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RNZ set to cut back Concert and launch new youth service
RNZ: In the biggest overhaul of its music services in years, RNZ is planning to cut back its classical music station RNZ Concert and replace it on FM radio with music for a younger audience as part of a new multimedia music brand. Mediawatch asks RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson and music content director Willy Macalister to explain the move.
RNZ guts Concert radio as it plans appeal to youth https://t.co/kWNIbC1nai
— RNZ News (@rnz_news) February 5, 2020
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“No! The BBC is a completely different beast to Netflix”
BBC The Media Show: Media analyst Claire Enders on replacing the licence fee with a subscription model.
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BURUNDI: Journalists Convicted in Flawed Trial
HRW: Onslaught on Free Speech as Elections Loom.
COMOROS: Two leading public TV journalists suspended in Comoros
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the government of Comoros to reinstate two senior journalists – news director Binti Mhadjou and editor in chief Moinadjoumoi Papa Ali – who have been suspended from this Indian Ocean archipelago’s public radio and TV broadcaster, ORTC, over their allegedly biased coverage of a strike.
EGYPT: Egypt moves to brand ‘opposition’ media as terrorist entities
IPI: Egyptian lawmakers should reject legislation that would allow media outlets to be branded as “terrorist entities”, the International Press Institute, a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, said today.
GAMBIA: ‘Harassment Against Female Journalists a Cause of Concern’
Via All Africa: A principal programme officer and coordinator at UNESCO/NATCOM has lamented that the increasing number of sexual harassment of female journalists is a cause for concern.
GHANA: Government won’t shut, restrict social media access on Election Day
Joy Online: The Communications Minister has said government has no intention of shutting social media on Election Day, neither is there a plan to restrict access to it.
MALAWI: Onslaught on Free Speech as Elections Loom
Nyasa Times: Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has said it will file summons against the public broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for alleged defamation after describing the rights coalition as a terrorist group.
MOROCCO: Rights groups urge release of Moroccans imprisoned for social media posts
Middle East Monitor: Morocco has prosecuted at least 10 people since September over social media posts expressing critical opinions, two rights groups said on Wednesday.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC denies report of plans to sell commercial radio stations and SABC 3
SABC News: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) says it is not in discussions to sell its commercial radio stations and TV channel. In a statement, the public broadcaster says contrary to media reports there have not been any such discussions with government.
SUDAN: IPI condemns closure of four media outlets in Sudan
IPI: The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the shutdown of four media outlets in Sudan. On January 7, the country’s Sovereign Council ordered two newspapers, Al-Sudani and Al-Rai al-Aam, and two private satellite channels, Al-Shorouk and Taiba TV to shut down their operations.
SUDAN: Khartoum to Darfur – a road trip of rediscovery for Radio Dabanga
Radio Dabanga: Last month, a delegation from Radio Dabanga, led by editor-in-chief Kamal El Sadig, visited Sudan and Darfur for the first time since the radio station was founded in exile 11 years ago. Radio Dabanga was prevented from operating freely and openly in Sudan while the deposed Al Bashir regime was in power, and was founded in exile in Amsterdam, facilitated by the Netherlands-based NGO Free Press Unlimited, and has enjoyed the benefits of the freedom of expression and the press enshrined in Dutch law.
ZIMBABWE: Misa Zimbabwe Calls For Genuine Liberalisation Of Broadcasting Services Sector (Statement)
MISA Zimbabwe: On 31 January 2020, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services gazetted two Statutory Instruments. SI 26 of 2020 regulates Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Services while SI 27 of 2020 regulates issues relating to Licensing and Content. This statement sets out MISA Zimbabwe’s preliminary observations on both Statutory Instruments.
GENERAL: Women Data Journalists are Reshaping Africa’s Story and Their Own Careers
ICFJ: A growing network of African women journalists is leading data-driven projects that are elevating female voices and shedding light on under-reported stories. The pan-African network, known as WanaData Africa, is changing the continent’s digital media landscape by reshaping the careers of its members, redefining them as newsroom innovators.
BANGLADESH: 3 journalists beaten up
The Daily Star: Many others obstructed from discharging duties
CHINA: Coronavirus: journalist missing in Wuhan as anger towards Chinese authorities grows
The Guardian: Chen Quishi’s disappearance comes amid widespread anger in China over the death of whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang.
INDIA: AIR battles 5-hr ‘blackout’ hitch as Prasar Bharti eyes digital switch
The Hindustan Times: Avid radio listeners in many parts of Uttar Pradesh have reported what they call, a “curious disturbance” during the transmission from Lucknow centre of All India Radio’s (AIR’s) primary medium wave channel these days.
INDIA: Emotional emails & offers to crowdfund — how fans tried to keep BBC Hindi radio on air
The Print: The service fell silent last month with its last transmission on 31 January. The BBC management now plans to boost its digital and TV presence.
INDIA: Kashmir Journalists Accuse Indian Police of Muzzling Press
VOA: Journalists in disputed territorially Kashmir urged the Indian government on Monday to allow them to report freely and expressed concern about alleged police harassment since the region’s semi-autonomy was rescinded in August amid an unprecedented lockdown.
INDONESIA: Combating medical misinformation, disinformation amid coronavirus outbreak
The Jakarta Post: The overwhelming sharing of fake news amid coronavirus outbreak across the globe raised concerns among governments, including in the Southeast Asian region.
JAPAN: NHK asked to cut TV licence fee
Advanced Television: Japan’s public broadcaster NHK has been asked by the government’s Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Sanae Takaichi to make further cuts in the annual “viewing fee” which every home must pay.
MALAYSIA: Malaysian journalist charged over coronavirus Facebook posts
CPJ: The Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court filed three charges against Wan Noor Hayati Wan Alias, a reporter with the local Berita Harian Malay newspaper and New Straits Times English daily, under Section 505(b) of the country’s penal code, a criminal provision banning statements intended to cause “fear or alarm to the public” or “commit an offense against the State or public tranquility.”
MYANMAR: Buddhist Nationalists Threaten Myanmar Media Over Protest Coverage
Radio Free Asia: Buddhist hard-liners in Myanmar threatened the media over their coverage of a pro-military rally in Yangon, demanding that at least two outlets remove reports from their websites about hate speech against State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and the religious affairs minister, the news organizations involved said.
MYANMAR: Myanmar Reimposes Internet Ban in Rakhine And Chin Townships
Radio Free Asia: The Myanmar government on Monday reimposed an internet shutdown in five townships of war-torn Rakhine and Chin states amid ongoing armed conflict between national forces and a rebel army, after partially lifting the block five months ago.
PAKISTAN: Pakistan broadcast regulator proposes sweeping control of internet news programs
CPJ: Munizae Jahangir knew she’d be prevented from putting Mohsin Dawar on her nightly “Spotlight” talk show on Aaj TV, an Urdu-language Pakistani station. Dawar, an elected member of the national assembly, is a leading figure of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), which aims to boost the rights of the Pashtun people clustered in Pakistan’s western provinces, and has strongly criticized the military.
PHILIPPINES: Davao City launches disaster radio
Asia Radio Today: The city government of Davao, Philippines, opened the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) 87.5 FM to boost the city’s disaster information drive on Monday.
PHILIPPINES: Duterte top state lawyer asks Supreme Court to shut ‘abusive’ media network
Asia Pacific Report: The top lawyer of the Philippine government has asked the Supreme Court to void the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., accusing the country’s largest media network of engaging in “highly abusive practices”. Solicitor-General Jose Calida, who campaigned for President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, used an unusual legal route – a quo warranto petition – sparking condemnation from media freedom defenders.
PHILIPPINES: Rappler deplores SolGen Calida’s petition vs ABS-CBN
Rappler: Below is Rappler’s statement on Solicitor General Jose Calida’s move to void ABS-CBN’s franchise via the Supreme Court on Monday, February 10: We at Rappler deplore the latest attempt by the Duterte administration to use the levers of state power to bring down a media company and silence Filipino journalists.
TAJIKISTAN: Tajikistan journalist Daler Sharifov held on incitement charges
CPJ: Police in Dushanbe, the capital, raided the home of independent journalist Daler Sharifov’s home on January 28 and confiscated a computer and several books. Later that day, authorities summoned him to a local police station and detained him for questioning.
THAILAND: Thailand to curb social media after shooter streamed on Facebook (Paywall)
Nikkei Asian Review: The gunman in Thailand’s mass shooting on Saturday posted messages and video on Facebook as the terror unfolded, prompting the government to discuss measures to restrict the use of social media in such emergencies.
REGIONAL: Misinformation laws on the rise in ASEAN
The Asean Post: Singapore’s newly passed misinformation law has been grabbing headlines because it empowers government officials to order corrections to be placed next to social media and online posts they deem false.
AUSTRALIA: ABC bushfire coverage pushes website to #1 with 11.2m users
Mediaweek: Latest data released by Nielsen, has revealed a change in the top spot for digital news rankings. Nielsen Digital Content Ratings data for January 2020 ranked ABC News websites first, with a unique audience of 11.2M (+11.3%) versus the prior month.
AUSTRALIA: Coronavirus fake news spreads around the world.
ABC: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s largest Facebook community, ABC Education Learn English, has topped 5 million followers, confirming its status as one of the world’s most popular English-language learning programs.
AUSTRALIA: NSW bushfires unlike any disaster ABC cameraman has witnessed in 30 years of newsgathering
ABC News
NEW ZEALAND: Broadcasting Minister discusses future of public media (Listen)
RNZ: Cabinet has approved a business case to see whether the government’s idea of creating a new, super-sized public broadcaster is viable. After months of speculation, Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi made the announcement at the New Zealand Broadcasting School in Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND: Calls to save Radio New Zealand classical music station reach crescendo
The Guardian: Radio New Zealand Concert, the staid classical music arm of Radio New Zealand, does not usually create headlines. But the hackles of classical music lovers across the nation have been raised after the public broadcaster announced it was cutting much of the station to make way for programmes targeted at a younger audience.
NEW ZEALAND: Jacinda Ardern on RNZ Concert changes: ‘We don’t have to lose one for the other’
RNZ: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is “frustrated” that RNZ pushed ahead with announcing proposed changes to its Concert radio station. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Morning Report the government had asked for time to find an alternative.
NEW ZEALAND: Mixed messages in media over coronavirus danger (Listen)
RNZ: Don’t panic, keep calm and carry on – or be very,very afraid? You could get plenty of all three kinds of advice in our media this week – and sometimes from the same outlets.
REGIONAL: Tuwhera expands the PJR ‘critical inquiry’ Pacific media archive
Asia Pacific Report: Tuwhera, the open access repository and publisher of Auckland University of Technology, has added 16 years of back copy editions of Pacific Journalism Review to the digital resource. The full text articles from a further 24 editions have been added, including all the original issues published by the University of Papua New Guinea and the University of the South Pacific.
BELGIUM: New VUB and UGent VRT chair must hold up a mirror to broadcaster (Dutch – Paywall)
De Morgen: In these changing times, the VRT wants to “take a fundamental and critical look at the role of the media”. For this, the public broadcaster calls on the Free University of Brussels and the University of Ghent to jointly establish a chair, which is being launched today.
FRANCE: France Télévisions chief outlines regionalisation plan for France 3
Digital TV Europe: France Télévisions director-general Delphine Ernotte plans to develop 13 French regional and local channels to replace the current France 3 channel, as reported by the Journal Du Dimanche. Ernotte said that the new channels would take the form of wider media outlets, mixing TV, radio and the web, at a cost of around €900 million.
FRANCE: France Télévisions, SACD agree new terms
C21 Media: France Télévisions (FTV) has signed a new agreement with the country’ Society of Authors and Composers of Dramatic Works (SACD) after several months of negotiations.
GEORGIA: Georgian TV channel’s deputy director resigns under pressure
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is concerned about the latest example of political pressure undermining media pluralism and free speech in Georgia – Natia Zoidze’s resignation this week as deputy director of Adjara TV, a regional public TV channel based in the coastal city of Batumi.
GERMANY: How Much Public Service Broadcasting Must Be? (German – Opinion)
Mitteldeutsche Zeitung: ARD and ZDF now had a breather for a few years. The household tax due since 2013, which everyone has to pay without exception, has washed huge sums into their coffers. But now the reserves have been used up. A continuation of the current public service offer is only possible with an increase in the premium. Politicians are now faced with the question: can this be implemented at all?
GERMANY: MDR and ZDF found a joint digital agency (German)
Horizont: ZDF and MDR are joining forces to develop digital media offerings faster. The joint innovation and digital agency Ida will start in Leipzig in April with 15 employees. Another location in Erfurt is to follow in autumn.
GERMANY: Media agencies recommend stricter rules against disinformation, according to the NDR and WDR (German)
Deutschlandfunk: In a report commissioned by the EU Commission, four German state media outlets recommend stricter rules for social media when dealing with false information.
GERMANY: Why students in Germany fall for fake news (German)
Deutschlandfunk: German students spend a lot of free time on their smartphones or laptops, but their media literacy is low. This is confirmed by studies. Many young people cannot distinguish facts from false reports online. Experts are therefore demanding a compulsory subject of media studies at school. And not only that.
GBC Gibraltar: The Governor has underscored the vital role the public broadcaster needs to play in keeping the people of Gibraltar informed, especially throughout the Brexit process.
HUNGARY & POLAND: Csaky on Hungary’s Captured Media and What Poland Can Learn
CMDS CEU: In her article published by Rule of Law in Poland, Zselyke Csaky describes changes in the Hungarian media landscape and what other countries can learn from it to be more resilient against pressure coming from the government.
KOSOVO: Proposed amendment set to ban court reporting
Mapping Media Freedom: The Independent Media Commission of Kosovo (the state regulatory body for audiovisual media) has started to amend its Code of Ethics and other by-laws.
MACEDONIA: North Macedonia journalists threatened by government official
CPJ: North Macedonia authorities should conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the threats made against journalists Meri Jordanovska and Iskra Korovesovska and ensure their safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
POLAND: Public media will not receive PLN 2 billion in compensation. The Senate rejected the draft (Polish)
Newsweek: The Senate decided to reject in its entirety the amendment to the Act on radio and television and the Act on subscription fees, which assumes the introduction of compensation in the total amount of PLN 1.95 billion in 2020 for TVP and Polish Radio due to lost revenues.
RUSSIA: Russian journalist Elena Milashina attacked in Chechnya
CPJ: Last week a group of unidentified people attacked Milashina, an investigative reporter for the independent daily Novaya Gazeta, and a human rights lawyer Marina Dubrovina in Grozny, the capital of the Russian North Caucasus region of Chechnya.
RUSSIA & SERBIA: How Russia influences Serbian media
Global Voices: Criticism of the Kremlin is almost non-existent in Serbian public discourse.
SERBIA: Elections are approaching, pressure on the media is growing
OBC Transeuropa: The Telekom company, of which the state is the majority owner, has removed from its cable offer N1, the only television network aimed at the general public that also presents critical positions towards the current majority.
SPAIN: A platform is born that defends consensus and public competition as the only solution for RTVE (Spanish)
Info Libre: Almost two hundred professionals linked to the world of communication and up to 40 social organizations have come together to demand from the political forces represented in the Cortes the continuity of the public competition for the election of the members of the Board of Directors and the Presidency of the RTVE Corporation.
SWEDEN: P4 channels allow more voices to be heard on the radio (Swedish)
Sveriges Radio: Four P4 areas within Swedish Radio are now doing the same thing and are investing in a so-called borderland reporter. The initiative is part of Sweden Radio’s work to increase the journalistic presence in areas that have not previously been heard.
SWITZERLAND: Hackdays 2020: develop the journalism of the future (Event)
SRG SSR: On March 12 and 13, 2020, the SRG is organizing the hackdays for the sixth time, this year under the motto “Journalism of the Future”. The hackdays take place simultaneously in Geneva, Lugano and Zurich – the number of places is limited. Be there and register now!
UK: Johnson and BBC Trade Jabs, as War on the Press Flares (Paywall)
The New York Times: The British government is questioning the BBC’s public funding and even picking fights with papers that have backed Prime Minister Boris Johnson with gusto.
UK: Lyra McKee murder: Four men arrested in Derry
BBC News: Detectives investigating the murder of journalist Lyra McKee have arrested four men in Londonderry.
UK: TV licence could be abolished from 2027, says Nicky Morgan
The Guardian: Culture secretary calls for ‘open-minded’ approach to BBC funding system.
UKRAINE: Crimean Tatar TV Channel In Ukraine Blames Lack Of State Funding For Imminent Closure
RFE/RL: Ukraine’s first and currently only television channel in the Crimean Tatar language says it is on the brink of shutting down operations due to lack of government funding. ATR hasn’t received $2 million that the government allocated for the channel in this year’s state budget, a statement by the channel said on February 10.
REGIONAL: Western Balkans agree on Regional Principles on Public Service Media governance
IFJ: Representatives of parliaments, regulatory authorities, public service media governance, senior management, and civil sector from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia adopted a set of regional common principles on Public Service Media (PSM) governance at a conference held in Belgrade 28-29 January.
GENERAL: Training for Journalists in Exile: Social Media Management (Opportunity)
ECPMF
ARGENTINA: Journalism in Argentina is in crisis. Lessons from Spain and France may hold the key to survival
RISJ: It is not journalism that is in crisis but the business model that has supported it for decades. This is clear from what happened in Argentina on 24 April 2016…
BOLIVIA: Independent journalists face social polarization after the departure of former President Evo Morales
Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas: Polarization persists in Bolivia after former leftist President Evo Morales resigned and fled the country and conservative politician Jeanine Áñez declared herself interim president. Meanwhile, journalists working in the country are finding themselves caught in the middle.
BRAZIL: Complaint against journalist Glenn Greenwald is rejected by Brazilian court
Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas: After a judge rejected a complaint to indict him for involvement with hackers who accessed Telegram messages from several Brazilian authorities, U.S. journalist Glenn Greenwald said that he is going to the Supreme Court in search of a decision that guarantees more clearly what the federal constitution says.
BRAZIL: FENAJ and Journalists Unions intensify mobilization against MP 905 (Portuguese)
FENAJ: The resumption of legislative work in the National Congress and, mainly, the definition of the work plan and schedule of activities of the Mixed Commission responsible for analyzing MP 905 accelerated the actions of the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ) and its affiliated Unions against the provisional measure, which affects all workers and, in particular, journalists.
COLOMBIA: 2019 was the year with the most attacks on press freedom in Colombia (Spanish)
RCN RADIO: Threats, kidnappings and even homicides are part of the 515 attacks on journalism in Colombia, documented during the year 2019. Attacks on reporters amid marches and situations of gender-based violence with attempted censorship, are also among the most recurring.
COLOMBIA: New threats put four journalists from Bogotá and Cúcuta at risk (Spanish)
FLIP: FLIP rejects the threats received by reporters Ignacio Gómez, Jairo Tarazona, José Luis Mayorga and journalist Julieth Cano. The FLIP calls on the competent authorities to protect those affected and investigate these facts promptly.
ECUADOR: IFEX-ALC condemns actions against public radio station in Ecuador
IFEX: IFEX-ALC condemns the actions initiated on 23 January 2020 by the Ecuadoran Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (Agencia de Regulación y Control de las Telecomunicaciones, Arcotel) aimed at taking Radio Pichincha Universal, a public radio station, off the air.
GUYANA: Death penalty, LGBT rights, press freedom among concerns raised about Guyana at UN review
Stabroek News: At its human rights review by the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland two weeks ago, Guyana was called out for still having the death penalty on its books, not doing enough for the LGBT community and failing to establish a human rights commission.
Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas: Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa reported that there is a negotiation underway for the release of tons of paper and other materials, held by customs for more than 500 days, according to a note from the editorial board, published on Feb. 5. The blockade has imposed severe restrictions on the circulation of the newspaper and threatened its survival.
ST. LUCIA: St Lucian journalists receive intense multimedia training
Loop: Saint Lucian media professionals participated in a two-day training workshop where they were awarded the opportunity to hone their craft and develop new skills in the area of multimedia, thanks to funding support from the UK government.
URUGUAY: Uruguay’s incoming government must consider press freedom in draft ‘urgency law’
CPJ: A proposed law introducing the so-called “right to be forgotten” in Uruguay could have negative implications for the work of journalists and access to information online. In January, the National Party of Uruguay, published a draft urgency law (Ley de Urgente Consideración) on its website ahead of the new government taking office on March 1.
IRAN: Iranian intelligence agents raid homes of 4 journalists, confiscate equipment
CPJ: On January 26 and February 3, intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran’s political paramilitary force, raided the Tehran homes of journalists Maziar Khosravi, Yasaman Khaleghian, Moloud Hajizadeh, and Yaghma Fakhshami. CPJ is calling for Iranian authorities to cease raiding journalists’ homes and return all material confiscated in recent raids.
IRAN: Reporters Without Borders: Iranian Journalists Are Victims Of Jet Crash Lies
RFE/RL: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says dozens of Iranian journalists have been interrogated, threatened, searched, and forced to close social-media accounts since a Ukrainian passenger plane crashed in Tehran last month, killing all 176 people aboard.
IRAQ: International Journalists Federation Urges Iraq’s Kurdistan To Guarantee Media Freedom
Urdu Point: The International Journalists Federation (IFJ) on Friday urged the government of Iraq’s Kurdistan region to guarantee media freedom, citing a new report published by the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate in which media workers claimed to suffer abuse and arbitrary arrest this past year.
LEBANON: Lebanon’s financial crisis leaves its envied media industry in freefall
The Guardian: Agenda-setting newspapers and TV stations facing scramble to survive amid state dysfunction
LEBANON: Those responsible for attacks on the press must be held accountable (Opinion)
Executive: Journalists were among the most active in documenting the Lebanese protests, according to our Lebanon Protests open-data platform.
TURKEY: CPJ joins call for Turkish authorities to lift advertising ban on leftist dailies
CPJ: CPJ joined representatives from the International Press Institute, Reporters Without Borders, the Journalists Union of Turkey, and the European Federation of Journalists yesterday in a joint statement calling for Turkey’s Press Ad Agency, the state regulator of government ads in print media, to lift its ban on advertising in critical leftist dailies Evrensel and BirGün.
CANADA: CBC Information Radio celebrates 50 years of waking up Manitoba
CBC News: Morning interview format for CBC Radio in Canada originated in Winnipeg.
CANADA: CPJ calls on Canadian police to let journalists work freely at indigenous protest sites
CPJ: In response to news reports that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) yesterday obstructed journalists trying to cover police operations at indigenous protest camps in British Columbia, the Committee to Protect Journalists today issued the following statement: “Canadian authorities should allow journalists to report on the indigenous protests against the Coastal GasLink pipeline without fear of retaliation.”
CANADA: Heritage Minister has path to expand CBC’s mandate, funding under new report
iPolitics: Canada’s Heritage Minister could have an opportunity to substantially redefine the CBC’s mandate should he heed the recommendations of an expert panel.
CANADA: Why the CBC should go ad-free (Opinion)
The Toronto Star: While a number of recommendations made by the federal Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislation Review (BTLR) panel continue to be eviscerated for their contemplated invasion of the Internet, it’s worth pointing out that there are also some pretty good ideas proposed in that report.
AFP: AFP continues to develop its digital investigation activities on the American continent with the deployment of a new unit based in Washington, covering the whole of the United States.
US: NPR And California Public Radio Stations Collaborate On A Statewide Regional Newsroom
NPR: Public radio stations across California are teaming up with NPR on a California regional newsroom to increase coverage of statewide issues and boost reporting from and for underserved regions across the state.
US: PBS Opens Request for Information Process for Public Television’s Interconnection System
PBS: PBS announced today the start of a Request for Information (RFI) phase that will precede a potential formal Request for Quote (RFQ) and Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the second stage of public television’s interconnection system.
US: Statement from CPB on the President’s FY 2021 Budget Proposal Eliminating Funding for Public Media (Statement)
CPB: Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), released the following statement regarding the President’s proposed FY 2021 budget, which would rescind all but $30 million of each FY 2021 and FY 2022 funding for public media
US: Trump again seeks CPB funding cuts in proposed budget
Current: For the fourth consecutive year, President Trump has proposed eliminating funding for CPB. The president’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposes rescinding all but $30 million of CPB’s appropriation in FY21 and FY22. The $30 million would cover closeout costs, which the document said are estimated to be $58 million over the phase-out period.
A child’s image is not worth a thousand words: The viral child figure in the news cycle (Blog)
Media@LSE: In several recent major news events, from wars to migration concerns to elections, stories involving a heart-breaking or even shocking image of an oft vulnerable child has dominated the news cycle and social media chatter. But is a child’s image – no matter how poignant – able to provide truly informative and sustainable coverage or lead to more episodic, emphatic reactions in response to news events or crises?
Coronavirus fake news (Watch)
ABC Media Watch: Coronavirus fake news spreads around the world.
Google, Facebook and Twitter could do more to surface fact-checks about coronavirus
Poynter: Between Jan. 22 and Feb. 5, 41 fact-checking organizations around the world have published 211 fact-checks about the 2019 coronavirus using ClaimReview, the infrastructure built by Schema.org to help fact-checks be surfaced by Google and used by social media platforms like Facebook. Among those 211 fact-checks, published in 15 languages across the globe, 199 alerted audiences about content considered false, partially false, mostly false and/or inaccurate. Only 12 were about true claims, photos and videos spread on the internet.
If people will pay for MP3s of people whispering them to sleep, why won’t they pay for podcasts?
Nieman Lab
Media and information literacy – A practical guidebook for trainers (Second Edition) (Publication)
DW Akademie: The Media and Information Literacy Guidebook supplies MIL trainers with background information, training ideas, methods and worksheets.
IBC365: There is more content for kids to watch than ever before. So why is the kids’ TV market still so challenging for producers and broadcasters? Tim Dams reports.
UN rapporteur condemns UK hosting of Israeli spyware firm
The Guardian: An independent UN investigator has criticised the British government’s decision to host a surveillance company whose technology is allegedly used by repressive regimes to intercept the private messages of journalists and human rights activists.
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