AFGHANISTAN: Five years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan: a growing arsenal of repressive measures against journalism (French) 

RSF: Since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021, the de facto authorities have issued more than twenty national directives and a growing list of provincial decrees aimed at dismantling press freedom

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AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijan establishes Media and Broadcasting Council – decree

Trend News Agency: The Media and Broadcasting Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been established.

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BANGLADESH: Bangladesh bars media from broadcasting Sheikh Hasina’s speech ahead of first public appearance

Connected to India: The Bangladesh government has warned the country’s media not to publish or broadcast any statement by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is expected to make her first public appearance from India since her ouster in 2024 through a virtual press conference.

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HONG KONG: Hong Kong Journalists Association hit by escalating harassment campaign

RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is outraged by the harassment campaign unfolding on multiple fronts against the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and its members in the lead-up to the election of its executive committee.

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INDIA: No editorial, autonomy-related complaints about public broadcasters in last year: Govt in Lok Sabha

The Print: The government on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that no grievances or formal representations concerning the autonomy, appointments, or editorial functioning of public broadcasters were received from journalists, employees, or media bodies in the last one year.

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INDIA: The Newsroom Reset: Why India’s media industry is letting its people go?

Exchange4Media: More than 1,000 media jobs are estimated to have been lost in 2026 as weak economics, AI, and restructuring remake Indian newsrooms. 

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INDONESIA & SINGAPORE: How Indonesia and Singapore handle information pressure

News Gram: From election debates to AI‑manipulated content, audiences in both countries rely on legacy media for credibility while increasingly consuming politics through fast, visual and creator‑driven formats.

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JAPAN: NHK, Fuji TV, TBS: Inside the Scandals Shaking Japan’s Television Industry

Tokyo Weekender: A new controversy at NHK has added to a growing list of scandals confronting Japan’s television industry. An external investigation found that the public broadcaster failed to adequately support an employee who reported an alleged sexual assault by a program guest, prompting a public apology from management.

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KYRGYZSTAN: Criminal case opened over attack on UTRK journalist in Kyrgyzstan

24 KG: Police have detained a suspect in the assault of the editor of Telekuzot, a program of the Kyrgyz National Television and Radio Broadcasting Corporation (UTRK). The Main Department of Internal Affairs of Bishkek reported.

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MALDIVES: ‘Not new observations’: abuse of state resources, a one-sided broadcaster and normalised vote-buying

Maldives Independent: State resources at ruling party campaign events at two and a half times the rate seen at the largest opposition party’s. A state broadcaster that published 11 articles favouring the constitutional referendum and not one making the substantive case against. Vote-buying offers across party lines ranging between MVR1,000 (US$65) and MVR50,000 a vote. All three are among key findings in a review of the 4 April polls released by Transparency Maldives on Wednesday.

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MYANMAR: RSF and Mizzima re-establish vital information channel via shortwave radio

RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the independent Burmese media outlet Mizzima have joined forces to launch “Voice of Independent Myanmar”, a shortwave radio program aimed at providing vital information to the Burmese population, which is facing civil war and censorship by the military junta.

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NEPAL: The media is watching power—but who is watching the media?

My Republica: A government led by politicians with deep media backgrounds is increasingly relying on social media while leaving Nepal’s struggling media sector in need of urgent reform and institutional support.

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SOUTH KOREA: KBS Launches ‘AI Production’ Hub for AI-Powered Content Creation

KBS: KBS opened “AI Production” on August 3, 2026, a dedicated hub supporting the use of generative AI throughout the content production process.

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TAIWAN: Petition opposing budget cuts to Taiwan’s public broadcaster surpasses 150,000 signatures

Taiwan News: PTS warns proposed reductions could severely affect TaiwanPlus and domestic content production

AUSTRALIA: ABC apologises to Gina Rinehart over controversial Race Around the World episode

The Guardian: Hugh Marks says broadcaster will change its policies after Rinehart’s company said crude joke posed ‘serious risks’

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AUSTRALIA: ABC listen becomes a multi-platform storytelling destination with launch of video podcasts (Press release) 

ABC: ABC listen has launched video podcasts in the ABC listen app. The video gives Australian audiences a new way to experience the ABC’s growing slate of video-first and video-enhanced podcasts.

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AUSTRALIA: ABC Opening Statement for the public hearing of the Parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (Statement)

ABC: Chair and Committee Members, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today on behalf of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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AUSTRALIA: Indigenous journalists detail experiences of racism in newsrooms and media to inquiry

NITV: Ignoring successful community-led solutions in favour of ‘crisis and conflict’ contributes to negative public perception, the inquiry heard, and can lead to poor public policy.

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AUSTRALIA: Opening Statement: Public hearing of the Inquiry into Racism, Hate and Violence Directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (Statement)

SBS: The following is SBS’s opening statement delivered by Tanya Denning-Orman, SBS Director, First Nations, for the public hearing of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Racism, Hate and Violence Directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, held in Melbourne on Thursday 6 August 2026.

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AUSTRALIA: Press Freedom: holding the line on the public’s right to know (Blog)

IFJ: Australian politicians and public authorities are increasingly restricting journalists’ access to information and targeting media workers whose reporting they dislike.

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NEW ZEALAND: A Murdoch return to NZ media? How the family’s history here began

Stuff: The Murdoch family could potentially re-enter the New Zealand media landscape through an acquisition of MediaWorks by Nova Entertainment.

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REGIONAL: Are social media algorithms killing Pacific news?

Dev Policy: Facebook is strangling Pacific journalism, with some news organisations losing up to 70% of their audience almost overnight.

AUSTRIA: ORF launch plagued by severe turbulence (Paywall – German) 

Der Standard: A decrease of 93 million annually, political restructuring plans, investigations, and a series of managers falling victim to compliance: Clemens Pig and his yet-to-be-appointed team are heading straight into the eye of the ORF storm.

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AUSTRIA: Peter Schöber dismissed and suspended as head of ORF 3 (German) 

Der Standard: Investigation revealed: “Exhibited behaviors incompatible with the function of a manager at ORF,” ORF Director General Thurnher wrote to the board of trustees.

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BELARUS: Imprisonment and exile of journalists continues six years on from the fraudulent presidential election 

EFJ: Six years on from the fraudulent Belarusian elections of 9 August 2020, the crackdown on press freedom in Belarus has intensified, with 21 journalists currently imprisoned and those in exile facing intimidation.

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BELGIUM: Behind every online comment is a human: this is how VRT supports on-screen personalities (Press release) 

VRT

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BELGIUM: In Belgian living rooms, the remote control is changing worlds and television is now watched differently. (French) 

RTBF: In five years, 600,000 Belgians have cancelled their traditional television subscriptions. In living rooms and telecom stores alike, viewing habits are changing.

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BULGARIA: Bulgarian National Radio supplements traffic information in six regional stations (Press release – Bulgarian) 

BNR: In a time when one minute can change the entire journey, timely information is invaluable. That is why the Bulgarian National Radio unites the power of its national and regional network to reach people first with the most important information about road safety and traffic

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CZECH REPUBLIC: Ministry of Foreign Affairs excludes journalist from press conference

IFJ: Zdislava Pokorná, a journalist working for the independent daily newspaper Deník N, was denied accreditation to attend a press conference organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is the second time that Pokorná has been barred from attending a government press conference.

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DENMARK: Schoolchildren have written 10 new episodes of the DR series ‘The Class’ (Press release – Danish) 

DR: When the new season of DR Ultra’s series ‘The Class’ premieres on DRTV on August 10, it will feature stories created by those who know the most about life at school: the children themselves.

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FINLAND: Yle is still looking for possible new premises in Tampere – no decision has been made to leave Tohloppi (Finnish) 

Yle: According to Yle CEO Marit af Björkesten, one possibility is that Yle will operate in the center of Tampere in the future.

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FRANCE: France 24 in English now offers subtitles accessible 24/7 on all its broadcast platforms (Press release – French) 

FMM: Developed in collaboration with france.tv access, the accessibility label of france.tv studio, this innovation relies on high-performance automatic AI transcription technology.

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FRANCE: Media freedom: France is more than a year behind in implementing European rules (Paywall – French) 

Le Monde: One year after the entry into force of the European regulation on media freedom, France has still not implemented these rules intended to encourage pluralism, the independence of public broadcasting and the confidentiality of sources.

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FRANCE: Report on “impartiality in public broadcasting”: “Public channels must be exemplary,” according to its author, Bruno Lasserre from Bordeaux. (Paywall – French) 

Sud Ouest: Better distinction between humor and information, restraint on social media… Senior civil servant Bruno Lasserre details the recommendations of his report on impartiality in public broadcasting

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GERMANY: Association calls on ARD and ZDF to oppose the AfD’s plans (German) 

EPD Medien: The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt has announced that it intends to terminate the state treaties governing public service broadcasting should it form a government following the election in September. The IÖR warns that this would threaten the very core of democracy.

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GERMANY: Can the AfD abolish public broadcasting? (German) 

BR24: The AfD has been repeatedly threatening to abolish public broadcasting for years. Could this threat become reality after the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania? And what would the consequences be?

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GREECE: IPI welcomes strong anti-SLAPP law as welcome boost for press freedom

IPI: New law protects journalists against both domestic and cross border SLAPPs

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HUNGARY: Stopped broadcast, layoffs: Hungary media eyes post-Orban renewal

France24: A month after Hungary’s state broadcaster MTVA suspended its news programmes, many employees are still waiting at home to hear when — or if — they can return to work.

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HUNGARY: Why is it a problem if Péter Magyar decides who can lead Hungary’s public media?

Daily News Hungary: Péter Magyar’s intervention in two public media appointments has caused debate over the independence of Hungary’s state broadcaster.

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IRELAND: Revised Media Pluralism Policy published (Press release) 

Coimisiún na Meán: Coimisiún na Meán has today (06.08.2026) published its revised Media Pluralism Policy. We have a number of powers, functions and responsibilities to protect freedom of expression and ensure pluralism of the media.

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ITALY: Rai opposes hate campaigns. Solidarity with Brunori, Boccia, and Monteleone. (Press release – Italian) 

Rai: The publication of content that exposes individual employees through their images, names, or personal details, making them targets of dangerous delegitimization campaigns, is a serious matter.

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THE NETHERLANDS: Manager of public broadcaster NPO suspended after sending dick pic in group chat with colleagues (Dutch) 

VRT: In the Netherlands, one of the managers of the public broadcaster NPO has been suspended after sending a dick pic in a group chat with colleagues. NPO confirms the incident and has appointed an external investigative agency to investigate the matter.

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SLOVAKIA: The Media Services Council and the STVR Council have shortcomings in their oversight of public media (Slovak) 

DennikN: The Media Services Council and the STVR Council have shortcomings in their oversight of public media, stated the organizations Via Iuris, Memo 98, Transparency International Slovakia, and Reporters Without Borders after the media councils assessed their initiative to the STVR.

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SPAIN: RTVE increases spending on rights with its commitment to football and the national team, pledging more than 600 million euros until 2032 (Spanish) 

El Mundo: The public company holds rights to the upcoming European Championship, the Copa del Rey and key matches of European club competitions, as well as films and programs

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SWEDEN: Now we are sharpening the promise for SVT’s local journalism (Press release – Swedish) 

SVT: Local journalism is crucial – not just during elections and major news events. When media habits change, new demands are placed on SVT.

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SWITZERLAND: Three journalists in exile in Switzerland tell their stories 

Swissinfo.ch: In many countries, press freedom and journalists face far greater threats than in Switzerland. But for those seeking refuge here and looking to continue their careers, the challenges are considerable.

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UK: BBC hires 26-year-old entrepreneur to help reach younger audiences

The Guardian: Brandon Relph, who founded first company at 13, joins strategy team in ‘much-needed step’ for the broadcaster

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UK: S4C to invest more in digital content for learners (Press release) 

S4C: S4C has announced that it will expand its provision for learners by investing an additional £100,000 in a package of digital content to support those learning Welsh.

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UK & US: US federal judge halts order for Trump to turn over financial records to BBC

The Guardian: Judge issues temporary pause while he considers Trump’s request to revise his libel lawsuit against BBC

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UKRAINE: Registration for Suspilne PRO has begun (Event – Press release) 

Suspilne: The event will be of interest to producers, directors, documentary filmmakers, screenwriters, creators of audiovisual content, representatives of TV channels, media outlets, and online platforms, distributors, cultural managers, researchers, representatives of the film industry, the creative sector, and international organizations.

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REGIONAL: One year on, most EU member states flouting the European Media Freedom Act 

RSF: Member states of the European Union (EU) have had nearly a year to align their national legislation with the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). Yet, the majority have failed to do so.

ISRAEL: The Impunity Machine

CJR: Human rights groups say the Israeli military’s killing of a Lebanese journalist was a war crime. Israel has faced no consequences.

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ISRAEL & LEBANON: Rights groups call Israel’s killing of journalist Amal Khalil a ‘war crime’

Al Jazeera: Lebanese and international rights groups have accused Israel of intentionally targeting and killing a Lebanese journalist and obstructing medical workers from reaching her as she lay critically wounded.

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PALESTINE: Union reports 108 attacks on Palestinian journalists in July

Al Jazeera: The July report exposes rising threats, with more than 270 journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023, syndicate says.

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SYRIA: Detention of Syrian journalist raises press freedom concerns

The Arab Weekly: Journalists have also reported a number of short-term detentions, physical assaults and restrictions on reporting from sensitive areas.

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REGIONAL: ASBU Reschedules 26th Arab Radio and TV Festival to September 2026

ASBU: The Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) has announced the postponement of the 26th Arab Radio and Television Festival to September 21–24, 2026. The event was initially scheduled to take place in June.

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REGIONAL & US: Middle East Broadcasting Networks CEO on U.S. Global Media

C-SPAN: Middle East Broadcasting Networks President and CEO Jeffrey Gedmin talked about the importance of objective U.S. global media.

CANADA: Bill C-70 Is Not Enough: Canada Needs Media Literacy in Schools and Real Rules for Platforms 

Open Canada: The Foreign Interference Commission identified disinformation as the single greatest threat to Canadian democracy, yet Ottawa’s signature legislation barely touches it.

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US: Alaska Public Media receives $1.15M in grants for equipment upgrades

Juneau Empire: The equipment upgrades will modernize broadcast and technology systems to expand access to public broadcasting, connecting more individuals to local news and educational content throughout the state.

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US: Is Americans’ declining trust in media driven by political messaging?

Nieman Lab: A massive analysis of every speech given on the floors of Congress between 1939 and 2023 finds that criticism of the news media is remarkably tied to specific partisan interests and historical moments.

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US: New initiative looks to build sustainable funding streams for public media

Current: More Perfect, the American Journalism Project and the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation have launched an initiative to support the sustainability of public media and innovative local reporting.

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US: RSF and FPF demand transparency from Paramount on potentially corrupt acquisition of media companies, including CNN

RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) have formally demanded corporate records from Paramount Skydance Corp. regarding its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), raising alarm over potential political interference and threats to the editorial independence of media outlets like CNN, which WBD owns.

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US: What 100-plus federal actions reveal about the Trump administration’s campaign against the press 

Poynter: For 18 months, Poynter has tracked federal actions affecting journalists and news access, revealing a rapid, sweeping change in the media landscape

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US & UKRAINE: Voice of America to relaunch Ukrainian-language broadcasting

The Kyiv Independent: Voice of America will resume its Ukrainian-language broadcasts and return some employees of its Ukrainian Service to work, Ruslan Petrychka, head of the broadcaster’s Ukrainian Service, announced on Aug. 5.

30 Independent News Providers Join Plus Hub for Critical Infrastructure Services, Supported by the Google News Initiative (LinkedIn Newsletter)

PLUS: When a journalist exposes corruption, reports on conflict or covers a public health crisis, we see the results. But we don’t see what is needed behind the scenes to do that work: the technical systems required to actually reach audiences, the digital security that protects content and audiences, the operational structures that keep organisations running and much, much more.

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A new book looks at how AI is rewiring the newsroom, for better and worse 

Nieman Lab: AI is already helping reshape journalistic practices across five stages of news production: coming up with story ideas, sourcing information, verifying content, telling stories, and distributing news.

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Defusing Misinformation Through Humor

CJR: Dave Jorgenson, cofounder of Local News International, on the post-Post life.

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FixEd podcast: Bringing AI in the newsroom, with author Martin Schori (Listen) 

The Fix: Aftonbladet’s former head of AI wrote a book exploring the technology’s promises, pitfalls and implications for journalism.

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Going from reporter to manager: five lessons from media leaders

The Fix: As many in the media have learned the hard way, good journalists are not necessarily good managers. But some can be, especially with the right training. Many of the traits that make one a good reporter, like curiosity and interpersonal skills, are no less relevant for managerial roles.

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Spotify’s new ‘skip’ button could end the podcast business as we know it

Semafor: Last week, the audio streaming giant tweaked its streaming interface, adding a feature that allows some users to more effectively skip through the parts of a podcast no one wants — notably ads, as well as promotions and filler content — as long as they aren’t sold directly by Spotify.

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Why AI is causing a new upheaval in the media, weakened by twenty years of digital transformations (Paywall – French) 

Le Monde: The surge of artificial intelligence, which plunders journalistic content, promotes deepfakes and disrupts the way we get our information, is putting this sector to the test where social plans are multiplying.