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!
Public media research
Our PSM Research and Resources page brings together all the latest academic studies looking into the world of public media.
What we're watching...
Emilia Șercan on digital smear campaigns against her
MFRR: Investigative journalist Emilia Șercan speaks to the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) about the escalating attacks she has faced following her investigation into alleged plagiarism in the PhD thesis of Romania’s Justice Minister.
What we're listening to...
Maria Ressa, freedom of speech campaigner: The information apocalypse is threatening democracy
BBC Word Service: With over 40 years in journalism, Maria describes today’s information landscape as a war zone, where online attacks, including doxxing, misogynistic hashtags, and manipulated images don’t just stay online. They spill into real-world intimidation and violence.
Subscribe toour newsletter
Keep updated with the latest public
media news from around the world
Global Headlines
Click on the tab menu below to reveal the latest regional stories.
Algerian Radio: Ségolène Royal, President of the France-Algeria Association, stated on Wednesday that she refused to participate in the report “Complément d’enquête,” broadcast by the television channel France 2, describing it as “insulting” to Algeria and “politically biased.”
BOTSWANA: MISA Botswana condemns rising threats to media freedom, political interference
Channel Africa: The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter has condemned what it describes as emerging threats by state authorities aimed at undermining media freedom in the country.
BOTSWANA: The dangerous temptation to weaponise State media in a democracy (Opinion)
Mmegi Online: I read a Facebook post recently with a mixture of dismay and disappointment. Not because it criticised government but because of how casually it discarded core democratic principles in favour of political expediency.
CAMEROON: Polarised, Intimidated, Silenced: The Media Under Siege in Cameroon’s Election (22 January)
Al Jazeera: Cameroon’s 2025 presidential election exposed a troubling paradox: a nation voting under the watchful eye of power, while its press remained silenced. From the arrest of a teenage reporter to bans on political debate and digital manipulation, freedom of expression is under siege, and journalism is on trial.
ETHIOPIA: From Hope to Retrenchment: Ethiopia’s broken promise on press freedom needs urgent reversal
Addis Standard: …As Ethiopia moves toward the 2026 national elections, the distance between the Prime Minister’s 2019 commitments and today’s media reality has become impossible to ignore. Legal ambiguity, bureaucratic coercion, and administrative punishment now define an environment that increasingly contradicts the vision articulated in that speech.
KENYA: KBC ranked among the top-performing public entities in Kenya (Watch)
KBC Channel 1: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation KBC has been ranked among the top-performing parastatals in Kenya. This is according to a survey conducted across all 47 counties in the month of January by Kenya Track Survey.
MOZAMBIQUE: Radio Polio: How Mozambique’s Airwaves Support Childhood Vaccination
Global Citizen: As a polio vaccination team wound their way on foot towards a row of grass-roofed houses in a small village in Inhambane province, Mozambique, a voice carried on the wind. Mixed with the sounds of children playing and a rooster calling was a radio show. In the most remote corners of the country, radio still reaches listeners.
NIGERIA: Journalism: Bridging the gap between technology and training
Punch Newspapers: As artificial intelligence steadily reshapes media practice across the world, Nigerian journalism stands at a defining moment. AI is no longer a distant or abstract concept in newsrooms. It is already influencing how stories are researched, written, edited, distributed, and consumed.
NIGERIA: Nestlé, News Central TV explore collaboration on transparency, nutrition, nation-building
The Cable: In a statement issued on Sunday, the media platform said the visit underscores “a shared commitment to responsible communication, informed public discourse and stronger collaboration between the media and the corporate sector”.
NIGERIA: Radio Nigeria, NDLEA Strengthen Alliance Against Drug Abuse, Trafficking Nationwide
Radio Nigeria Lagos: Radio Nigeria has intensified its collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking, following a courtesy visit by the Director of Lagos Operations, Princess Adenike Adegoke, to the NDLEA Lagos Strategic Command.
SOUTH AFRICA: Microsoft, SABC launch national AI skills drive via SABC Plus
IT News Africa: Microsoft South Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) have announced a new partnership to deliver artificial intelligence (AI) fluency and digital skills training to millions of South Africans through the public broadcaster’s digital platform, SABC Plus.
TANZANIA: Tanzania’s media barred from covering post-election violence victims’ testimonies
The Mail & Guardian: Tanzania’s media has been barred from covering the testimonies of victims and the relatives of those killed during the violence which followed elections last October, a move critics say undermines the public’s right to information.
UGANDA: What next after ad ban knocks local TV broadcasters sideways (Paywall)
Monitor: Uganda’s television industry is confronting a hard regulatory reset after the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), revealed that split-screen advertising, explicitly including the popular “squeeze back” format, must not be used during news and current affairs programmes.
IPI: Threats to press freedom surged in the DRC, Somalia, Nigeria, and Somaliland in July, August and September. This period also saw the killing of a journalist in the DRC
Hasht e Subh Daily: Amnesty International says the Taliban’s decision to revoke the operating licenses of independent organizations that support media outlets and journalists is part of an escalating crackdown on freedom of expression in Afghanistan and further restricts the working environment for journalists.
BANGLADESH: Editors’ Council raises concern over draft media, broadcasting ordinances
Dhaka Tribune: The council believes that the formulation of such significant laws should take place after the formation of an elected parliament
BANGLADESH: Fear now shapes journalism in Bangladesh: Mahfuz Anam tells Al Jazeera
The Business Standard: Referring to the attack on The Daily Star, Mahfuz said those who set fire to the office were unlikely to be readers of the newspaper and suggested the incident was planned.
BANGLADESH: Govt issues draft ordinances for broadcast, media commissions
The Daily Star: The information and broadcasting ministry yesterday published drafts of ordinances of the national media and broadcast commissions and sought opinions by Saturday.
INDIA: Prasar Bharati’s platform play signals push against big tech dependence
Best Media Info: Prasar Bharati is working towards building its own digital platforms and reduce reliance on global technology and distribution giants, said CEO Gaurav Dwivedi
INDIA: Union Budget boosts public broadcasting, media talent with Rs 4,551.94 crore outlay
The Economic Times: The Union Budget has allocated Rs 4551.94 crore to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. A significant portion will support Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster.
INDONESIA: RRI Partners with TVRI on “Bintang Radio” Program (Indonesian)
RRI: President Director of LPP RRI, I Hendrasmo, stated that the “Bintang Radio” program will begin its implementation in collaboration with TVRI this year. He explained that “Bintang Radio” is a traditional RRI program that is now entering the initial stages of cross-broadcasting collaboration.
JAPAN: NHK’s new president aiming for stronger content, international presence
NHK: New NHK President Inoue Tatsuhiko has said he will work to fundamentally strengthen the public broadcaster’s ability to develop and communicate content as well as enhance its international presence. He also stressed that he wants to achieve a halt in the decline of receiving fee revenue.
MALAYSIA: Media industry to face a milder contraction in 2026
FMT: Malaysia’s media sector will continue to face headwinds in 2026 as advertising expenditure (Adex) continues to shrink. However, the silver lining is that the decline will likely not be as bad as last year’s drop.
MALDIVES: Media control bill censors editorial content as threats against journalists increase
IFJ: The widely condemned Maldivian ‘Media and Broadcasting Commission Act’, passed in September 2025, has been used for the first time to remove editorial content, amid increasing harassment and violent threats against independent journalists, including the President of the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), Ahmed Naif.
PAKISTAN: Dhaka dialogue urges stronger media self-regulation
Journalism Pakistan: Editors, publishers and analysts at a Dhaka dialogue urged stronger media self-regulation to shield journalists from mounting political and legal pressures. They urged practical, enforceable editorial codes and ownership transparency to rebuild public trust.
PAKISTAN: Peshawar High Court stops panel from probing 2023 Radio Pakistan ransacking
Dawn: The Peshawar High Court has issued a stay order, temporarily stopping the speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and a special committee constituted by him from proceeding on the matter of probing the ransacking and torching of the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar during a protest following the arrest of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan in May 2023.
PAKISTAN: Quiet steps erode press freedom in Pakistan and beyond
Journalism Pakistan: Press freedom in Pakistan and globally is eroding as regulatory, legal and economic shifts, including tougher cybercrime and defamation measures, reliance on state advertising and proposed platform rules, chill reporting and undermine independent outlets.
PHILIPPINES: Are terror laws being used to silence critics?
DW: Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s conviction on terror-financing charges has raised concerns over press freedoms in the Philippines, where activists warn that anti-terror laws are being wielded to clamp down on dissent.
SOUTH KOREA: South Korea’s ‘fake news’ law tests press autonomy
DW: Critics accuse lawmakers of pushing measures that could stifle a free press, while Seoul says the changes are needed to manage the rapidly evolving media landscape.
AUSTRALIA: ABC signs MoUs in Malaysia, Mongolia and Timor-Leste (Press release)
ABC: ABC International has continued to strengthen its regional partnerships in 2026, signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with broadcasters and media organisations in Malaysia, Mongolia and Timor-Leste.
AUSTRALIA: ‘Don’t torch journalism’: 500 journalists strike in Australia over jobs and pay
Campaign: Last Thursday, on the eve of The Olympics, journalists from Nine Entertainment—a leading publisher in Australia—voted to strike for five days.
AUSTRALIA: Liberal MP complains to ABC managing director about Tony Armstrong’s satire special
The Guardian: The opposition has complained to the ABC over Tony Armstrong’s one-off special, which took aim at colonialism and racism against Indigenous Australians.
ABC: Nine Entertainment has taken a loss by selling its radio network to billionaire pub baron Arthur Laundy as the media company takes a big punt on outdoor advertising.
NEW ZEALAND: What Independent Media in Asia Taught Me About Rebuilding Journalism With Community in Mind
Asia Media Centre: As an emerging journalist building her own media startup in Aotearoa New Zealand, Vivien Beduya carried many questions about the future of journalism in the country. But she found her answers in Asia, learning from independent journalists who had stepped away from mainstream newsrooms to build media rooted in community, purpose, and sustainability.
NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA: Nine deal could ease pressure on Kiwi broadcaster (Paywall)
The Australian: The private equity giant’s massive QMS payday could reshape New Zealand’s media landscape as rival broadcasters circle embattled Mediaworks.
TONGA: Taking it Outside: Tongan broadcaster’s role in preserving Kingdom’s culture
ABC: While there are many elements needed to build strong, successful and sustainable broadcast organisations in the Pacific, few would argue that the ability to move quickly or, as the saying goes, hit the ground running is vital in the fast-paced world of broadcast media.
TONGA: Tonga’s democracy shows signs of reset through improved press conferences (Opinion)
Kaniva Tonga: Although the government must continue strengthening democratic structures that prioritise journalism, the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office ahead of tomorrow’s inaugural press conference signals more than routine communication; it marks a reset.
AUSTRIA: FPÖ questions media minister about ORF salaries and pensions (German)
Der Standard: Inquiry to Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler in the Federal Council regarding the departure of female presenters, “top salaries” and ORF manager Pius Strobl.
BELGIUM: Attacks against RTBF: Jacqueline Galant “regrets the controversy” and guarantees compliance with recruitment procedures (French)
RTBF: The liberal politician suggested that she intended to take advantage of the departure of two senior RTBF officials to impose a more right-wing editorial line.
BELGIUM: Following Galant’s remarks, should we fear attempts at political interference at RTBF? (Paywall – French)
Le Soir: In 2026, RTBF must appoint a new CEO and news director. Media Minister Jacqueline Galant’s comments about a future “different direction” have reignited fears of political interference in an otherwise robust recruitment process. Find out more in six questions.
BELGIUM: Georges-Louis Bouchez is calling for “a parliamentary commission on public service broadcasting” to rebalance the conditions of competition. (French)
RTBF: Georges-Louis Bouchez, the president of the MR, wants to establish a parliamentary commission on public service broadcasting in order to rebalance the conditions of competition and verify the issues of good spending of public money.
RTBF: The parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation will not hold an emergency session to examine the controversial remarks made by Media Minister Jacqueline Galant (MR) regarding the independence of RTBF. This decision has sparked strong reactions from the opposition.
BULGARIA: Boyko Vassilev: We are not just heading towards a world without journalism, but also without intermediaries (Listen – Bulgarian)
BNR
CZECH REPUBLIC: Marína Urbániková: The financing of ČT is set up very well. There is no reason for changes (Interview – Czech)
Denik Referendum: Interview with media sociologist Marína Urbániková about different models of financing public media in Europe, the risk of the Slovak scenario, and the problematic functioning of the Czech Television Council.
CZECH REPUBLIC: The government wants to change the financing of Czech Television and Czech Radio. When and how does it intend to abolish fees? (Czech)
Idnes.cz: The government is counting on abolishing fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio. The coalition council agreed on this last week. The ANO and SPD movements promised an end to concession fees before the elections. However, the Senate opposed their abolition.
CZECH REPUBLIC: We want financing like in Germany, not the Slovak way, says Fridrich from ČT (Interview – Czech)
SZ: According to the government’s plan, concession fees should end soon. Starting next January, the cabinet wants to finance Czech Television and radio from the state budget. The details of the proposal are not known. Will the independence of public media be preserved?
ESTONIA: CEO: Estonian public broadcaster’s funding shortage has reached a critical level
ERR: Chairman of the management board of Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) Erik Roose speaks candidly about the organization’s severe financial strain and what it means for ERR and Estonian culture more broadly.
FINLAND: Yle developed a model for measuring media distribution emissions (Finnish)
Yle: The carbon footprint is smallest when using Yle Areena on a mobile device via a fixed network connection.
FRANCE: A biased, overpriced public broadcasting system… Four recurring criticisms examined (Paywall – French)
Le Monde: Attacks against public broadcasting have intensified with the opening of a parliamentary inquiry, at the cost of some confusion regarding the missions entrusted to it by law.
FRANCE: Radio France, the leading podcast platform in France – Signs a framework agreement with the PIA (Press release – French)
Radio France: Radio France has concluded a framework agreement with the Syndicat des Producteurs et Indépendants de l’Audio (PIA), marking a new stage in the development of the Radio France platform to strengthen its position as the reference for French-language podcasts.
FRANCE: When the State becomes the worst enemy of public broadcasting (Listen – French)
Radio France: In two years, public broadcasting has lost 162 million euros: this is not a deficit, it is what the State has given less to public broadcasting, therefore to France Télévisions, Radio France, the INA, France Médias Monde, ARTE and TV5 Monde.
GEORGIA: Restrictive new funding law would further cut off media and journalists
MFRR: The MFRR partners strongly condemn the proposals of the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling party to implement a series of legislative amendments that would impose additional restrictions and penalties on recipients of grants and foreign funding.
GERMANY: New Deutschlandfunk channel launched on TikTok (Press release – German)
Deutschlandradio: With “Moment mal” (Wait a minute) , Deutschlandfunk presents a new channel on TikTok aimed specifically at younger users of the platform: For 14- to 19-year-olds, TikTok has become a key source of information.
GERMANY: President of the Bundestag Klöckner demands more self-reflection from ARD and ZDF. (German)
Deutschlandfunk: She defended public broadcasting, but it must also be open to questions about its efficiency, neutrality, and balance, the CDU politician told Bild am Sonntag.
IRELAND: Over €15 million in funding announced for Irish media sector (Press release)
Coimisiún na Meán: Coimisiún na Meán has today (29.01.26) announced more than €15 million in funding for media organisations across Ireland, to support high-quality journalism and news and current affairs content, and to support digital upskilling and the significant modernisation of equipment and technology, to allow the sector to adapt and grow in an increasingly digital world.
ITALY: Rai TV crew attacked at Askatasuna: “Journalists threatened, equipment destroyed.” (Italian)
Il Giornale: During the demonstration held in Turin, some correspondents from the program Far West were reportedly attacked.
ITALY: Should the European Media Freedom Act block a risky takeover in the Italian media sector?
EUI: Italy’s media landscape is on the brink of a historic shift as one of its major newspaper publishers faces acquisition by a foreign media mogul. In this piece, Roberta Carlini discusses whether this high-stakes deal could trigger the first application of Europe’s new legal shield for press freedom, the European Media Freedom Act.
LATVIA: Latvian public media to boycott ‘aggressor nation’ athletes during Olympic broadcasts
TVP World: Latvia’s public media has said it will not broadcast footage or share results involving Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under neutral flags at next month’s Winter Olympics, in protest of their inclusion in the global sporting event.
MADEIRA: PCP accuses RTP Madeira of failing to pay its workers (Watch – Portuguese)
RTP Madeira: Ricardo Lume speaks of precarious employment contracts. The party will submit a draft resolution to the Assembly of the Republic so that the government responds to these problems.
THE NETHERLANDS: Coalition allocates 50 million euros for public broadcasting and safe journalism (Dutch)
Nu: The coalition will allocate €50 million annually to media starting in 2027, according to the agreement presented on Friday. The money will be spent, among other things, on public broadcasting and safe and independent journalism.
NORWAY: Listeners and the music industry protest against NRK (Norwegian – 23 January)
Aftenbladet: NRK is about to destroy a channel and invaluable assets that experienced program managers and music journalists have spent over ten years building.
POLAND: EBU urges strong safeguards for public service media in Poland
EBU: In its response to Poland’s EMFA consultation, the EBU welcomes the transparent approach but warns that freezing funding for TVP and Polskie Radio for a decade would fail to account for inflation, rising costs, and digital transformation needs.
POLAND: Opinion on EMFA reform of Broadcasting Law
ECPMF: The International Press Institute (IPI), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and Free Press Unlimited (FPU) provide the following contribution to the public consultation into the draft act to amend the Polish Broadcasting and Television Act.
RUSSIA: Russia’s State Duma advances bill allowing FSB to shut down internet
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Russia to drop proposed legislation advanced in the country’s parliament that would significantly expand the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) authority to shut down communications, further restricting internet access across the country.
RUSSIA & UK: ‘Enemy’ insults and questioning Putin: Steve Rosenberg on tightrope of reporting from Russia
BBC: It’s a world we offer a glimpse into in Our Man in Moscow. The film for BBC Panorama charts a year in the life of the BBC Moscow bureau, as the Kremlin continues to wage war on Ukraine, tighten the screws at home and build a relationship with President Trump.
SWEDEN: SVT invests in knowledge and community in uncertain times (Press release – Swedish)
SVT: When reality becomes difficult to navigate, SVT will stand for knowledge that can be trusted. When society is fragmented, we want to create shared experiences that unite.
SWITZERLAND: Upcoming Swiss votes: one tight race, three clearer outcomes
Le News: With four federal proposals heading to a vote on March 8th, opinion polls suggest one contest remains finely balanced, while voters appear to have made up their minds on the other three. According to a mid-January survey commissioned by SRG, the initiative targeting the public broadcaster is deadlocked.
UK: BBC confirms arrangements for Interim Director-General (Press release)
BBC: The Board has also confirmed Rhodri Talfan Davies will act as Interim Director-General until a new, permanent Director-General starts.
UK: BBC considers return of radio levy to cut licence fee for all (Paywall)
The Times: New options for funding the corporation also include charging the fee to Netflix viewers or charging richer households more
UK: BBC strengthens its approach to reflecting audiences and communities across the UK, following wide-ranging thematic review (Press release)
BBC: The review assesses how accurately and authentically the BBC portrays and represents different groups and communities across the UK.
UK: Mark Thompson was approached about return to BBC as director general
The Guardian: Former chief was sounded out about applying for his old job but said he was committed to CNN, it is understood.
UKRAINE: War Coverage in Online Media Becomes More Formal (Study – Ukrainian)
IMI: Ukrainian online media increasingly base their war news on military command reports and expert commentary, while reporter presence and on-the-spot testimony remain rare. These are the results of an IMI monitoring study that covered the 10 most visited online media outlets in Ukraine.
UKRAINE & SWEDEN: Continuous broadcasting during wartime: Suspilne Ukraine shares experience with Swedish Radio (Press release)
Suspilne: The Director General of Swedish Radio (Sveriges Radio), Cilla Benkö, and Chief of Staff Gabriel Byström visited Suspilne Ukraine on January 23–25 to learn more about how the media operates under wartime conditions.
REGIONAL: Extension of New8 collaboration guarantees a large European audience for top Dutch fiction (Press release – Dutch)
NPO: This renewed commitment will further refine this successful partnership and leverage mutual expertise to enhance the international competitiveness and overall impact of the drama series.
ARGENTINA: The destruction of public media “is a problem for democracy” (Listen – Spanish)
FM97.Une: Media journalist Emanuel Respighi stated that “we have a national government that said during the campaign that they were going to close the public media,” and that “it never raised the idea of improving them or discussing the role they should play in society.”
ARGENTINA: They extended the intervention of public media once again (Spanish)
Infobae: The Government extended for one year the intervention of the public media, Radio y Televisión Argentina SAU and Contenidos Artísticos e Informativos SAU, until February 1, 2027.
BRAZIL: A new Brazilian media law blurs lines between journalists and content creators
LatAm Journalism Review: Journalism and radio organizations across Brazil are rejecting a controversial new law that broadens the government’s definition of media workers and could erode working conditions for federally recognized professional journalists.
BRAZIL: The government plans to allocate R$ 100,000 to Datena at EBC, with programming focused on public safety. (Paywall – Portuguese)
Fohla de S.Paulo
COSTA RICA: Costa Rica’s press freedom hangs in the balance ahead of presidential election
CPJ: Press freedom advocates warn that the convergence of growing insecurity, sustained political hostility toward the press, and weakening institutional protections is narrowing the space for journalism in Costa Rica itself, while also undermining its role as a regional haven.
CUBA: Exposing the regime from afar: How Cuban journalists report on the island from exile
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: “People want to expose their situation in Cuba. As journalists, we have to amplify their voices with our tools,” says José J. Nieves from news site El Toque
MEXICO & FRANCE: New partnership between RFI (France Médias Monde group) and RIM (Radio Independiente de México) (Press release – French)
FMM: Radio Independiente de México CA (RIM) and Radio France Internationale (a radio station belonging to the France Médias Monde group) have signed a framework agreement to give RIM’s more than 280 member commercial radio stations unlimited access to the audio content that RFI makes available to its partner stations.
PERU: IRTP will prioritize the decentralization of news content at the national level (Spanish)
TVPeru: The head of IRTP indicated that innovations in productions will be promoted, but without changing the institutional identity and mission.
REGIONAL: Latin America leads in mentions of journalism in AI laws
LatAm Journalism Review: From using the technology for time-saving, repetitive tasks to developing mechanisms to identify AI-generated misinformation, journalism is striving to keep pace with these advancements.
GAZA: Documenting Gaza: How Journalists Can Collect Evidence Even When Denied Access
Global Investigative Journalism Network: As airstrikes intensified on Gaza after October 7, 2023, international reporters were barred from entering the territory, leaving Palestinian journalists, medical workers, and civilians as the primary sources of information from the ground.
IRAN & UK: How BBC experts confirmed hundreds killed in Iran’s protest crackdown despite an internet blackout
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: On 8 January, thousands of accounts sharing scenes from the streets of Tehran went dark. After 12 days of escalating anti-regime protests, the authorities had cut internet connection, isolating Iranians from each other and from the outside world.
ISRAEL: YouTube’s compliance with Israel ban violates press freedoms, Al Jazeera says
Middle East Monitor: Al Jazeera Media Network denounced YouTube’s compliance with an Israeli decision to ban its channels, calling the move a “violation of media freedoms and international standards,” Anadolu reports.
LEBANON: UNICEF and the Ministry of Information Strengthen National Broadcasting to Advance Children’s Rights
UNICEF: Télé Liban’s Bikfaya Transmission Station Solarized to Ensure Continuous Nationwide Broadcasting
TURKEY: Report highlights survival struggle of independent media in Turkey amid pressure, uncertainty
Bianet: “For independent media in Turkey, the challenge is no longer building a good business model. It’s about preserving editorial integrity and organizational continuity amid political pressure, economic fragility, and platform dependency.”
TURKEY & US: Turkey’s media watchdog fines HBO Max, MUBI over ‘immoral’ content
Bianet: HBO Max series “Jasmine” and the movie “Passages” were targeted by RTÜK.
CANADA: Canada in talks with Meta on return of news to Facebook as CUSMA review nears
CBC News: The federal government says its willingness to speak with Meta about the possibility of seeing online news return to Facebook is part of an ongoing conversation Canada is having with the digital giant as the review of CUSMA nears.
US: Governor asks New Mexico lawmakers to fund tribal media
Current: Tribal media stations in New Mexico could receive about $430,000 as soon as this summer if the legislature embraces Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s recommendation.
US: In farewell remarks, Pat Harrison looks beyond CPB’s end to public media’s future
Current: During what was expected to be CPB’s final public board meeting Thursday, Chair Ruby Calvert and Vice Chair Liz Sembler joined the remaining staff to discuss their decision to dissolve CPB and disperse its final grants — and to acknowledge the many people who contributed to CPB’s legacy.
US: Kari Lake promotes Trump on Voice of America. Does that break the law?
NPR: Kari Lake, who oversees the parent agency of the Voice of America, has hit legal and political roadblocks in her drive to dismantle the government-funded broadcaster.
US: Lawmakers consider tax on cell phone lines to fund public broadcasters
The Spokesman-Review: A state lawmaker has proposed a monthly 20-cent surcharge on cell phone lines as a way to provide a lifeline to struggling public broadcasting stations that recently faced federal funding cuts.
US: Pentagon Defends Restrictions on Media Outlets (Paywall)
The New York Times: The purpose of the new rules is to “stop activity that could compromise national security,” the Defense Department said in response to a New York Times lawsuit.
US: Public Media Bridge Fund announces new emergency and disaster programs
Current: The fund, formed in response to the rescission of CPB’s federal funding and managed by Public Media Co., is launching a disaster recovery program and an emergency restructuring program.
US: Public Media Holds Its Apocalypse at Bay, for Now (Paywall)
The New York Times: Though Congress cut $500 million from NPR and PBS stations, vanishingly few have closed their doors. Angst about their long-term future remains.
US: This is what it looks like when a government tries to intimidate reporters (Opinion)
Poynter: The arrest of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort signals a dangerous escalation in the Trump administration’s campaign against the press.
US: US press freedom under scrutiny after arrest of two journalists during Minneapolis protests (Paywall)
Le Monde: The arrests of Don Lemon, on Thursday evening in Los Angeles, who was released the following day, and reporter Georgia Fort marked another milestone in the American government’s political use of the justice system.
US & JAPAN: Documentary about Poynter’s PolitiFact brings story of fact-checking to Japanese television
Poynter: Japanese public broadcaster NHK releases ‘The Battle for Truth: The Front Lines of American Fact-Checking’
Definitive action on IPTV could minimise digital gap
TVB Europe: A new report published by Sky shows viewers across all demographics continue to embrace IPTV
Deloitte’s global Technology, Media & Telecommunications Predictions for 2026 (Press release)
Deloitte: Deloitte has released its global Technology, Media & Telecommunications Predictions report, which highlights how AI is redefining the foundations of hardware, software, telecom, and media.
How can your newsroom prepare for the audiences of 2030?
Journalism UK: The new Next Gen News report by FT Strategies and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism reveals a generation hungry for news but naturally sceptical.
News publishers limit Internet Archive access due to AI scraping concerns
Nieman Lab: Outlets like The Guardian and The New York Times are scrutinizing digital archives as potential backdoors for AI crawlers.
Should news publishers be on Apple News? A U.K. report finds mixed results
Nieman Lab: Apple News shares revenue with news publishers and — as a preinstalled app on Apple products — reaches an astounding number of users. Should publishers share their journalism on the app? Or focus on growing their own garden with first-party data and direct subscriptions?
The real threat of AI is the collapse of trust (Opinion)
Poynter: A lie travels the world on social media before a community note can lace up its shoes.
TVB Europe: Vertical format microdramas have become a worldwide sensation over the last five years. Monica Heck explores the technology behind the phenomenon
PSM Weekly is available via email. You can subscribe by signing up to our mailing list at the bottom of the page or email editor@publicmediaalliance.org.
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.
All headlines are sourced from their original story.
If you have any suggestions for our weekly round-ups, please email PMA at editor@publicmediaalliance.org.
Header image: black camera on tripod in tilt shift lens – Credits: joppe-spaa – Unsplash.Com
Related Posts
PSM Weekly | 21 – 27 January 2026
PMA's weekly round-up of public service…
PSM Weekly | 14 – 20 January 2026
PMA's weekly round-up of public service…
PSM Weekly | 6 – 13 January 2026
PMA's weekly round-up of public service…
PSM Weekly | 10-16 December 2025
Our weekly round-up of public service…