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.
Every week, PMA compiles all the latest news from the public media and media freedom industry. Have a story to feature? Get in touch!
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What we're watching...
A look at the history of public media in the U.S. as Republicans target federal funding
PBS: President Trump voiced his support for defunding America’s public broadcasters. It comes a day before the heads of PBS and NPR testify before a House subcommittee. The hearing will examine public media with calls for federal funding cuts growing louder.
What we're listening to...
Technology, Democracy, and Power: Journalism’s Role in a Time of Crisis
TechPolicy.press: On Tuesday, March 25th, Tech Policy Press hosted a webinar discussion to talk shop with others on the tech and democracy beat. We gathered seven colleagues from around the world to explore how tech journalists are grappling with the current political moment in the United States and beyond.
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Global Headlines
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BURKINA FASO: 3 journalists arrested, HRW denounces media repression
AfricaNews: Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta has arrested three prominent journalists, intensifying its crackdown on media freedom in the West African country, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Thursday.
CAMEROON: CRTV under Charles Ndongo: internal crisis, abuses and threats of strike :: CAMEROON (French)
Camer: Since Charles Ndongo took over as head of CRTV, a climate of discontent and tension has taken hold within the company. Staff, faced with precarious working conditions, are denouncing abuses of power , opaque recruitment, and a lack of transparency in resource management.
GHANA: NMC Reaffirms Renewal of GBC Director-General’s Appointment
GBC: The National Media Commission (NMC) has reaffirmed the renewal of Prof. Amin Alhassan’s appointment as the Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
KENYA: High Court calls out Broadcasting PS for monopolising govt adverts
The Standard: The High Court in Nairobi has called out Principal Secretary, State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Edward Kisiang’ani for limiting private media players from accessing government advertisements.
KENYA: Sacked KBC finance boss loses pay bid in legal battle
Business Daily
MOZAMBIQUE: CPJ urges Mozambican president to uphold media freedom
CPJ: In a letter, the Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Mozambique’s President Daniel Francisco Chapo to take decisive steps to ensure that the media can operate without fear of reprisal.
NAMIBIA: IPPR: Fake news ‘burning’ Namibia
New Era: The Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham Hopwood said deep fakes and voice cloning generated with artificial intelligence as well as topics like immigration, race, gender and nationalism are exacerbated by disinformation.
SENEGAL: The rise of Senegalese television series faces the challenge of sustainability (French)
The Conversation: The first Senegalese initiative in the production of television series, broadcast by the Senegalese Radio and Television Office (ORTS, now RTS), dates back to 1992…
SOUTH AFRICA: Ntshavheni says SA’s digital migration has to be concluded as analogue switch-off deadline halted
The Citizen: South Africa’s analogue switch-off process has hit another snag after the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria suspended the latest deadline.
SOUTH AFRICA: Urgent ‘all-inclusive’ digital TV switch-over date required
ITWeb: arliament’s communications committee chairperson is concerned about the “exorbitant cost” to maintain the analogue network in SA’s stalled digital migration.
SUDAN: Sudan war leaves 90% of media infrastructure in ruins
Dabanga Sudan: As the Sudanese Armed Forces have slowly regained control over much of Khartoum over the past days, reports are confirming that at least 90 per cent of media, including TV, radio, and neswpaper facilities have been completely destroyed during the hostilities, while looters have stripped any usable equipment and assets in the city that has always been Sudan’s main media hub.
UGANDA: Troubling crackdown on Ugandan journalists ahead of 2026 elections
CPJ: After two weeks of attacks by masked anti-terrorism agents, police, and soldiers on Ugandan journalists covering an upcoming by-election, voting day proved even worse — forcing three major media houses to pull their reporters from the day’s top story.
ZIMBABWE: Independent newsrooms launch journalism fund
Newsday: TEN independent news organisations have joined forces to establish the Zimbabwe Independent Journalism Fund (ZIJF) in a ground-breaking initiative aimed at addressing the long-standing sustainability crisis facing the country’s media landscape.
ZIMBABWE: Zim, Russia strengthen media cooperation
The Herald: The Russia Federation has expressed its commitment to enhancing cooperation with Zimbabwe in the media sector.
REGIONAL: RFI and France 24 still top the ratings in French-speaking Africa (Press release – French)
France Media Monde: In 2024, RFI and France 24 are confirming their success in terms of broadcast and digital audiences in French-speaking African countries and their positions at the top of the rankings according to the ‘Africascope 2024’ study, carried out by Kantar in Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Senegal*.
BRUNEI: Court acquits ex-RTB officials in graft case
Borneo Bulletin: Two former senior officials from Radio Television Brunei (RTB), Haji Muhammad Suffian bin Haji Bungsu and Jonathan Kho Chew Sen, were acquitted of all charges related to the purchase of a luxury car valued at BND66,800.
INDIA: Digital media surpasses television in India’s Media Revenue in 2024!
NewsKarnataka
INDONESIA: A pig’s head and decapitated rats: a new era of intimidation dawns for journalists in Indonesia
The Guardian: Grisly gifts a worrying turn for press freedom in world’s third-largest democracy.
INDONESIA: Press Freedom and Democracy in Indonesia: Is the Constitution Still on Their Side?
Modern Diplomacy: The Indonesian journalism community has once again been shaken by an act of terror targeting a media office.
MALAYSIA: Malaysia is Said to Push Ahead With Law Expanding Curbs on Media (Paywall)
Bloomberg
MONGOLIA: RSF condemns arbitrary police operation against independent media outlet “Noorog”
IFEX: Staff members of independent media outlet “Noorog” were interrogated by authorities for allegedly undermining “national unity” over a planned documentary on the 2024 election.
MYANMAR: How Myanmar obstructing outside world to grasp full impact of earthquake?
Ground Report: A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, causing massive destruction. The military govt is restricting information, limiting media access, blocking international aid. Survivors struggle with collapsed buildings, poor infrastructure, & ongoing conflict.
MYANMAR: Myanmar junta bans foreign journalists from covering earthquake aftermath
Mizzima: The Myanmar Military Council has prohibited foreign journalists from reporting on the recent earthquake, citing security concerns.
NEPAL: Classical music event being held on the occasion of 75th anniversary of Radio Nepal
Radio Nepal Online: A special classical music event is being held today on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of public service broadcasting, Radio Nepal.
SINGAPORE: RHB Singapore banks new television partnership with Mediacorp
Marketing Interactive: The partnership marks RHB’s foray into television sponsorship while supporting a local production centred around Singapore’s Peranakan heritage.
SOUTH KOREA: KBS Wildfire Special Live Broadcast Urgently Organized Amid Criticism of ‘Insufficient Disaster Broadcasting’ (Korean)
MediaToday: Amid criticism that major broadcasters, including the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), the main broadcaster responsible for disaster relief, are not properly reporting on the large-scale forest fire disaster, KBS has urgently organized a special live broadcast to discuss forest fire recovery measures and prevention of recurrence.
SOUTH KOREA: “Wildfire hits, but regular broadcasting… KBS’s disaster reporting is the problem” (Korean)
Donga: As the damage from the forest fires continues to grow, viewers are increasingly criticizing the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), the “disaster broadcaster,” for its poor disaster broadcasting.
TAIWAN: Rti co-hosts symposium celebrating 15 years of growing ties between Taiwan and Japan
Rti: To mark its 15th anniversary, the Taiwan Society of Japan Studies (TSJS) co-hosted a celebratory forum and symposium on Taiwan-Japan relations with Radio Taiwan International (Rti) on Thursday.
THAILAND: PM unhappy with slow earthquake alerts, demands answers
Thai PBS: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is disappointed with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (PDPMD) for their tardiness in alerting the public via the SMS system about yesterday’s earthquake.
TIBET: Voice of America, Radio Free Asia shut down operations in Himachal’s Dharamsala
The Tribune: These US-government-funded media outlets served as vital sources of information regarding the state of Tibetans in Tibet for Tibetan media outlets in exile
REGIONAL: Trump’s Gutting of RFA Hurts Press Freedom – And Helps Its Opponents – Across Asia (Opinion)
The Diplomat: RFA and VOA had been the most accessible alternatives to state media for many people in countries like China and North Korea. Not anymore.
AUSTRALIA: Australia Votes 2025 – Your Vote Your Say. The ABC puts the audience first in election coverage (Press release)
ABC: “During this federal election campaign ABC NEWS will harness our unmatched network of reporters and radio programs in 67 locations across Australia to find out what really matters to voters,” says Justin Stevens, ABC Director, NEWS.
AUSTRALIA: Australians deserve broadcast policy for the 21st century (Comment article)
Kashmir Times: Media policy needs reform, not tinkering, to prioritise Australian interests and voices over the commercial needs of broadcasters and streaming giants.
AUSTRALIA: Ready, set, ‘Party Time!’ SBS News empowers young voters with a new political podcast (Press release)
SBS: With the 2025 Federal Election set for 3 May and the finish line in sight, there’s still plenty to unpack before young voters step into the polling booths—possibly for the first time. Enter SBS News journalists Elfy Scott and Rania Yallop, hosts and guides to all things federal politics, explaining what to expect, what to look out for, and all the key issues shaping this election season in SBS’s new political podcast—Party Time.
AUSTRALIA: SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages (Press release)
SBS: As Australia heads to the polls on 3 May, Australia’s most trusted news brand* SBS is offering all Australians a single gateway to the latest Federal Election news and information in over 60 languages.
AUSTRALIA: triple j starts their 50th year strong (Press release)
ABC: As triple j ushers in their 50th year, they have demonstrated age is only a number by delivering strong results in GfK Survey 1 released today.
FIJI: Beyond reporting, media as a force for national unity (Opinion)
The Fiji Times: How have media shaped narratives around ethnicity and what is the impact on social cohesion?
The Australia Today: Besides training and research, the discussions focused on joint projects, organising events such as World Press Freedom Day, joint workshops, conferences, and support for the Fiji National Media Awards.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: PNG Media Council calls for greater transparency over social media control testing
RNZ: The Papua New Guinea Media Council says there needs to be more transparency from government agencies when it comes to free speech and freedom of expression.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: PNG ‘test ban’ blocks Facebook – governor Bird warns of tyranny risk
Asia Pacific Report: The Papua New Guinea government has admitted to using a technology that it says was “successfully tested” to block social media platforms, particularly Facebook, for much of the day yesterday.
VANUATU: Vanuatu: Government backlash on reporting violates respect for independent journalism (Press release)
IFJ: Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat launched a public rebuke on March 25 criticising the work of the media team behind an investigative report that questioned public building standards in the island nation. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on the government to respect local and international media independence and remind it of the media’s right and duty to report on stories in the public interest.
AUSTRIA: ORF revenue from contributions limited to 710 million euros per year until 2029 (Paywall – German)
Der Standard: This means around 100 million euros in additional savings according to initial ORF internal estimates
BELGIUM: Georges-Louis Bouchez: ‘In my vision, RTBF could be privatised or abolished’. (Paywall – French)
Wilfried: One of the reasons why he preferred to stay on as MR chairman rather than become a minister, he says, is to carry out his ‘cultural war’.
BELGIUM: MR-RTBF: forty years of friction (Paywall – French)
Wilfried: Jean Gol nicknamed it ‘RTBS’, ‘la radio-télévision belge socialiste’. Since the reign of the former president of the Liberals, the exchanges of fire with the public service have almost never ceased.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Editors reminisce. What was television news like during the totalitarian era? (Press release – Czech)
ČT: The new series from the Czech Television Archive and the website ctart.cz, Redaktoři, reveals the surprising connections of the phenomenon of television news from the communist era, which still attracts attention and divides society today.
Yle: The company is seeking savings of approximately 50 million euros for 2025–2026. This means a major change in operations for Yle.
FINLAND: Yle will only broadcast high-definition broadcasts starting Tuesday – now is the time to check your TV receiver (Finnish)
Yle: There are tens of thousands of people in Finland who still watch television using outdated technology. The majority of Finns have purchased a high-definition television.
FRANCE: France Médias Monde and CLEMI (Centre pour l’éducation aux médias et à l’information) strengthen their partnership (Press release – French)
France Media Monde: This agreement aims to strengthen the long-standing partnership between CLEMI and FMM in the field of EMI, both in France and internationally, focusing on several areas: inclusion, foreign language learning, the fight against disinformation and wartime reporting.
FRANCE: Radio France and France Télévisions on strike for two days against the reform of public broadcasting (French)
Le Monde: France Culture and local stations are broadcasting music instead of programmes to denounce the government’s plans for a joint holding company.
FRANCE: Radio France’s Board of Directors approves a responsible amending budget for 2025 (Press release – French)
Radio France: On Wednesday 26 March, the Board of Directors, meeting under the chairmanship of Sibyle Veil, adopted Radio France’s amended budget for 2025, taking into account the reduction in public funding following the vote on the initial Finance Act for 2025 in February.
GERMANY: ARD celebrates anniversary (German)
Tagesschau: The ARD was born in 1950. On June 9, six independent broadcasters joined together to form a consortium. Based on the British BBC model, broadcasting was organized as independent regional broadcasting corporations under public law.
GERMANY: ZDF presents declaration of commitment for 2025/2026 (Press release – German)
ZDF: A strong and reliable information offering and a program that promotes social cohesion and delivers creative innovations: these are the core goals that ZDF has set itself in its 2025/2026 declaration of commitment.
GERMANY: ZDF Television Council deals with ZDFinfo, ARTE, KiKA, 3sat and phoenix (Press release – German)
ZDF: The further development of ZDFinfo, ARTE, KiKA, 3sat, and phoenix was discussed at the ZDF Television Council meeting on Friday, March 28, 2025.
GERMANY & UK: ZDF and BBC: New broadcaster partnership for fictional co-productions (Press release – German)
ZDF: ZDF and the BBC today announced a broadcasting partnership for fictional co-productions.
IRELAND: Have your say on the future of Public Service Media (Press release)
Coimisiún na Meán: Coimisiún na Meán is today (28.03.25) inviting the Irish public to have their say on the future of Public Service Media.
NORWAY: NRK was dismissed and cleared in PFU after complaint from Sandra Borch (Norwegian)
Dagsavisen: The Norwegian Press Professional Committee (PFU) believes that NRK violated good press ethics on one point in a controversial case that investigated Sandra Borch’s (Sp) Sami background.
NORWAY: NRK’s ruling in controversial access case: – Important for the Norwegian press (Norwegian)
Journalisten: The Ministry of Culture has concluded: Disagree with the Civil Service Commission’s understanding of the NRK exemption.
PORTUGAL: RTP gives the green light to the voluntary departure of 80 workers. The first phase costs 5 million and ends in June (Portuguese) (13 March)
Diario De Noticias: RTP opened the application process for the voluntary exit program for workers in pre-retirement situations this Thursday, the 13th. The plan will cover 80 employees, who will have access to unemployment benefits, in addition to 35 more who are of retirement age.
SERBIA: Media freedom mission to visit Belgrade and Novi Sad
Article19: The partners organisation of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) will conduct a mission to Serbia between 7 and 9 April to meet with journalists, media stakeholders, and law enforcement authorities amidst a rapidly worsening media freedom crisis.
SERBIA: Serbia’s alarming path toward media suppression
EUObserver: Following last weekend’s historic protests, the Serbian government has intensified its crackdown on independent media, using state-backed disinformation, intimidation tactics, and commercial pressure to undermine journalistic integrity.
SERBIA: Spyware attacks on BIRN Serbia journalists further deepen press freedom crisis
IPI: IPI and MFRR condemn confirmed spyware attacks against two journalists from Balkan Investigative Reporting Network
SLOVAKIA: Half of people no longer believe that STVR’s reporting is balanced (Slovak)
SME: After three quarters of a year, the government coalition managed to make progress this week in its efforts to take control of Slovak Television and Radio.
SLOVAKIA: The Šarišan group protested that their name had been misused. Lindtner has already been elected to the STVR Council (Slovak)
SME: Before the summer, the new STVR Council , including Prime Minister Fico’s advisor and prosecuted lawyer David Lindtner, should elect the general director of the broadcaster.
SWEDEN: Free Speech Year 9 – an initiative on journalism and source criticism for young people (Press release – Swedish)
SR: In a time where the flow of information is greater than ever and social media has become young people’s primary source of news, Sveriges Radio, SVT and UR are launching a joint initiative on journalism and source criticism for students in grade 9.
SWEDEN: Has Skåne’s local journalism moved to Stockholm? (Press release – Swedish)
SR: The debate about local journalism is important throughout the country. Skåne is home to 13 percent of Sweden’s population and Sweden’s third largest city.
UK: BBC Annual Plan promises continued transformation to deliver more for audiences (Press release)
BBC: The plan demonstrates how the BBC will provide value for audiences, support democracy and drive growth in the creative economy
UK: BBC radio stations and podcasts to go dark for overseas listeners
The National: Public broadcaster is moving Radio 4, the World Service and a selection of podcasts to its website as BBC Sounds app is restricted
UK: One year into the BBC’s website revamp, traffic is booming
Digiday: It’s been just over a year since the BBC relaunched its website and app in March 2024 — and the company has been rewarded for its efforts with a significant traffic boost.
UK: Our BBC, Our Future – Audiences asked to help shape BBC’s future (Press release)
BBC: The BBC is asking audiences to have their say about the future of the organisation, by launching the biggest public engagement exercise the Corporation has ever undertaken.
UKRAINE: Nara journalist on working in Ukraine: “The opportunity to help makes war more humane” (Portrait – Russian)
LRT: NARA photojournalist Denis Vejas recently returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he has been going regularly since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion.
REGIONAL: European Broadcasting Boss Delphine Ernotte Cunci On AI, Streamers & The Fight For Independent Media (Interview)
Deadline: Delphine Ernotte Cunci has a unique view of Europe’s TV scene as both the President of the European Broadcasting Union and CEO of French pubcaster giant France Télévisions.
REGIONAL: European Commission must place media freedom at heart of Democracy Shield initiative
IPI: IPI joins groups in welcoming European Commission’s initiative to create a European Democracy Shield
ARGENTINA: Public media workers demand salary increases and defend their role in democracy (Spanish)
El Diario de la Región: Unions and associations emphasized that this wage freeze is part of a broader strategy that, they claim, seeks to weaken state media and, consequently, curtail the population’s fundamental rights.
BRAZIL: Brazil’s top court rules media not liable for guests’ defamatory statements in live interviews
LatAm Journalism Review: Press advocacy groups in Brazil have exhaled a sigh of relief after a Supreme Court ruling that found news organizations cannot be held liable for defamatory statements made by interview guests during live interviews.
COLOMBIA: Flip warns of RTVC censorship under Hollman Morris: “The damage could be irreparable for public television and radio.” (Spanish)
Infobae: The Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP) has denounced editorial pressure and censorship within RTVC since Hollman Morris took over as its director in April 2024.
ECUADOR: Journalists ask Daniel Noboa and Luisa González to address freedom of expression. (Spanish)
El Comercio: Actions on freedom of expression and the press are two issues raised by Daniel Noboa and Luisa González.
EL SALVADOR: RSF sees press freedom at risk in El Salvador: “The situation is worse than we expected.” (Spanish)
La Prensa Gráfica: “The State has set up and structured a propaganda and disinformation machine, using official media outlets that should be public but are actually the ones the government uses to promote its actions and positions,” analyzed the director of the RSF Office.
GUYANA: Press association accuses gov’t of attempting to discredit journalists (20 March)
Stabroek News: The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has strongly condemned what it describes as attempts to discredit journalists, following the coverage of Tuesday’s protest at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown, in support of online activist Melissa Atwell Holder.
MEXICO: 36 civil society organizations warn of a setback in access to information following the approval of secondary laws. (Spanish)
Alianza de Medios Mx: A total of 36 civil society organizations, journalists, and human rights defenders denounced that the recent approval of secondary laws on access to information and personal data protection represents a serious setback in transparency , weakening the institutional structure and regulatory framework that has guaranteed these rights for more than two decades.
PERU: Peru’s journalists’ union rejects the prime minister’s accusations that the media are staging a “white coup.” (Spanish)
Infobae: The National Association of Journalists of Peru (ANP) on Monday rejected statements by Peruvian Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén, who said the day before that some media outlets are carrying out a “white coup,” in reference to the investigations they are conducting into President Dina Boluarte and members of her government.
VENEZUELA: Detentions of journalists in Venezuela serve as punishment and warning to others
LatAm Journalism Review: Journalists and human rights organizations say Venezuelan authorities detain and release journalists to control and censor, using ‘punishment as warning’ as a tool to instill fear and silence the press.
REGIONAL: The end of Voice of America deals a blow to coverage of democracy and repression in Latin America
LatAm Journalism Review: Journalist Carolina Valladares Pérez has reported from countries with authoritarian governments and risks for press professionals, including Iraq and Venezuela. What she never imagined was that it would be in the United States where the government would silence her reporting.
ISRAEL: Attacking media outlets, Netanyahu asks why public broadcaster should be funded
The Times of Israel: Prime minister also reportedly tells defense, communications ministers to clarify need for Army Radio; Diaspora Minister Chikli accuses Haaretz newspaper of ‘incitement’
ISRAEL: Netanyahu seeks to advance privatization of Israel’s public broadcaster KAN
The Jerusalem Post: NGO Movement for Quality Gov’t demanded that the A-G intervene and tell Netanyahu that he was not allowed to intervene in media matters.
PALESTINE: How reporting in Gaza is a deadly assignment for journalists
DW: Gaza has become one of the deadliest places for Palestinian journalists to report, press freedom groups say. Foreign journalists are still banned from entering the territory.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: With the country in transition, two Syrian journalists discuss press freedom, funding challenges, news influencers and the media’s role in this time
TURKEY: DEM Party’s Gergerlioğlu submitted a bill to abolish RTÜK (Turkish)
Evrensel: Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Kocaeli Deputy Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu submitted a bill to abolish RTÜK, saying, “RTÜK has become an element of pressure on media outlets that broadcast independently and critically.”
TURKEY: Ros Atkins on… the media crackdown – Turkey protests (Watch)
BBC: Over 1,000 people have been arrested in Turkey, with several journalists among them, as protests sparked by the detention of opposition figure Ekrem Imamoglu continue. The BBC’s Analysis Editor Ros Atkins looks at the clampdown on the country’s media.
TURKEY & SWEDEN: Turkey says Swedish journalist detained on terror charges and for ‘insulting the president’
The Guardian: A Swedish journalist who was detained on his arrival in Turkey to cover protests over the jailing of Istanbul’s mayor has been arrested on terror-related charges and for “insulting the president”, the Turkish presidency has said.
CANADA: Bang for our buck (Research)
CCPA: Comparing public service broadcasting funding in 19 countries, including Canada
CANADA: Fake election news ads are luring people into investment schemes. We got some taken down
CBC: Fake CBC News articles that link to sketchy investment schemes are flooding social media with sensational headlines about the Canadian election and other recent political developments.
CANADA: ‘Fake news’: Canada’s online news blackout could affect voters in upcoming election: experts
CTV News: Canadians are in the midst of a federal election at a time when they can’t access news on the most popular social media platforms — and as U.S. President Donald Trump’s ally Elon Musk uses his own platform to meddle in the politics of other countries.
CANADA: Mark Carney promises plan to ‘reform’ the CBC in coming days
National Post: Not surprisingly, Carney confirmed the changes will be different from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s promise to defund the CBC while keeping Radio-Canada
CANADA: Natacha Mercure appointed Radio-Canada’s Executive Director of Audio and Radio (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: Dany Meloul, Executive Vice-President of Radio-Canada, today announced the appointment of Natacha Mercure as Executive Director, Audio and Radio, for Radio-Canada. Ms. Mercure has held the position on an interim basis since January.
CANADA: Poilievre pledges to keep Radio-Canada alive after ‘defund the CBC’ promise
National Post: The two-page policy document doesn’t mention the English side of the CBC
CANADA: Time to restore Radio Canada International or Canada’s world service (Opinion – Paywall)
The Hill Times: Canada, Canadians, and our federal government have to step up and restore RCI because it comes down to whether we are enough of a nation to have a world service.
US: 4 takeaways from PBS and NPR’s testimony on Capitol Hill
NPR: NPR CEO Katherine Maher and her counterpart at PBS, Paula Kerger, appeared Wednesday before a House subcommittee on government efficiency, where they defended public broadcasting against accusations by Republican lawmakers of political bias.
US: Americans more likely to support than oppose continuing federal funding for NPR and PBS
Pew Research Centre: About a quarter of U.S. adults (24%) say Congress should remove federal funding from NPR and PBS, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted March 10-16. A larger share (43%) say NPR and PBS should continue to receive funding from the federal government, while 33% say they are not sure.
US: Congress should strengthen public media, not threaten its editorial independence
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has submitted a letter for the public record affirming the value of American public media outlets and their vital role in bringing news to rural communities.
US: DOGE’s next target: NPR and PBS
Politico: “I’m not sure I see a reason why the taxpayer should be forced to subsidize NPR and PBS,” FCC Chair Brendan Carr said.
US: Heads of NPR, PBS face congressional hearing as Republicans accuse US public media of bias (Watch)
DW: How much trust is there in public broadcasting? Here in Europe and also in the United States the news media, which once enjoyed high levels of trust by the public, have seen those levels drop dramatically.
US: New EEOC guidance axes diversity provision in NPR union contract
Current: The agreement had required that at least 30% of external candidates interviewed for open bargaining unit positions be from underrepresented groups.
US: Owner of St. Louis’ KDHX proposes selling license and tower to Christian broadcaster
Current: The transaction between Double Helix Corp. and K-Love must be approved by a bankruptcy judge.
US: PBS and NPR leaders testify on federal support for public broadcasting in House hearing (Watch)
PBS News: Leaders from PBS and NPR will appear before the House DOGE subcommittee on Wednesday, facing questions about federal support for public broadcasting.
US: ‘Revenge is his number one motivation’: how Trump is waging war on the media
The Guardian: The president – who believes he has been treated unfairly by the press – is squeezing the media in different ways than his first term
US: RSF and VOA coalition secure first court victory against the Trump administration
RSF: On March 28, District Judge J. Paul Oetken granted the motion for a temporary restraining order in a case brought by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) together with a coalition of Voice of America (VOA) employees and their unions to stop the Trump administration from dismantling the public service broadcaster.
US: Trump Restores Funds for Radio Free Europe and Reinstates Cuba Broadcasters
The New York Times: A judge had blocked the president’s push to close down Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a federally financed news organization originally created to counter Soviet propaganda.
US: Voice of America Director Sues Trump Officials Over Shutdown
The New York Times: The lawsuit by the director and journalists is the latest legal challenge to the administration’s bid to dismantle the government-funded broadcaster.
US: What to do about the looming end of U.S. public broadcasting
Current: “The incipient demise of public broadcasting, even after 58 years of support, should be a reminder that economic dependence on the government is antithetical to the very idea of a free press.”
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Our conference looked at how technology is reshaping the news ecosystem. Here’s a summary of the panels and a few figures from our research
Alvar Tiisler: On humanity, ethics, and values in sports broadcasts (Estonian)
ERR: Alvar Tiisler explains the principles and values of sports broadcasting and also touches on Lindinger’s personal issues.
As Japan marks centennial in broadcasting, role in internet age needs defining
The Mainichi: As Japan marks the 100th anniversary of broadcasting in the country this year, the raison d’etre of this means of communication and what roles it can play in this age of the internet is being put to the test.
BBC to ‘open up conversation’ with AI providers and invest further in Tiktok
Press Gazette: BBC will also expand BBC Verify and evolve news on iPlayer.
Cold War, CIA, and Revolutions… From Propaganda to Journalism: The Story of Radio Free Europe, Threatened by Trump (History – French)
RTBF: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is an iconic media outlet born in the midst of the Cold War, which has successfully adapted to the world’s geopolitical upheavals to this day. Along with other American public media outlets, whether operating abroad or not, it is in the crosshairs of Donald Trump, who refuses to continue subsidizing it.
Experts to help newsrooms safeguard their journalism against legal threats (Opportunity)
Poynter: Poynter’s building has the First Amendment etched at its entrance for a reason. It’s a reminder of the constitutional protection establishing a free press as an enshrined right, fundamental to a healthy American democracy.
How European publishers are approaching Trump 2.0 coverage
The Fix: Trump’s return to the White House leaves no break for media outlets, sometimes resulting in news saturation. The Fix spoke with three different European newsrooms to see how they cover Trump 2.0
Journalism 2.0 in Lebanon: how independent media are shaking up the media landscape (French)
Libnanews: Independent journalism in Lebanon is undergoing a profound transformation. Long dominated by traditional media outlets funded by political parties or influential businessmen, the media landscape is seeing the emergence of new independent platforms that are disrupting the way information is produced and disseminated.
Our heroines: Colette Braeckman, a reporter stronger than Tintin! (Listen – French)
RTBF: Everyone knows Tintin, the intrepid young reporter who travels the world solving mysteries. What if we told you there was a real one… and a female version!
Poynter tackles “The Future of Facts Online’ to help consumers navigate what to trust on the internet (Event – 6th May 2025)
Poynter: Poynter, a global leader in journalism, is bringing together experts to address one of today’s most pressing questions: Can you trust what you read online?
Poynter’s MediaWise and PBS launch AI literacy video series for teens
Poynter: The new series called AI Unlocked includes five lessons to help students better understand the world of generative artificial intelligence
The AP’s Freedom of Speech—and Yours (Opinion)
WSJ: For anyone who thinks the Associated Press’s lawsuit against President Trump’s White House is about the name of a body of water, think bigger. It’s really about whether the government can control what you say.
The European Media Freedom Act: The Solution to Capture or Just Fine Art? (Opinion)
IPI: 2025 will be a defining year for media freedom in Europe. Whether EMFA has sufficient teeth to protect journalism in Europe, is yet to be seen.
USAID Shutdown Empowers Online Attacks on NGOs and Free Media
Balkan Insight: Donald Trump’s decision to defund the US aid agency has inspired illiberal governments and online media to smear civil society and independent journalists as ‘traitors’ and ‘mercenaries’, BIRN’s digital rights monitors have found.
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Header image: Aerial drone shot of symbol Almaty city high TV tower and park at Koktobe hill against snow mountains at sunrise in Kazakhstan. Credit: Pikoso.kz / Shutterstock.com
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