Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
Public media is in peril and facing many challenges. Social media platforms are presenting an existential crisis to public service media. Governments are trying to extend their control and influence on the editorial output of the broadcasters. Funding systems for many are up in the air. Journalists are facing threats, attacks and harassment, both online and in-person. But it’s also an exciting time for public service media – digital platforms provide new opportunities to reach audiences, technology means public broadcasters can be innovative in how they provide a public service.
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What we're watching...
Is the Trump administration eroding freedom of the press? | The Excerpt
USA Today: It started with the banning of the Associated Press from certain White House events over its refusal to use the term “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico.” Then there was a recent FBI search of a Washington Post reporter’s home. And then in January two journalists, including former CNN host, Don Lemon were arrested following an immigration protest at Cities Church in St Paul, Minnesota. What’s happening to freedom of the press? First Amendment scholar RonNell Andersen Jones, professor of law at the University of Utah, joins The Excerpt to dig into all of it.
What we're listening to...
“A sorry spectacle”: incidents continue to erupt at the public broadcasting inquiry committee (French)
Radio France: Riddled with incidents since its launch, the parliamentary commission of inquiry into public broadcasting is putting on “a sorry spectacle,” its chairman lamented on Thursday, deeming it necessary “that the slander, pressure and external interference cease.”
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ETHIOPIA: No Credible Elections Without Media Freedom
The Reporter Ethiopia: As Ethiopia heads toward the 7th general elections due to be held on June 1, the credibility of the process will not be judged merely by the ballots cast or the votes counted. It will be judged by whether citizens are genuinely informed, whether debate is free, and whether scrutiny is possible.
ETHIOPIA: Pulitzer Center-Supported: Radio Fosters National Dialogue on Ethiopia’s Hydropower Future
Pulitzer Centre: In Ethiopia, EMMA Radio & TV Media used the power of community broadcasting, supported by the Helmsley Charitable Trust through the Pulitzer Center, to translate a complex geopolitical story into a vital national conversation on water, energy, and regional cooperation.
GHANA: Afenyo-Markin donates 10 laptops and 10 desktops to GBC to support operations
GBC Ghana Online: The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has fulfilled a promise he made to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) by donating computers to the Corporation.
GHANA: GBC-DG re-echoes establishment of ECOWAS TV Channel
GBC Ghana Online: The Director General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, (GBC) Prof. Amin Alhassan, is pushing for a dedicated ECOWAS TV channel to boost regional integration. The proposed ECOWAS channel aims to unite 300 million people, showcasing regional achievements and share information on ECOWAS activities.
GHANA: GTV Fires Back at Zambian Critics Over Ghana’s Fugu Cloth, Post Sparks Online Debate
Yen News: Ghana’s national broadcaster, GTV, entered the growing online debate surrounding President John Mahama’s attire during his state visit to Zambia.
KENYA: Radio Citizen And Radio Jambo Compete For Dominance In Rural And Urban Areas
Broadcast Media Africa: Kenya’s radio landscape is undergoing significant changes as Radio Jambo and Radio Citizen vie for audience supremacy.
MOROCCO: Outrage Grows Over Escalating Defamation Against Independent Voices
AL24 News: Moroccan media and political bodies have warned against the rising wave of defamation and fabricated scandals targeting the country’s independent voices, underscoring the urgent need for unity to put an end to media blackmail and the exploitation of citizens’ reputations.
MOZAMBIQUE: Journalists’ Union threatens to boycott coverage of government events in Manica province
Club of Mozambique: The National Union of Journalists (SNJ), in the central Mozambican province of Manica, have threatened to boycott journalistic coverage of government events unless the attempted assassination against a prominent journalist is clarified.
NAMIBIA: NBC denies plans to re-interview director general candidates (26 January)
The Namibian: The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has denied claims that it plans to conduct re-interviews for the position of director general.
Reporters Without Borders: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) firmly condemns the arbitrary detention of Gazali Abdou Tasawa, Niger correspondent for the international German public service broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), who was detained in Niamey, the country’s capital, on 23 January 2025.
Business Day NG: Raymond Dokpesi Jr., Chairman of DAAR Communications, has called on the Federal Government to declare a national emergency for Nigeria’s broadcasting sector, warning that unsustainable economics, regulatory obstacles, and digital disruption threaten the industry.
SENEGAL: Political tour: Sonko “categorically refuses media coverage from RTS” (Pape Alé Niang)
PressAfrik: Twenty-four hours after the start of this tour, scheduled to end on February 8, Pape Alé Niang, Director General of the Senegalese Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation (RTS), confirmed that the political leader “categorically refused media coverage from the national broadcaster’s team,” as well as from members of the Prime Minister’s office who were supposed to accompany him.
SENEGAL: Starlink Launches In Senegal To Enhance Connectivity And Digital Inclusion
Broadcast Media Africa: Starlink, the satellite internet service developed by SpaceX, has officially launched in Senegal, marking a significant milestone as the company expands its presence across Africa, now reaching 26 countries on the continent.
Horn Observer: Journalists in Somalia are increasingly finding themselves in the crosshairs of political and security authorities, as Parliament imposed punitive action to ban journalists who recently reported the chaos of the parliament, while members of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) raided a local radio station in the Somali capital Mogadishu, scenarios that paint a troubling picture of shrinking space for independent journalism in Somalia.
SOUTH AFRICA: Committee satisfied with work done on proposed SABC funding: Diko
SABC: Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies Khusela Diko has expressed satisfaction on the work done to develop the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) funding model.
SOUTH AFRICA: End of SABC TV licences discussed in secret
MyBroadband: Debates about the future of the SABC TV Licence took a turn on Friday night when the details of plans for a new funding model for South Africa’s public broadcaster were discussed behind closed doors.
SOUTH AFRICA: Request for part of SABC funding report not to be made public
SABC: The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has requested Parliament not to disclose part of the report on the proposed new funding model for the SABC to the public.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC’s Afrikaans news BACK to original timeslot
The South African: The SABC has confirmed news that the Afrikaans news segment will return to its old timeslot of 18:30, as of Monday, 9 February. This comes after the public broadcaster admitted to making a “mistake” in reshuffling and reducing Afrikaans content in the last few years.
ZAMBIA: KAWANA Urges Speed on Broadcasting Regulations
ZNBC: Information and Media Permanent Secretary THABO KAWANA has urged drafters of regulations for the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation –ZNBC- Act No. 26 of 2025 and the Independent Broadcasting Authority –IBA- Act No. 25 of 2025 to accelerate their work ahead of the dissolution of Cabinet.
ZIMBABWE: Regulator Issues Warning On Protection Of Children Against Explicit Digital Content
Broadcast Media Africa: The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has issued a stern warning regarding the proliferation of explicit digital content available in the country.
AZERBAIJAN: A win for media freedom in the European Court
Article 19: ARTICLE 19 welcomes the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in Ismayilova vs. Azerbaijan, concerning prosecution of a leading Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova.
BANGLADESH: Protect journalists during the election
Article 19: ARTICLE 19 and 21 other organisations have issued a joint submission to the Election Commission of Bangladesh (ECB) and UNESCO Bangladesh to highlight concerns and provide recommendations regarding the safety, protection, and working conditions of journalists during the electoral period and on election day, scheduled for 12 February 2026.
CAMBODIA & VIETNAM: Cambodia and Vietnam bolster media cooperation to accelerate digital transition
RadioInfo Asia: Cambodia’s Ministry of Information and the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) have moved to deepen their bilateral cooperation, focusing on a comprehensive digital overhaul of Cambodia’s national broadcasting infrastructure.
HONG KONG: Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong’s biggest media trial
Committee to Protect Journalists: The Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday condemned the sentencing of publisher Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison and jail terms of six to 10 years for former colleagues from the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, in Hong Kong’s largest media trial.
INDIA: Prasar Bharati adopting digital-first content strategy: Murugan
Indian Broadcasting World: India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has adopted a digital-first content strategy for its platforms, including the streaming service, which is indicative of the pubcaster’s changing business plans for distribution of its content and expand viewership base, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting L Murugan said yesterday.
INDIA & UK: BBC Changes Its India News Operations After New Rules
Showbiz Journal: The British public broadcaster BBC has reorganised its news operations in India to obey India’s foreign investment rules for digital media. The changes come after months of regulatory scrutiny, including tax surveys and penalties. Observers say this is one of the biggest shifts in how the BBC operates outside the UK.
PAKISTAN: Last week’s most heartbreaking setback for press freedom
Journalism Pakistan: Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court said it cannot continue oversight of the investigation into journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing in Kenya. His family and media groups warned the ruling undermines accountability for cross-border attacks on journalists.
SOUTH KOREA: KBS launches AI TV studio, transforms broadcasting production in South Korea
Chosunbiz: KBS (President Park Jang-beom) has completed an “AI TV studio” (hereinafter “AI studio”) based on PTZ cameras to digitally transform the broadcasting production environment and is starting full-scale operations.
SRI LANKA: Police target media amid freedom of expression crackdown
IFJ: Sri Lankan authorities have intensified a crackdown on media freedom through the unlawful summoning of investigative journalist Tharindu Jayawardena and a police request to revoke the broadcasting license of the Hiru Media Network.
TAIWAN & UKRAINE: International reporter exchange deepens global understanding of Ukraine and Taiwan situation
Rti: Capping off two months of cooperation, Radio Taiwan International (Rti) hosted a conference Monday, February 2, to celebrate the success of the exchange program with Ukrainian journalists Taras Andrukhovych and Anna Lvova.
THAILAND: Thai PBS will open its Peace Room to report live, real-time election results on February 8th. (Press release – Thai)
Thai PBS: Thai PBS will open its Peace Room, election command center, and Press Center on February 8th, reporting live, real-time election results from polling stations.
THAILAND: Thailand upgrades radio broadcasting infrastructure with Orban
RadioInfo Asia: The Public Relations Department of Thai Government Radio (PRD) has successfully completed the installation of its radio transmission equipment with the Orban OPTIMOD 5950 Digital Audio Processor, marking a significant improvement of its audio broadcasting infrastructure.
The Guardian: Journalists at the ABC who cover any topic which comes under the remit of the royal commission into antisemitism received a sobering edict from news boss Justin Stevens on Friday: they cannot send or receive confidential Signal messages because no communications can be destroyed.
AUSTRALIA: ABC to air Four Corners episode on Bondi terror attack despite preemptive criticism by Asio
The Guardian: Intelligence agency takes unusual step of publicly releasing statement and says it will ‘reserve our right to take further action’ if the ABC makes false claims.
AUSTRALIA: SBS Media Sustainability Challenge returns for 2026 (Press release)
SBS: National broadcaster SBS has opened applications for the SBS Media Sustainability Challenge with the aim of again encouraging brands to normalise sustainable behaviour and highlight better environmental practices for Australian consumers.
FIJI: Trauma-informed journalism is vital to avoid further harm
FBC: Psychologist Elenoa Lesuma is calling for local journalists to adopt “trauma-informed” reporting when covering crime or death, warning that careless coverage can cause further harm.
NEW ZEALAND: How fake NZ news pages are swamping Facebook with AI slop
RNZ: A flood of “fake NZ news” pages are swamping social media with misleading slop, including using AI to animate still photos of a Mount Maunganui landslide victim.
NEW ZEALAND: Media Council dismisses four complaints against RNZ
RNZ: The Media Council has found that four complaints against RNZ did not have sufficient grounds to proceed.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Veteran Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation’s announcer says one of the best rewards from her role is that ‘you earn a lot of respect’ (29 January – Listen)
ABC
TIMOR LESTE: Big moment for the young Timorese Journalists telling the stories that matter to their country
ABC: When Cidalia da Conceição opened the envelope, she struggled to find words. “I’m nervous, excited,” she said. “I don’t know how to tell it. I never felt it before. It feels like a gift in the new year.”
ALBANIA: Democratic reform of public broadcaster RTSH remains only viable option
IPI: Using funding cuts, suspension, or closure as reform tools violates EU principles for public service media.
ALBANIA & ITALY: RTSH and RAI strengthen cooperation in public broadcasting – cooperation agreement signed in Rome (German)
RTSH: The Director General of Albanian Radio and Television (RTSH), Eni Vasili, today signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Radio Televisione Italiana (RAI) in Rome. The agreement marks a significant step towards deepening international cooperation between the two public broadcasters
BELGIUM: In Belgium, public broadcasting services are in the crosshairs of the liberal right. (Paywall – French)
Le Monde: A controversy has arisen between RTBF and the media minister of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, who welcomed the retirement of two members – labeled socialists – of the group’s management.
BELGIUM: The president of the MR party wants a special commission on public broadcasting; Les Engagés do not. (French)
La Libre: For the centrist partner, other mechanisms already exist to control RTBF.
CZECH REPUBLIC: The CEOs of Czech Television and Czech Radio jointly call for a discussion on the financing of public media (Czech)
Český Rozhlas: We take the debate about the current intentions of the Czech government to change the system of financing public media with great seriousness. Czech Television and Czech Radio fulfill their legally mandated mission in the areas of information, education, culture, sports, care for language and cultural heritage, and support for minorities and regions.
CZECH REPUBLIC: The majority of the members of the Czech Television Council called on the government to discuss the financing of public media (Czech)
Forum24: Of the current 17 members of the Czech Television Council, 11, or the majority (and one member of the Czech Radio Council), are calling on the government, as well as MPs and senators, to discuss the financing of public service media.
FRANCE: In France, public broadcasting is under attack (Watch – French)
Arte: In France, public broadcasting is under attack within a parliamentary inquiry committee whose rapporteur, MP Charles Alloncle, is a member of the UDR, a party allied with the National Rally. In this tense context, the head of France Inter, Adèle Van Reeth, will leave her post to return to the airwaves, Radio France management announced.
FRANCE: Members of Parliament denounce a “witch hunt” within the public broadcasting committee (Paywall – French)
Le Monde: Four members of the public broadcasting inquiry committee are asking Yaël Braun-Pivet, the president of the National Assembly, to once again call to order the rapporteur and Ciotti member of parliament, Charles Alloncle.
GEORGIA: Attacks on media workers in Georgia in 2025 (Report)
JfJ: In Georgia, 250 cases of attacks/threats against professional media workers and editorial offices of both traditional and online publications were identified and analysed in the course of the study for 2025.
GEORGIA: How Georgian public broadcaster was distorted into a government mouthpiece (Interview)
MFRR: Last year, press freedom in Georgia continued to rapidly decline as the ruling Georgian Dream party intensified its crackdown on dissent. Journalists were arbitrarily detained, brutally assaulted and intimidated, amidst wider democratic erosion.
GERMANY: “Neutrality is not part of our mission”: ARD chief counters Klöckner’s criticism of public broadcasting (Paywall – German)
Berliner Zeitung: ARD Chairman Florian Hager rejects Julia Klöckner’s criticism of public broadcasting. Her accusations are too sweeping.
RSF: Journalists in Germany are facing growing threats as political polarisation, disinformation and hostility toward the media continue to rise.
ITALY: After Pucci, Cerno. The Democratic Party wants to censor him: “No programs on RAI.” (Italian)
Il Giornale: A segment of the Democratic Party is once again attacking Tommaso Cerno, challenging his possible hosting of a Rai TV show. The director rejects the accusations and denounces an attempt to censor dissenting voices.
LATVIA: Survey suggests public media are important in a crisis situation
LSM: Latvian society is very interested in the economic situation in Latvia, but the performance of the Latvian Public Media (LSM) on this topic is assessed more critically this year than a year ago, according to the results of a population survey carried out by the Norstat polling agency.
LITHUANIA: The working group on LRT governance agreed to establish a board of the national broadcaster (Lithuanian)
LRT: The Seimas working group reviewing the governance of the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) decided that a new governing body of the national broadcaster, the board, should be established, as well as the number of council members should be increased.
MOLDOVA & JAPAN: Moldova Parliament backs €1.2M Japanese grant to modernize national broadcaster
Moldova 1: The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova gave its initial approval on February 5 to a 192 million yen grant from the Government of Japan. The funding, totaling approximately €1.05 million (approx. 21 million MDL), is earmarked for technical consultancy and high-end equipment procurement for Teleradio-Moldova (TRM).
MONTENEGRO: IFJ and EFJ raise concerns about labour and trade union rights at public service broadcaster RTCG
IFJ: The International and European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ), and their Montenegrin affiliate, the Trade Union of Media in Montenegro (TUMM), have expressed serious and growing concern about the situation of labour and trade union rights at the public service broadcaster Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG).
THE NETHERLANDS: Dutch public broadcasting: protesters campaign against drastic cuts to media infrastructure
Global Comments: Organizations of filmmakers and journalists began taking action to fight for what we are calling a Public Broadcasting Emergency Package. Our message is that, like a railway line or a bridge, public broadcasting is a crucial part of the Netherlands’ critical infrastructure.
THE NETHERLANDS: Perspective on a future-proof public broadcaster (Press release – Dutch)
NPO: The presented coalition agreement offers perspectives for public broadcasting. It clarifies the reform of the broadcasting system: with four broadcasting houses, a dedicated broadcasting house, and a coordinating role for the NPO, we can shape ourselves into a future-proof public broadcaster that is relevant to society as a whole.
POLAND & ROMANIA: Telewizja Polska launches Romanian-language version of “Vot Tak. Moldova” (Press release)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland: Telewizja Polska (TVP), the Polish national broadcaster, expands its media offering for the audiences in the Republic of Moldova. The launch of the Romanian-language version of the “Vot Tak. Moldova” channel ensures access to credible information in the country’s official language.
ROMANIA: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is being closed in Romania (Bulgarian)
Sega News: The Romanian section of Radio Free Europe, funded by the United States Congress, will cease its activities. It will be officially closed on March 31, local media reported, adding that the Bulgarian section will also be closed soon, BTA reported.
SWITZERLAND: Major Swiss film festivals warn against initiative to reduce licence fee
Swissinfo.ch: The film festival umbrella organisation “Conférence des Festivals” has warned of the consequences of the licence fee initiative, on which Swiss voters will decide on March 8.
SWITZERLAND: Thousands show support for public broadcaster in Ticino
Swissinfo.ch: Several thousand people in the southern Swiss city of Bellinzona have demonstrated against the “CHF200 francs is enough!” public broadcaster financing initiative.
UK: BBC and C4 should forge ‘deeper’ ties, says UK creative industries minister
IBC: The UK’s BBC and Channel 4 should forge closer ties in an effort to compete with global streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix, according to Ian Murray, the UK’s Minister for the Creative Industries.
UK: BBC World Service faces funding cliff edge in seven weeks, says Tim Davie
The Guardian: As trust in Russia and China’s state broadcasters grows, director general warns of the dangers of cutting back the service.
UK: New BBC findings point to ‘belief-based’ friendships among young adults (Press release)
BBC: Over one third of young people say they find it hard to be friends with those who don’t share their views, according to new research done by the BBC.
UK: TV licence fee to rise by £5.50 to £180 from April
BBC: The fee pays for BBC shows and services, and its cost increases in line with inflation every year until 2027, following an agreement made in 2022.
UKRAINE: Archives as Memory and Evidence: a discussion on Suspilne’s role in preserving history took place in Kyiv (Press release)
Suspilne: Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has intensified the need to preserve cultural heritage and audiovisual archives — especially those documenting contemporary history.
EFJ
REGIONAL: Eurobarometer shows the EU must strengthen Europe’s media ecosystem
EFJ: This is the conclusion drawn by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) after reading the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey on citizens’ concern about communication-related risks, such as disinformation, fake content generated by artificial intelligence, independence of the media, Big Tech’s dominance, and threats to freedom of expression.
ARGENTINA: End of the name “Public TV”: the Government announced changes to the channel and did not rule out its closure (Spanish)
Tele Solidario: Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni confirmed that the state-run channel will no longer be called Televisión Pública (Public Television) as part of the plan to adjust and reorganize public media. Although it cannot be privatized, its closure was considered.
ARGENTINA: Milei government creates office to refute ‘media operations’ (Portuguese)
Carta Capital: The government of Argentine President Javier Milei announced on Thursday, the 5th, the creation of an Official Response Office of the Argentine Republic, an account on X to “refute” what he considers lies from the media against his administration.
COLOMBIA: María Fernanda Cabal questioned RTVC for omitting balanced reporting: “Where is the impartiality?” (Spanish)
Infobae: Former Justice Minister Wilson Ruiz joined Cabal’s criticisms and announced she will take legal action
COSTA RICA: Deputies approve law to eliminate jail sentences against journalists for libel and slander (Spanish)
CR HOY: The Legislative Assembly approved, with 43 votes in favor in the second and final debate, the bill to eliminate jail sentences against journalists , in order to guarantee the free exercise of the profession, by repealing two articles of the Press Law, when the complainants argue crimes against honor such as slander or libel
JAMAICA: Cable operators left out in the cold after Hurricane Melissa
The Gleaner: The Jamaica Association of Community Cable Operators says the destruction of utility poles and fibre-optic cables tied to the Jamaica Public Service grid has crippled service in many communities, leading to widespread job losses and cutting off local access to news and emergency information.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Regional Workshop Strengthens Disaster Risk Communication Across the Caribbean
Devdiscourse: Astrong, trusted communication system is essential to ensure early warnings translate into life-saving action, and Caribbean countries are stepping up efforts to close this critical gap in disaster preparedness.
VENEZUELA: Officials detained DW en Español correspondent in Caracas for a couple of hours (Spanish)
Cronica Uno: Caracas. Police officers arrested journalist Álvaro Algarra , correspondent for the German television channel DW in Spanish , on Wednesday morning, February 4.
VENZUELA: One month after Jan. 3, censorship in Venezuela shows no sign of easing
LatAm Journalism Review: One month after Jan. 3, Venezuela’s information space shows no signs of recovery. What has unfolded since then is a sequence of events that confirms the persistence of an environment hostile to the practice of journalism, marked by direct controls, administrative sanctions, public warnings and the repeated use of state force as a mechanism to deter the flow of information.
IRAN & UK: BBC launches emergency lifeline radio programme for Iran (Press release)
BBC: The BBC World Service has launched a temporary emergency lifeline radio programme for Iran in response to the ongoing turmoil in the country, and the unprecedented crackdown on protests.
IRAN & UK: BBC Persian journalists say Iran monitoring them and targeting their families
The Guardian: Exiled Iranian journalists working for the BBC have been warned their movements are being closely monitored by the state, as they said their families in Iran were being interrogated and persecuted for their reporting.
ISRAEL: Public broadcaster warns against leaks of Israel’s Eurovision song
YNet News: Kan says unauthorized release before EBU approval could trigger legal action, possible sanctions and even disqualification of Israel’s entry
ISRAEL: With or without a ceasefire, Israel is still targeting Gaza’s journalists
+972 Magazine: Since October, we journalists in Gaza had hoped that the declaration of a ceasefire would finally give us space to catch our breath…
LEBANON: Lebanese state revives Lebanon Television, but is it too late?
The New Arab: After years of administrative paralysis and financial erosion, Lebanon Television has returned, seeking, for the first time in a long time, to regain a minimum level of presence and public role.
QATAR: TikTok And Qatar Commit To A Global Creator Ecosystem
Broadcast Media Africa: …A key highlight of their participation was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government Communications Office of Qatar (GCO). This collaborative effort aims to establish a multi-year program to identify and support global creative talent.
QATAR & SAUDI ARABIA: Qatar and Saudi Arabia discuss strengthening media cooperation
Qatar Tribune: Senior media officials from Qatar and Saudi Arabia have held talks in Riyadh aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries’ media industry.
CANADA: CBC/Radio-Canada and public libraries teaming up to bring the Winter Olympics and Paralympics to communities across Canada (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic Network, today announced that it is teaming up with public library systems to bring the excitement of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games into local libraries across the country.
CANADA: CBC/Radio-Canada drives growth with digital innovation, local ties
RedTech: CBC/Radio-Canada continues to accelerate its digital transformation, driven by strong online growth and audience engagement. Its monthly digital reach climbed to 21.1 million visitors, surpassing the target of 20.7 million.
US: As the nation’s eyes turn to Minneapolis, they’re also turning to Minnesota Public Radio
NiemanLab: Long one of the strongest public media outlets in the country, MPR has reached new traffic highs amid the ICE raids and protests there. Here’s our regular ranking of the top 25 public radio websites in the United States.
US: It’s time for public radio to reclaim its educational identity (Opinion)
Current: In a post-CPB world, embracing our original purpose as a “school of the sky” is not nostalgia — it is strategy.
US: Lawmakers push for public media funding in next state budget
Spartan Newsroom: Legislation introduced by Rep. Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, would create a $13 million public media fund in the state budget, designated to support public television and radio stations.
US: Nancy Pelosi warns press freedom is ‘under siege’ after arrest of journalist
The Guardian: The Democratic former speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, said on Wednesday that press freedom is “under siege” in the United States after the Trump administration arrested a prominent journalist and searched the home of another.
US: NBC appears to cut crowd’s booing of JD Vance from Winter Olympics broadcast
The Guardian: The US vice-president, JD Vance, was greeted by a chorus of boos when he appeared at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday, although American viewers watching NBC’s coverage would have been unaware of the reception.
US: ‘Phoebe & Jay’ teach literacy skills for everyday life
Current: The new PBS Kids series aims to address a literacy learning gap that develops before children enter school.
US: Post cuts ripple through US journalism industry
Semafor: The Washington Post’s decision to slash a third of its staff prompted an outcry in Washington and around the world. The cuts, which included axing its sports reporters and gutting its foreign desks, renewed calls among some media figures for owner Jeff Bezos to consider selling the storied newspaper.
US: Trump calls PBS and NPR ‘a waste of money’ at funding bill signing
PBS: President Donald Trump said Tuesday that PBS and NPR are “a waste of money,” having convinced the Republican-led Congress to gut funding for U.S. public media last year.
Future Media Hubs: The 2026 Trend Report focusses on the biggest (and smaller) trends for media companies looking into business strategies, MediaTech, AI, audience engagement, games, interactive media and news.
Making EMFA and DSA work (Event – Webinar)
CMPF: Building on the previous EMFA Talk on the implementation of Article 18 of the European Media Freedom Act — which allows self-declared media to request protection from content moderation on Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) — this session expands the discussion to the interplay between Articles 18 and 19 of the EMFA and the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Notes from Berlin: Is AI breaking journalism and what is the roadmap for industry’s future
IPI: Takeaways from IPI’s visit to the DW Akademie event charting a path forward for journalism in the age of AI.
Reworking Broadcast Newsroom Operations For The Age Of AI – What To Pay Attention To
Broadcast Media Africa: As generative artificial intelligence rapidly becomes embedded across the media value chain, broadcast newsrooms are being challenged to rethink how journalism is produced, distributed, and governed—without compromising editorial integrity.
RSF analysis of 100 deepfakes shows mounting threat to journalists — especially women
RSF: Powered by the explosive rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes — fake digital videos and soundclips that impersonate real people — are flooding the online information space at scale worldwide.
The career advice that journalists rarely hear
Journalism UK: Be prepared to walk away from your dream job, take part-time shifts or reskill entirely, says freelance journalist and career happiness coach Jenny Holliday – this might be the push you need
Why governments are tightening control over online platforms
Journalism Pakistan: Governments around the world are increasingly tightening their control over online platforms and digital spaces, driven by concerns over national security, misinformation, youth safety, cybercrime, and political dissent.
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