Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
Public media is in peril and facing many challenges. Social media platforms are presenting an existential crisis to public service media. Governments are trying to extend their control and influence on the editorial output of the broadcasters. Funding systems for many are up in the air. Journalists are facing threats, attacks and harassment, both online and in-person. But it’s also an exciting time for public service media – digital platforms provide new opportunities to reach audiences, technology means public broadcasters can be innovative in how they provide a public service.
Every week, PMA compiles all the latest news from the public media and media freedom industry. Have a story to feature? Get in touch!
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What we're watching...
System B – Information according to Vincent Bolloré (Documentary – French)
RSF: In this short documentary produced by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), 11 journalists describe the methods used by businessman Vincent Bolloré when he takes control of a media outlet or when journalists investigate his industrial activities. These practices represent a real danger not only to press freedom but also to democracy.
What we're listening to...
TVNZ and Newshub blaming job cuts on plummeting advertising revenue
RNZ: Another week, another devastating blow to Aotearoa’s media landscape. Just eight days after Newshub announced it’s axing its entire news operation, the country’s largest TV broadcaster, TVNZ, has revealed almost 70 jobs are on the chopping block. Both are blaming the cuts on nosediving advertising revenue.
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Global Headlines
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ALGERIA: Algeria upholds conviction of journalist; rights groups fear new crackdown
Yahoo: An Algerian appeals court upheld the conviction of a journalist on Tuesday in what rights campaigners called a new crackdown on dissent aimed at preventing the revival of mass protests that toppled veteran ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika last year.
ALGERIA & MAURITANIA: Mauritanian media sanctioned for alleged attacks on Algeria
Yabiladi: On Sunday, March 10th, the Mauritanian High Authority of Press and Audiovisual (HAPA) reprimanded two local media outlets, Anbaa and Taqadoum, for allegedly attacking Algeria.
CAMEROON: Court documents allege Cameroon counterintelligence spied on murdered journalist Martinez Zogo
CPJ: Cameroonian authorities must disclose which journalists, in addition to murdered journalist Martinez Zogo, have been targeted for surveillance by the country’s counterintelligence service and ensure that spying on members of the media is immediately discontinued, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Congo prosecutor seeks 20-year jail sentence for journalist
Reuters: A prosecutor in the Democratic Republic of Congo has asked a court in the capital Kinshasa to sentence journalist Stanis Bujakera to 20 years in prison, one of his lawyers said on Friday.
EGYPT: Egypt detains Mada Masr’s journalist Rana Mamdouh over Ras al-Hekma reporting
The New Arab: Media freedom and civil rights have sharply deteriorated in Egypt over the past decade, and it is now ranked as the world’s third-worst jailer of journalists.
EGYPT: Woman journalist detained and released on bail
IFJ: Egyptian journalist Rana Mamdouh working for news outlet Mada Masr was detained on 10 March at the Alamein police station while on her way to Ras al-Hikma on assignment. Afterwards her whereabouts remained unknown for over ten hours, until she was released on a 100 euro bail.
GAMBIA & KENYA: Gambia Press Union leadership embarks on learning visit to Kenya
Idea: The Gambia Press Union (GPU) leadership is in Nairobi this week on a learning visit to the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and affiliates and allied media organisations.
Modern Ghana: Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, has been elected to the steering committee of the Federation of African Journalists.
GHANA: Director General of GBC asks Union leaders to desist from creating division among staff
GBC: The Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Prof. Amin Alhassan, says GBC is a State-owned Public Organisation and not a Government-Media Organisation.
GHANA: How to combat fake news in Ghana’s media ahead of the 2024 election
My Joy Online: Ghana faces a major threat as it heads to a crucial poll on December 7, 2024, to elect a successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo.
KENYA: Govt Directs State Agencies to Broadcast All Advertisements on KBC
Nairobi Wire: Upon authorization by the Government Advertising Agency, the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) will now disseminate all National Government electronic advertisements.
LIBERIA: Press Union of Liberia Welcomes War and Economic Crimes Court Establishment
Front Page Africa: The House of Representatives of the 55th National Legislature, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, passed a resolution for the establishment of the long-awaited War and Economic Crimes Court in the country.
MALAWI: Malawi police seize equipment from journalists amid ‘fake’ Facebook page investigation
CPJ: On February 13, officers from Malawi’s Digital Forensics and Cybercrime Investigations department seized cell phones and laptops from 14 Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) journalists, according to news reports, the Malawi chapter of regional press freedom group Media Institute of Southern Africa, South Africa-based rights group Campaign for Free Expression, and four of the affected journalists, who spoke to CPJ.
MOZAMBIQUE: Mozambican authorities accuse journalists of colluding with ‘terrorists’
CPJ: Senior officials in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province must withdraw comments accusing journalists of colluding with terrorists and publishing false news and the authorities must allow the media to report on the conflict without intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Thursday.
NIGERIA: How one Nigerian radio station trains journalists to cover underreported issues affecting women
IJNet: In Nigeria, women’s representation in news coverage is lacking. Women are more likely to be included in coverage of entertainment and domestic household issues, for instance, than they are in reporting on politics, education, health and the environment, according to a 2020 research study of national newspapers in the country.
NIGERIA: Reforming Public Service: BPSR deploys self assessment tool in FRCN
FRCN: The Director General of Bureau Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dasuki Arabi, has urged the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) to improve the quality of services they render to Nigerians, enhance customer service delivery and gather feedback from citizens.
SENEGAL: African Journalists’ Congress Sets New Vision for Journalism, Elects New Leadership
IFJ: As the highest decision-making body of the African federation, the congress serves as an essential platform for African journalists to address challenges in the journalism profession, promote media freedom, enhance quality journalism, foster solidarity and advocate for improved working conditions and the protection of journalists’ rights, while also setting the organization’s agenda and policies for the next three years.
SOUTH AFRICA: Big tech to blame for huge layoffs in the media, says Sunday Times owner (Paywall)
News 24
TANZANIA: Tanzania’s Women Journalists Share Tales of Travails And Triumphs
The Chanzo: Organised by a media and tech startup Kike Africa, the journalists discussed issues of interest to them, from online safety to digital entrepreneurship.
TOGO: Iconic Togolese investigative media outlet relaunched with RSF’s support
RSF: With support from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) against a backdrop of unprecedented attacks against media in the Sahel, Togo’s leading investigative newspaper, L’Alternative, has resumed operating as a website, one year after being forced to close when its publisher and editor fled the country.
TUNISIA: Tunisian court overturns journalist Khalifa Guesmi’s 5-year jail term
Al Mayadeen: A Tunisian court overturned on Wednesday a journalist’s prison sentence for revealing information about the security services, his lawyer confirmed, paving the way for a retrial to examine the original verdict.
UGANDA: Uganda Law Society to set up pro bono fund to support journalists
Dispatch: The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has announced its plans to establish a pro bono fund dedicated to supporting journalists and advancing media rights across the country.
ZIMBABWE: Media Freedom Under Threat as Zimbabwe Media Commission Imposes Gukurahundi Code of Conduct
Report Focus News: In a controversial move, Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) Chairperson, Professor Ruby Magosvongwe, has announced that media organizations unwilling to endorse a contentious code of conduct, crafted in collaboration with a select group of journalists, will face restrictions from reporting on the upcoming Gukurahundi outreach program.
The Conversation: The online financial products and services known as “fintech” have become deeply embedded in the economic and social life of many African countries over the past decade.
AFGHANISTAN: From TV Host to Exile: How Taliban Return Affects Young Journalist (Watch)
VOA: Nadio Momand was a journalist and a law student in Afghanistan. But with the Taliban back in power, she has left her home and her dreams behind.
El Pais: After the return of the Taliban to power in 2021, the female presence in the media has practically disappeared. Working from exile, at home or secretly are the options for those who do not want to abandon the profession
AFGHANISTAN: The Taliban once smashed TVs. Now it fosters YouTubers to promote its image
The Washington Post: The Taliban-run government is fostering a thriving community of YouTube influencers and video bloggers in Afghanistan, seeking to shape a positive narrative about the country by rewarding those who have welcome viewpoints with access to stories that can draw millions of views online.
AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijan Government Launches Crackdown on Toplum TV and Detains Journalists
Mikroskop Media: At about 4:30 pm on Wednesday, police raided offices of independent media outlet Toplum Tv and Third Republic Platform. After the raid, the office of Toplum TV was sealed.
BANGLADESH: Journalist Rana gets bail
Dhaka Tribune: A Sherpur court on Tuesday granted bail to journalist Shafiuzzaman Rana of Nokla upazila in Sherpur. On March 5, journalist Rana was sentence to imprisonment for six months by a mobile court on charges of obstructing government work, creating disorder and misconduct.
BANGLADESH: Regulation needed to protect professional journalists: Arafat
New Age Bangladesh: Referring to France’s regulatory bodies to check misinformation and disinformation, state minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat on Saturday said that though regulation could impede freedom of speech and media, but it was needed for protecting professional journalists.
CHINA: China’s ambassadors urge top advisory body to engage more with foreign media
The Straits Times: Officials, academics, business leaders, celebrities and other representatives of China’s top advisory body should step up international engagement to boost the nation’s efforts to “tell China’s story well”, said China’s ambassadors to major countries.
South China Morning Post: While journalist groups welcomed the inclusion of the clause, one of them raised concerns that the threshold for the defence might be too high, which could make it difficult to convince a judge the information reported concerned great public interest.
INDIA: In India, Women Take Leading Role in Environmental Coverage
VOA: Journalists and environmental media networks are teaming up to expand coverage of issues ranging from the effects of extreme weather on farming communities to the damage caused by sand mining.
Indian Express: The FIR against Negi, a journalist who frequently raised his voice for “justice” to Ankita Bhandari, includes sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
JAPAN: Social media shifts from hero to villain in disasters
NHK: Social media has become an integral part of daily life and it can help save lives in disasters, as shown during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. But 13 years later, the spread of malicious fake information on social media after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake caused many problems.
JAPAN: Support groups claim Japan TV broadcaster violated homeless man’s privacy
The Mainichi: Two homeless support groups in Hokkaido have sent a request of deliberation to the Broadcasting Ethics Committee of Japan’s Broadcasting Ethics & Program Improvement Organization (BPO), claiming Sapporo Television Broadcasting Co. (STV) violated the privacy of a man living on the streets and his right to not be defamed, as well as broadcasting ethics in a program.
KASHMIR: Kashmir: Asif Sultan, the journalist who keeps getting arrested
BBC: On 29 February, journalist Asif Sultan arrived at his home in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir after being held on remand in jail for more than 2,000 days.
KYRGYZSTAN: Uncensored: The Kyrgyzstan Project
Editor & Publisher: Kyrgyzstan was once the most democratic of Central Asia’s former Soviet republics, with genuine elections, a vigorous civil society, and a vibrant media scene.
KYRGYZSTAN: With Journalists Behind Bars, Kyrgyzstan Enters New Era of Repression
The Diplomat: The authorities have accused Temirov Live, a respected investigative outlet, of inciting mass unrest, and jailed nearly a dozen of its current and former employees.
MALAYSIA: Government reduces media card validity for digital journalists
IFJ: Concerns have been raised by Malaysia’s media community at a government review of the country’s media accreditation cards, with card validity periods reduced solely for journalists from online news agencies.
MALAYSIA: Malaysia witnessing ‘slow murder’ of media freedom reforms
New Straits Times: The country is witnessing a ‘slow murder’ of all reforms related to media freedom under Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil’s leadership, says Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan.
Malay Mail: Those seeking to dispute the Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists must first understand the principles embedded in the code before making claims that it will restrict the media’s freedom, advised Deputy Communications Minister, Teo Nie Ching.
NEPAL: Media experts, journalists stress women’s editorial leadership crucial for inclusive media content
The Himalayan Times: Leading media experts and seasoned women journalists of Nepal have sought to address the pressing need for dismantling embedded newsroom stereotypes and fostering greater gender diversity in media leadership roles.
NEPAL: Navigating Nepal’s Media landscape: Nepali Federal Parliamentarians committed to International Human Rights obligations to Freedom of Expression, Access to Information and Press Freedom (Press Release)
Unesco: The workshop held particular relevance as Nepal’s parliament is in the process of developing laws related to media and the use of social media.
NORTH KOREA: Now you can subscribe to a North Korean state TV streaming service
RFA: Content typically includes propaganda about leaders and bad news about other countries.
PAKISTAN: Won’t tolerate intimidation of press, says CJP
Dawn: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Monday observed that the intimidation of the press would not be tolerated at any cost, since it involves key fundamental rights.
PAKISTAN: X factor: Twitter ban hits businesses, news in Pakistan
The Star: From business owners fretting over lost clients to journalists seeking new sources, Pakistanis want the government to restore regular access to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, which has been blocked for nearly three weeks.
SINGAPORE: Today goes fully digital – what’s next for Singapore media? (Comment)
Yahoo: The writing was on the wall for Mediacorp when Ernest Wong came back to the national broadcaster as its chairman last July. And two weeks ago, Mediacorp appointed a surprise choice as its chief executive: Tham Loke Kheng.
SOUTH KOREA: KBS Unveils Future Vision at 51st Anniversary Celebration (Press release)
KBS: KBS President and CEO Park Min unveiled the KBS Future Vision during the 51st anniversary celebration held at KBS headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on March 4, 2024.
SRI LANKA: Will Memes About Politicians Now Get Sri Lankans Thrown in Jail?
The New York Times: A sweeping new law on online speech threatens the political humor that has helped the island nation get through tough stretches.
VIETNAM: Statement by RFA and PEN International on Nguyen Vu Binh’s arrest in Vietnam (Statement)
RFA: RFA and PEN International strongly condemn the recent detention of Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Vu Binh. His arrest under Vietnam’s Article 117 is yet another example of Vietnam’s unjust targeting and brazen intimidation of independent journalists.
VIETNAM: Vietnam arrests high-profile bloggers Nguyen Chi Tuyen and Nguyen Vu Binh
CPJ: Vietnam should immediately release independent bloggers Nguyen Chi Tuyen and Nguyen Vu Binh, drop any charges pending against them, and cease harassing the free press
AUSTRALIA: ABC lawyer claims Antoinette Lattouf ‘prone to exaggeration’ in unfair dismissal case
The Guardian: Antoinette Lattouf has been accused of being “prone to exaggeration” and someone who “has not shown herself to be a reliable historian”, according to the lawyer representing the ABC in the journalist’s unfair dismissal claim, as the case comes to a close.
AUSTRALIA: ABC thanks Chair Ita Buttrose AC OBE (Press release)
ABC: The ABC has today thanked Chair Ita Buttrose AC OBE as her five-year term comes to an end.
AUSTRALIA: Australian news media could seek payment from Meta for content used to train AI
The Guardian: Australian media companies could seek compensation from Meta for its use of online news sources in training generative AI technology, researchers have said.
AUSTRALIA: Kerry O’Brien criticises ABC, saying management needs ‘clarity of thought’ as Ita Buttrose departs
The Guardian: The ABC is in danger of losing its way and is drifting closer to a commercial model, former TV host Kerry O’Brien has said on the eve of Ita Buttrose’s departure as chair of the national broadcaster.
AUSTRALIA: The threat of Meta’s ‘Armageddon’: media companies fear news blackout
Canberra Times: This story – between Meta, the federal government, and the Australian news media industry – really began three years ago, when the then-Morrison government introduced the news media bargaining code.
NEW ZEALAND: A ‘Tipping Point’ for News in New Zealand
The New York Times: In a few short months, New Zealand is likely to lose about 20 percent of its journalists and television news producers.
NEW ZEALAND: Apocalypse now for news – part 2?
RNZ Mediawatch: TVNZ’s proposals to balance its worsening books by killing news and current affairs programmes mean New Zealanders could end up with almost no national current affairs on TV within weeks.
NEW ZEALAND: Being prepared – RNZ introduces new Emergency Planning Manager role
RNZ: RNZ has established a new role dedicated to ensuring RNZ is prepared for emergency events and to deliver emergency broadcasts.
NEW ZEALAND: Cuts and closures in New Zealand’s news media industry: What you need to know
RNZ: It is well known legacy media outlets have been struggling to survive in a digital world.
NEW ZEALAND: Fund TVNZ through $60 individual levy – Better Public Media Trust
RNZ: A group in favour of public media suggests TVNZ could be fully funded through levies.
NEW ZEALAND: Oh no! Turns out AI sucks at writing
The Spinoff: Mad Chapman takes a dreary walk through a Stuff article written by AI.
TIMOR-LESTE: Timor-Leste planning for Digital TV transition
ABC: Timor-Leste is a step closer to switching over to digital TV following a high-level Government visit to Canberra and Sydney.
REGIONAL: USP to host ‘critical issues’ Pacific media conference to shape future
Asia-Pacific Report: The University of the South Pacific will host a major Pacific international media conference in July to address critical issues in the regional news media sector in the aftermath of the covid-19 pandemic and digital disruption.
ALBANIA: Albanian Public Broadcaster Fires Programme Director for Social Media Post
Balkan Insight: A programme director at the Albanian public broadcaster RTSH was fired by the new head of the station, Alfred Peza, a former ruling party MP who has been criticised for other dismissals since he took the job.
ALBANIA: Online Video in Albania of Prince’s Fight Raises Privacy Concerns
Balkan Insight: Experts say leak of video showing fight between prince and ex-wife serves no public interest – and raises serious legal and ethical questions about standards of media in Albania.
AUSTRIA: Austria’s online marketers against public advertising on Google and Meta (German)
Der Standard: Austria’s online marketers are demanding “that politicians no longer support global platforms through advertising with tax money.”
AUSTRIA: The vast majority of new contributors have ORF fees deducted (German)
Der Standard: How did the – many exciting – collection of the new ORF contribution go from everyone in the first two months? Last week, General Director Roland Weißmann reported to the ORF Board of Trustees that the contributing subsidiary OBS and its results so far were on track, even ahead of schedule.
BELARUS: Belarusian Court Liquidates Banned BelaPAN News Agency
RFE/RL: A court in Minsk has ordered the liquidation of the banned independent news agency BelaPAN, which was declared an extremist organization in 2021 amid an intensified crackdown on media and civil society in Belarus following the 2020 disputed presidential election that handed victory to authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
BELGIUM: Media Invest Flanders co-invests in animation studio Fabrique Fantastique Group (Press release – Dutch)
VRT: Media Invest Vlaanderen (MIV), the joint venture of VRT and PMV, co-invests in Fabrique Fantastique Group.
DENMARK: Thøger Kirk is the host of a new climate magazine: ‘We’re trying something new’ (Press release – Danish)
DR: For the first time, DR dazzles with a climate magazine on TV and streaming. ‘The earth is calling’ is the name, and here Thøger Kirk and the team behind it will address current topics within climate, nature and the environment and give them greater perspective in the debate.
FINLAND: Minna Mustakallio appointed Head of Responsible Artificial Intelligence at Yle (Press release)
Yle: The role of the Head of Responsible Artificial Intelligence is new at Yle. The aim is to promote and enable strategic, active and responsible use of artificial intelligence at Yle.
FRANCE: LVMH’s Arnault Rivals Bezos and Musk in Wealth—and in Media Influence (Paywall)
Wall Street Journal: Bernard Arnault, head of handbags-to-Champagne behemoth LVMH MC -0.56%decrease; red down pointing triangle, has significant sway over the luxury industry. Now he wants to boost his influence in the media too.
GERMANY: Equal opportunities officers from ARD, ZDF, ORF and Deutsche Welle publish a catalog of measures to combat sexism in the workplace (Press release – Germany)
ARD: On International Women’s Day, the equal opportunities officers from ARD, ZDF, ORF and Deutsche Welle are presenting the joint so-called “tool against sexism”. The kit was developed to implement the goals of the alliance against sexism within the individual broadcasters.
IRELAND: Former RTÉ finance chief led Abbey committee that refused to put money aside for €150k ‘bullying’ legal bill (Paywall)
The Irish Independent: From payoffs at the national broadcaster to HR rows at the national theatre, Breda O’Keeffe has been in the eye of more than one storm
IRELAND: RTÉ controversy continuing to impact licence fee sales – Dept of Media
RTÉ: Public sentiment towards RTÉ and the reaction to the controversy which emerged at the broadcaster last June is continuing to clearly impact licence fee sales and the revenue generated from them, the Department of Media said in a statement this evening.
Il Fatto Quotidiano: The Assembly of journalists of the Radio Rai Newspaper is in a state of agitation : the Editorial Committee has been entrusted with a 5-day strike package.
ITALY: Rai, Rossi towards the CEO’s chair (Italian)
Il Giornale: The agreement on the new Rai top management now seems closed. The current general director, Giampaolo Rossi, close to Fratelli d`Italia, will be the new CEO in place of Roberto Sergio who should return to the helm of Radio Rai, where he had held the interim position.
LATVIA & RUSSIA: Meduza, Russian-Language News Outlet, Says It Faced Unprecedented Attacks
RFE/RL: Meduza, an independent, Russian-language media outlet, accused the Russian authorities of carrying out an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks last month with the intent to “destroy” it.
NORWAY: How NRK uses AI-generated summaries to boost younger readers’ engagement
Journalism.co.uk: In this special series that focuses on journalism rather than algorithms, we look at how the Norwegian broadcaster saw audiences doubling their reading time since it started adding automated summaries to its articles.
Deadline: It was a moment of high drama befitting a premium TV series and yet was playing out in real time in front of the people of Poland.
POLAND: Our role is to show the context and explain it: TVP World’s editor-in-chief (Watch)
TVP World: As TVP World comes back on the air, Poland’s largest English-speaking news television network invited a very special guest, TVP World’s editor-in-chief, Michał Broniatowski, to discuss changes coming to the broadcast programming as well as his vision for the TV station.
POLAND: TVP World returns to the air (Press release – Polish)
TVP: From Monday, March 11, TVP World – the English-language, 24-hour news channel and portal of Telewizja Polska, resumes broadcasting after a break of almost three months.
ROMANIA: Iașul Nostru’s lessons from building a local publication in Romania (Interview)
The Fix
RUSSIA: Russia Jails Journalist for Criticizing Ukraine Offensive
VOA: A Russian court on Wednesday sentenced a journalist to seven years in prison for criticizing the Ukraine offensive in social media posts.
SLOVENIA: Igor Kadunc resigns from the position of director of the Slovenian Press Agency (Slovenian)
RTV SLO: Director of the Slovenian Press Agency, Igor Kadunc, submitted his resignation for personal reasons. He will be working until May 13. The supervisory board will announce the call for a new director on Tuesday.
SPAIN: The RTVE Equality Observatory has organized the conference ‘Challenges and keys in the management of equality in the company’ (Press release – Spanish)
RTVE: The RTVE Equality Observatory held this Thursday, the eve of International Women’s Day, the event ‘Challenges and keys in the management of equality in the company’.
SWEDEN: “P3 is good for young people” (Blog – Swedish)
Swedish Radio: Many still live with the image that P3’s linear channel is “only for young people” and some still believe that P3 is losing listeners. But neither nor is true, writes P3’s channel manager Simon Gooch, who describes the journey and development that P3 has gone through and continues with.
SWEDEN: SVT invests in science (Press release – Swedish)
SVT: The need for verified knowledge and independent, constructive journalism is great. Therefore, SVT is strengthening the science offering with a series of knowledge initiatives to meet the audience’s needs – both in broadcast and online.
UK: BBC Creator Lab: UK social content creators join Munya Chawawa, Zara McDermott and Director-General Tim Davie at across-the-country talent development programmes (Press release)
BBC: The BBC’s brand-new talent initiative, BBC Creator Lab, has seen more than 90 social and digital creators from across the UK take part in two-day, in-person development programmes – in Glasgow, Salford, London, Cardiff and Belfast – to highlight and nurture the careers of digital creative talent.
UK: Telegraph takeover: News Corp and Mail owner consider joining UAE-backed bid
The Guardian: Media groups have reportedly shown fresh interest in a takeover of the Telegraph and Spectator alongside Redbird IMI, the UAE backed consortium.
REGIONAL: Safety of Journalists Platform 2024 Report: Spyware against journalists, abusive lawsuits, and journalists in exile (Report)
ECPMF: The unlawful deployments of spyware against journalists, the use of abusive lawsuits against journalists to hamper their investigative work, and the precarious situation of many journalists in exile, notably from Russia and Belarus, are some of the main concerns expressed by the partner organisations to the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists in their 2024 annual report.
ARGENTINA: Argentina’s government extends suspension of workers at Télam state news agency
Buenos Aires Times: Workers at state news agency given another week off with pay as bosses offer voluntary redundancy to employees.
ARGENTINA: Closure of the main public news agency is a serious blow to the right to information (Spanish)
RSF: The news agency of the Télam news agency woke up sealed, surrounded by police and the website was offline. For Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the decision by newly elected president Javier Milei to close the country’s main public news agency represents a severe blow to the right to information and is a warning sign for pluralism.
ARGENTINA: Télam offering voluntary layoff to employees amid shutdown plans
Buenos Aires Herald: ‘It’s nothing more than extortion’ say press union delegates after workers voted against the measure
BRAZIL: Brazil seeks to curb AI deepfakes as key elections loom
France24: AI-generated videos and photos used for political disinformation are the scourge of a busy global election year, and Brazil is scrambling to regulate the technology ahead of municipal polls.
BRAZIL: In a study on the Brazilian regulatory framework for journalism, RSF highlights weaknesses and proposes ways to strengthen them (Report – Portuguese)
RSF: Brazilian legislation guarantees the right to freedom of the press, but the absence of a structured normative framework that permanently supports public policies and State actions to promote a more favorable environment for the exercise of journalism is notable.
LatAm Journalism Review
BRAZIL: New Brazilian Media Group Times Brasil to Launch with CNBC Content
CNBC: CNBC, the global leader in business and financial news, will reach Brazilians for the first time in the local language via an exclusive content licensing partnership.
CHILE: Analysis of editorial lines, selection and production of news in Chile (Opinion – Spanish)
Elmostrador: “In Chile the media are right-wing!”, “the press and journalists are left-wing!” Perhaps more than once he read these expressions in a social media comment, or heard them in a conversation with friends.
COLOMBIA: Controversy over the Public Media System’s coverage of the marches against the Petro Government (Spanish)
El Diario: The polarization of the country has also had repercussions on the work of the media and the Colombian Public Media System, RTVC, has not been immune to these controversies.
COLOMBIA: First global unions-led workshop to support LGBTQI+ workers under C190
IFJ: The discrimination of workers on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics remains one of the major challenges facing the labour movement globally.
COLOMBIA: How to understand the attack on the RTVC Noticias journalistic team during the March 6 marches? #Points of view (Spanish)
RTVC: In the midst of the demonstrations that took place in Bogotá yesterday, by opposition parties, such as the Democratic Center, among others, a journalistic team from RTVC Noticias was attacked while carrying out their reporting work in the streets of the capital of the country.
COLOMBIA: Sergio Fajardo questioned the arrival of new officials to the public media: “They should not be used as a propaganda weapon of the Government” (Spanish)
Semana: Former presidential candidate Sergio Fajardo spoke out this Sunday, March 10, against the government of President Gustavo Petro and sent a clear message to the Colombian president and other officials about the work of public media in the country.
LatAm Journalism Review: José Luis Calderón’s work as a journalist placed him in a dangerous situation at the beginning of 2024. But he believes that it was also journalism that saved him.
GUYANA: A free press is a must for any democratic nation (Opinion – Letter)
Stabroek News
HAITI: Q&A: The Haitian Times
Columbia Journalism Review: Gary Pierre-Pierre and Vania Andre on swimming against the tide of local news
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Trinidad telecoms authority tells broadcasters to stop playing violent music
Stabroek News: The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has written to broadcasters advising them to refrain from playing music with violent lyrics that can negatively impact young people and children.
DW: After the DW Spanish language television channel’s broadcast signal was removed from cable operators’ programming in Venezuela, DW Director General Limbourg is calling for the signal to be restored.
REGIONAL: China’s Charm Offensive in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Comprehensive Analysis of China’s Strategic Communication Strategy Across the Region (Report)
Dialogo Americas: This report explores China’s strategy to influence Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) populations through the Chinese and local media.
REGIONAL: Press freedom in Central America: Silence is not an option
OHCHR: “Online and ‘real life’ media serve as watchdogs and early warning systems for the full range of potential human rights violations,” said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on the safety of journalists.
GAZA: 8 March: IFJ stands with women journalists in Gaza
IFJ: Since the start of the war in Gaza, Palestine, on 7 October, journalists and media workers have been specifically targeted. Women journalists have paid a particularly heavy price as women, reporters and mothers.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Journalists and other Gaza residents describe the daily struggle to get news and information. Telegram and radio have become key sources
IRAN & UK: UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran reports on the threats faced by BBC News Persian journalists and their family members (Press release)
BBC: UN report raises concern that Iranian authorities harassed, threatened and intimidated journalists working outside the country, including BBC Persian.
ISRAEL: Eurovision 2024: Israel allowed to compete after lyric change
BBC: Israel will be allowed to compete at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 after changing the lyrics to its song, organisers have confirmed.
ISRAEL & LEBANON: Israeli tank in ‘likely scenario’ fired machine gun at reporters after deadly shelling, report finds
Reuters: An Israeli tank crew killed a Reuters reporter in Lebanon in October by firing two shells at a clearly identified group of journalists and then “likely” opened fire on them with a heavy machine gun in an attack that lasted 1 minute and 45 seconds, according to a report into the incident published on Thursday.
TURKEY: Erdogan Tightens Grip on Media and Internet Ahead of Elections
Balkan Insight: Turkey is heading to local elections on March 31 in which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems determined to win at any price following his victory in general and presidential elections in spring 2023.
TURKEY: “Resisting together means living together” – Female journalism in Turkey
ECPMF: The Feminist Night March, which was organised by women on the 8th of March last year, was banned by the Beyoğlu District Governor’s Office with the approval of the governor’s office, but the police did not hesitate to use violence against the women participating under various pretexts.
CANADA: Canada’s foreign correspondents are almost extinct
The Hub: Vanishing foreign bureaus are a result of shrinking budgets and authoritarian regime pushback, but may also be a reaction to a country that has a shrinking footprint on the world stage.
CANADA: Canada’s struggling media industry can’t be left to market forces (Opinion)
Editor & Publisher: How to fix the news media’s business model? That is the million (billion?) dollar question. I think some radically different models need to be considered.
CANADA: First Nations University of Canada to offer Indigenous journalism degree
Global News: “The degree is unique and long overdue,” Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann, FNUniv president said. “We need Indigenous voices and perspectives to tell our stories accurately and respectfully.”
CANADA: Mass layoffs and burned-out journalists signal the erosion of Canadian news (Opinion)
Varsity: We should all be worried about hundreds of journalists losing their jobs and quitting the industry
CANADA: MediaWise’s peer-to-peer global network launches in Canada
Poynter: Poynter partners with MediaSmarts to launch the Teen Fact-Checking Network in English and French
CANADA: Pierre Poilievre confronts Canada’s media (Listen)
CBC: Pierre Poilievre does not hide how he feels about Canadian mainstream media. His numerous, testy exchanges with reporters earn lots of online traction.
CANADA: The latest season of the MTM 18+ data has arrived! (Press release)
CBC/Radio-Canada: MTM’s latest Sneak Peek Report highlights TV ownership and brands, advertising on Subscription Video-on-demand (SVOD) services, home internet speeds, reasons for maintaining TV subscriptions, online advertisements and more.
CANADA: The Online News Act has been like MAiD for emerging media in Canada
Canadian Dimension: Emerging online media and niche publications are in the emergency ward
US: Biden recommends $595M in FY27 funding for public broadcasting
Current: If approved, the appropriation would be a record sum for CPB.
US: Colorado Public Radio’s CEO explains why the company is laying off 15 people
Colorado Public Radio: Shortly after a successful membership campaign and even as it builds out a new headquarters, Colorado Public Radio last week announced 15 layoffs.
US: Community-based entrepreneurs are leading the way in solving the local news crisis
The Portland Times: The local news crisis has led to no end of policy proposals, funding initiatives and angry denunciations of the harm done to journalism by the likes of Craigslist, Google and Facebook.
US: CPB Statement on President Biden’s Budget Proposal (Statement)
CPB: Patricia Harrison, President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), made the following statement today on President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, which proposes $595 million in FY 2027 for CPB’s advance appropriation; $60 million for the public broadcasting interconnection system and infrastructure in FY 2025; and $31 million for the Department of Education’s Ready To Learn program in FY 2025.
US: Deadspin Sells to European Media Company, Leaving Staff Behind
The New York Times: Deadspin, the sports news website, has been sold to a European digital media company, its owner, G/O Media, said on Monday.
US: How do you cover a candidate everyone knows—and no one remembers?
Columbia Journalism Review
US: OpenAI and Microsoft respond to the Times—while Musk also sues OpenAI
CJR: Despite the allegations that ChatGPT could become a competitor to the Times by reproducing articles, OpenAI said in its response that ChatGPT is “not in any way a substitute for a subscription to the New York Times.”
US: Roughly Half of Counties Have One Local News Outlet or Less
Governing: The number of nonprofit news outlets is holding steady but 203 counties are news deserts, leaving thousands of communities without access to local news.
US: Storied presses print L.A. Times for the last time as production moves to Riverside
The Los Angeles Times
US: Strengthening Democracy Through Public Media
The Montecito Journal: This past Wednesday evening in Montecito, approximately 60 engaged local community members gathered for a vital conversation about the future of democracy and the role of public media.
US: The Media Are Getting Easier to Push Around
The Atlantic: At a time of financial weakness and flagging public support, government officials are emboldened to bully the press.
US: These initiatives leverage local communities to fight false information in the US
IJNet: A decline in local news has created an information vacuum across the U.S. In its stead, communities have turned to social media, where mis- and disinformation has flourished.
US: WBUR facing ‘tough choices,’ possible staffing cuts amid ‘dramatic’ loss of money
Boston.com: Business for the radio station has “never been harder,” the Boston-based news station’s CEO wrote in an email to members Wednesday.
A Journalist Who Moves Between Writing and Recording
The New York Times: In an interview, the reporter Annie Correal discussed why she was “thinking for audio” during a recent assignment in South America.
Against All Odds, Female Journalists Keep Reporting (Watch)
VOA: Globally, attacks and threats against media are on the rise, with female journalists at higher risk of harassment, experts say. Despite the dangers, many refuse to be silenced.
Evidence, engagement, and expansion: New Reuters Institute work on AI and the future of news
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: These are the 3 priorities for our work on AI, made possible by seed funding from Reuters and in partnership with the Thomson Reuters Foundation
Industry Insights: How AI is impacting broadcast production workflows
Newscast Studio: We delve into the transformative role of automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence within the broadcast industry in the second installment of our Industry Insights roundtable.
Is journalism disappearing? These top educators have a lot to say about that (Opinion)
NPR: As I left my meeting with the head of the journalism department, my fingers were frozen together, a physical phenomenon that happens in times of great stress or happiness.
It’s not about AI: Toward a user-centric, sustainable future for journalism (Insight)
IJNet
LinkedIn doubles down on news as social rivals retreat
Axios: LinkedIn is investing more in journalism and news amid a broader pullback by tech rivals from the industry, the company’s editor-in-chief and vice president Dan Roth told Axios in an interview.
Mastering on-camera interviews: Key tips and essential strategies
IJNet: Agreat video interview can be the heart of a powerful story, whether it’s a short news package or a feature length documentary. But setting up an on-camera interview takes preparation, finesse and a little troubleshooting.
Measuring Journalism’s Impact — What We Know Now That We Didn’t Before
Global Investigative journalism Network: Journalism outlets around the world try to measure the impact of what they do. Each organization can have different ideas about how to define impact, and use a wide range of metrics to measure the larger effects of their reporting.
Media women are in short supply (Paywall – German)
Medien Insider: Why is it that leadership in the media industry is still extremely male-dominated?
Mona Chalabi on storytelling, the power of data, and covering Palestine
The Verge: A bloodied press jacket. A body shrouded in white. Families with linked hands walking with all they can carry on their backs. These are the images that Mona Chalabi uses to create harrowing and biting infographics about atrocities in Gaza.
Not just more bad news: What is solutions journalism?
Northwestern News: How Medill is boosting an innovative approach that goes beyond problems
Q&A: AI in Newsrooms: Revolution or Retooling?
Columbia Journalism Review: Felix Simon discusses how AI will reshape journalism, the uneven benefits for newsrooms, and the implications of relying on technology companies for AI.
Research shows insight in impact gender representation on media viability
Free Press Unlimited: Gender inequality, sexual harassment, and insufficient representation persist as entrenched structural challenges within media organisations worldwide.
Relief Web: In the past decade, awareness that women in the media are subject to gender-based violence has grown as a number of ground-breaking reports have been published, establishing that violence and threats against women journalists have reached endemic proportions.
Survey to assess the Safety of Environmental Journalists
UNESCO: UNESCO in partnership with the International Federation for Journalists (IFJ), have designed a global survey on the safety and protection of environmental journalists.
The Journalist Who Tried to Fight the Nazis With Radio Stories (Book Review)
The New York Times: In “How to Win an Information War,” Peter Pomerantsev looks to a World War II propagandist for lessons in the battle between Russia and Ukraine.
The transatlantic fight for The Telegraph
Semafor: A British regulator will decide Monday whether to allow the Abu Dhabi-backed investment group RedBird IMI, represented by former CNN chief Jeff Zucker, to take control of The Telegraph, or whether to move the deal to another stage of review and give its opponents more time to kill it.
The more climate vulnerable a country is, the more complex and nuanced its climate journalism
Anthropocene: Researchers combed through nearly 100,000 articles, and found the media in wealthy, high-emitting countries could learn a lot from journalists in less wealthy, climate-vulnerable areas.
“You have to give people information that helps them make proper decisions”
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Diversity in newsrooms has increased at all levels over the last few years. Newsrooms that previously served local audiences are broadening their scope and producing their journalism more globally, even in several languages.
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Header image: Large number of press and media reporter in broadcasting event. Credit: stockphoto mania / Shutterstock.com
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