call for entries for the 2019 Caribbean Media Awards (CMA).


REGIONAL: Coronavirus fact-checking collaboration brings together 91 organisations in 40 countries and may be the largest in history

Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas: A global collaboration project between fact-checking organizations is working to disprove rumors and combat disinformation about the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus epidemic. 

IRAN: Iran concealing coronavirus figures, blocking independent reporting

RSF: According to Iranian official reports today, the coronavirus epidemic has killed 15 people and infected a total of 95 in the Islamic Republic, which seems to be concealing information about the epidemic in line with China’s example. 


IRAN: To cement internet control, Iran helps journalists get online

CPJ: In early 2020, a journalist in Iran received a form from Iran’s National E-commerce Union, a nominally independent group that is close to the government, requesting their name, the news website they work for, and their IP address. “With all due respect,” it read, “provide the following information to prevent any potential problem during future internet shutdowns.” 


IRAQ: Human rights, press freedom in Kurdistan Region “needs more attention”: US Consul General

RUDAW: At the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) first advocacy forum, held at Erbil’s Saad Abdullah Hall, Erbil’s US Consul General Steve Fagin told a forum audience that the  human rights situation in the Kurdistan Region “needs more attention,” drawing particular attention to “deteriorating” press freedoms. 


PALESTINE: Israeli forces shot a Palestinian journalist in the leg. He got no compensation

Vox News: A Palestinian journalist shot in the leg by Israeli forces will receive no compensation for the injury, continuing a worrying trend of the Jewish state’s military facing no consequences for harming Palestinian reporters. 


TURKEY: Detained During News Follow-up at Border, Journalist İdris Sayılğan Arrested

Bianet: Detained in Pazarkule in Turkey’s northwestern province of Edirne on February 29 while reporting on the situation of refugees heading towards the border with Greece, Mezopotamya Agency reporter İdris Sayılğan has been arrested. While the court has ruled for the release of Naci Kaya, he is still held in custody upon the instruction of Edirne Public Prosecutor.


TURKEY: IPI calls on Turkey to stop harassing media amid threats and detention of journalists

IPI: The International Press Institute (IPI), today called on Turkey’s authorities to cease harassment of media and to ensure the safety of journalists following the detention of eight journalists over the weekend including four Sputnik News journalists on Sunday, March 1.


TURKEY: Journalists covering refugee movements in Turkey detained, jailed

CPJ: On February 29, Turkish gendarme detained at least four journalists in the country’s western Edirne province, who were covering refugees moving through the country from Syria. 

CANADA: Canadian police arrest American journalist covering indigenous protest

RSF: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested American documentary filmmaker Melissa Cox on February 24 in New Hazelton, British Columbia, where Cox was filming Wet’suwet’en First Nation land defenders’ ongoing efforts to resist a gas pipeline from being constructed through their territory. 


CANADA: CBC/Radio-Canada’s third 2019–2020 quarterly report now available online

CBC/Radio-Canada: Financial Report for the Third Quarter Ended December 31, 2019.


CANADA: Head of CBC News Jennifer McGuire leaving CBC as part of leadership restructuring

CBC/Radio-Canada: CBC’s editor-in-chief of news, Jennifer McGuire, is stepping down after more than a decade in the role and leaving CBC at the end of this week, the public broadcaster announced Thursday.


CANADA: Heritage Minister looks to tax Netflix, Facebook within the year

iPolitics: Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault is appearing confident that large, foreign corporations operating in the digital realm like Netflix and Facebook will soon be paying sales taxes in Canada.


US: After 50 years, NPR upholds public broadcasting’s founding values (Opinion) 

Current: As NPR’s Articles of Incorporation approach their 50th anniversary Wednesday, it’s worth asking: How has NPR carved out a spot on our nation’s airwaves, and why is noncommercial media important?


US: How Oregon Public Broadcasting Takes A Members-First Approach To Notifications

Ad Exchanger: As ad-supported local news struggles, member-supported Oregon Public Broadcasting is expanding.


US: Most say journalists should be watchdogs, but views of how well they fill this role vary by party, media diet

Pew Research Center: Nearly three out of four U.S. adults (73%) say that, in general, it’s important for journalists to function as watchdogs over elected officials. But that broad consensus shatters when the public is asked how journalists are currently performing that watchdog role. 


US: Public Media Salutes Trailblazing Women During Women’s History Month 

CPB: From its beginnings, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has supported public media content celebrating the life and stories of women making significant contributions to our society.  Through compelling storytelling and innovative community engagement activities, public media stations and producers uplift women’s voices and their important role in American life. 


US: US to limit visas at Chinese state media outlets, forcing dozens to leave

CPJ: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement today that the United States would limit the number of visas available for Chinese journalists working at five designated media organizations. The outlets–Xinhua, CGTN, China Radio, China Daily, and The People’s Daily–will be limited to 100 visas in total, according to news reports

Amnesty Media Awards 2020 finalists announced

Amnesty International: Amnesty International UK has today revealed the finalists for the Amnesty Media Awards 2020, a prestigious set of awards now in its 28th year. 


Cancellation of the 2020 International Journalism Festival

Journalism Festival: We announce the cancellation of the 2020 International Journalism Festival due to the public health risks caused by COVID-19.


Covering protests: Staying safe to tell the story (Listen)

WAN-IFRA: Protests have become more frequent, and more violent, around the world. Covering them has become increasingly dangerous for journalists, and has required new ways of thinking and acting.


IFJ urges media to report responsibly on Coronavirus crisis

IFJ: As the media coverage of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak dominates media all over the world, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has urged media to report responsibly and avoid creating any unjustified panic that could worsen the situation.


Media Faces Challenges in Covering Coronavirus Outbreak

VoA: Covering the coronavirus story requires careful navigation and constant attention.


Media: Watching The Watchdog

Dawn: In the past five years, a growing trend has emerged of autocratic governments around the world using sophisticated spyware tools purchased from private Western companies, to snoop on journalists.


These Are the 10 ‘Most Urgent’ Threats to Press Freedom in March 2020

TIME: When Chinese authorities announced a lockdown on the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late January in an attempt to halt the spread of a deadly virus, millions of people fled the city, eager to escape before the enforced quarantine began.


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